Dark ruby. Ripe nose of black fruits, toasted oak, hints of tar. Dense and ripe on the palate, acidity is on the low side; powerful middle palate and an intense, slightly warm finish.
A wine that haunts the soul. Complex with an amazing bouquet made of aromas of tar, dry roses, orange peel, chocolate and red cherries. Firm tannins with bright acidity and a long, lingering finish. While this wine is enjoyable now if decanted ahead and paired with food, it will benefit from further aging. If you can resist, put away in your cellar for 8 to 10 years.
The debut of this variety, from less than an acre of Petit Verdot planted at the estate. Only a tiny amount is available (2 barrels, or 48 cases). The wine was aged in 100% oak from the Bertranges forest in France for 6 months. There’s a lot to like about this big red, and it starts on the nose with plums, cassis, herbs, layers of sweet spices and a touch of licorice. The array of dense, powerful fruits on the palate is backed up by firm tannins and high acids. A keeper for the cellar.
A blend nearly evenly split between Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose shows blackberries, currants, raspberry and minty spices. It’s smooth on the palate, with an array of dark fruits and balanced spice to go with a touch of eucalyptus. Try with prime rib.
I deducted three points for the useless and irritating plastic covering poured over the cork that shatters sharp shards of black plastic all over your kitchen when you try to remove the cork. Send a message to the producers: do not buy this wine! (Now I have got that off my chest and vacuumed the plastic off my floor…) The wine is the color of dark smoked salmon and has a robust nose of strawberry, pineapple and peach. Full bodied for a rosé, it is slightly sweet, tasting of more strawberries, raspberries and mandarin orange with good acidity. Drink up.
It starts with vanilla-butterscotch-butter aromas, then citrus, apple and Asian-pear notes on the nose. It’s ripe and round on the palate with lemon zing providing an acid lift through the mid-palate. There’s a nice touch of toasted almonds through a fairly smooth finish. Great-value Sonoma Chard.
This is everything I want from a Dolcetto and more. Vibrant crunchy red plum with mouth-watering acidity and moderate chalky tannins with a savoury finish. A bottle that could easily become my daily house wine. A great partner for pizza margherita or my favourite, pasta all’Amatriciana.