Pale yellow. Notes of tropical fruits fill the fine nose, yet it announces a wine with a fair amount of acidity. On the palate, its freshness strikes first, thanks to a hint of bitterness and only a little oak. In contrast to many New World Chardonnays that are overripe and over-oaked, this is a welcome change.
Ruby with a purple rim. Fresh red berries (strawberry, raspberry), a little spice, a metallic nuance, no perceptible oak. Medium body, bright fruity taste with notes of fruit stones. Great balance throughout. Enjoy now.
Seductively ripe scents of strawberry and raspberry with cinnamon, vanilla and milk chocolate lead the way for fine red berry and red cherry flavours supported by velvety tannins and well-balanced, harmonious acidity. Generous strawberry fruit and spice linger on the finish.
While Port is a widely recognized style of fortified wine, it can only be called Port if it comes from Porto. That doesn’t stop winemakers the world over from making that style of wine. The folks behind Niagara’s Union Wines have come up with a Port-style wine called Forte that is a Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend from Niagara with Ontario brandy spirit added and is finished with 18% alcohol. It has a heady nose of sweet black cherry, cassis, raspberry, bramble, red liquorice and an array of spices. It’s sweet and spicy in the mouth and loaded with red fruits, anise and kirsch, all delivered on a bed of smooth tannins. A very enjoyable after-dinner wine.
Here Merlot from Black Sage Bench’s Diamondback Vineyard is splashed with 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Syrah and rests for 18 months in new, 1- and 2-year-old French oak before a further 18 months of bottle aging. The result is deep cassis, wild blackberry, thorn and a light smoke nose. The deep palate is full with black smoked plum, cedar, dark chocolate and fine clove spices, ending with a bitter tobacco leaf/espresso note. Tannins are firm, but smoothed over — all that additional aging served this big wine well, and it will continue to meld for another 2 to 4 years. Pour with rosemary lamb medallions now.
This single-vineyard Classico is a rustic, old-style wine that is simply enthralling with roasted meats, game, super-charged dark fruits, spice and funk on the nose. It is beautifully balanced in the mouth with all those interesting and intense fruits linked harmoniously to an array of spice, oak and firm tannins. A throwback style of Chianti that is refreshing to taste. Serve with braised meats or dishes made with savoury sauces.
Quite fresh and fruity blend of Merlot and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, but also slightly earthy with a round texture and lifted acidity on the finish. A great value, and deceptively has the ability to pair with meatier, rich and flavourful dishes like grilled baby octopus in tomato sauce.