Ornellaia 2016 “La Tensione”
Ornellaia is a cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot and the faithful expression of unique terroir developed in harmony with nature. 2016 represents another immensely successful vintage highlighting all the virtues of Bolgheri’s climate: abundant sunshine, without excessive heat, a dry summer to allow the grapes to achieve perfect ripeness and concentration, and just about enough rain to avoid stress. All these elements combine to yield a wine that shows lush ripeness and crisp firmness, opposing forces creating a sense of dense raciness we like to describe as “tension”.
Particularly dark and young colour is the prelude to a complex nose of black berries, spices and cedar. The palate is rich and dense, balanced by a refined and firm tannic structure, lifted by a juicy and bright acidity. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Awards
- Wine Advocate 98
- James Suckling 98
- Wine Spectator 96
- Antonio Galloni 96+
BenMarco Expresivo 2020
Gualtallary is recognized for its calcareous alluvial soils. As a result, BenMarco Expresivo is a lineal, fresh wine, with aromas of blackberries, pepper tree and violets. It stands out for its mineral notes, balanced natural acidity and firm tannins. Great aging potential.
Aged 14 months in French oak barrels (70% new, 30% second-use).
Perfect with red meats, roasted pork tenderloin, hard cheeses, and mostly cream-based sauces.
82% Malbec, 18% Cabernet Franc
"A nuanced but deep nose, showing crushed stones, fresh and glossy blackberries and blueberries, then flowers, asphalt, cocoa powder and chalk. Broad, exuberant and concentrated, but not at all heavy. This is juicy and so polished and dense, with silky, chalky tannins to coat the blueberry fruit. Fleshy, tight and seamless. Long and so seductive now. 85% malbec and 15% cabernet franc. Vegan. Drink or hold." - 96 points, James Suckling
Waipara West N Block Chardonnay 2018
A stripped-back Chardonnay style that showcases the fruit from our site while still being rich in subtle complexities. We achieve this using large, berried Chardonnay clones, whole bunch pressing, minimal use of old oak barrels, extended time on yeast lees and no malolactic fermentation.
Three qualities define this wine - above all else, the first being the fruit aroma/flavour, which we want to be subtle and pure. Acid structure is the second propping up the wine and giving it a salt crunch. Yeast derived aroma/flavours and mouthfeel provide balance.
Color: Pale golden kiwifruit in colour with hues of green and silver.
Aroma: On the nose, this wine is truly multi-layered however, all of them are understated. Fresh pineapple and sea salted cracker at first, perfumed white flower and white tea in the centre, all sitting on a base of malt toffee. These aromas combine and evolve into a vast number of flavours in the mouth.
Palate: Ripe peach and lemon meringue define the taste, due to a combination of full-bodied mouthfeel, cleansing acidity and a bite on the finish. A rich complex wine.
Food Pairing: Pork. Rich Fish (salmon, tuna, etc...), Vegetarian, Poultry
Residual Sugar: 0.52 g/L
pH: 3.51
Acidity: 6.75 g/L
Locations I Italian Red Wine
With over 2000 indigenous grape varieties to select and compose a blend, an exhaustive search was undertaken to pay homage to this historic region. Maintaining the integrity of the land was paramount while simultaneously considering the end result of a dynamic and innovative wine. Powerful and rich fruit from Puglia (Torricella and Manduria) serves as the base with a lively vein of acidity from Barbera (Alba) that stabilizes things in just the right way.
A vast array of aromas escapes the glass—black cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cured meat—which are complemented by shades of sandalwood, vanilla, balsa and evergreen. e entry is silky smooth with a textured mid-palate of velvety fig, blueberry jam and soft oak. A hint of sea salt on the finish is rounded out with a mouthfeel that fades slowly.
A blend of Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola from the Southern region of Puglia combined with Barbera from Piemonte in the North.
Barrel aged 10 months prior to release.
"The black-olive, blueberry and blackberry character, combined with stone and orange peel is very attractive. Full to medium body. Solid core of fruit and a flavorful, zesty finish. A blend of negroamaro, nero d’avola and barbera. Drink now." - 92 points, James Suckling
Chateau d’Anglès Grand Vin Blanc 2016
Limpid, pale yellow wine with golden highlights. Rich and complex nose, with a blend of white fruits and flowers, fresh and sweet spices and honey, nuts. Plentiful, structured and creamy mouth unveiling a lovely aromatic intensity. Long and fresh elegant finish.
Fresh and fruity when young, gaining more complexity after 5-10 years. Potential of 15-20 years. Drink as an aperitif with marinated sardines. Perfect with fish, veal or poultry in sauce, as well as more spicy dishes. Excellent match with cured cheeses. Decant a few hours and serve at 14°C. If served too cold, the wine will not develop its full aroma.
Bourboulenc (40%), Grenache (20%), Roussanne (20%), Marsanne (20%)
Luce Lucente 2019
A cold and sunny winter was followed by a spring characterized by low average temperatures and heavy precipitation, which contributed to the creation of important water reserves in the soil. The reduced sunlight coupled with the heavy rainfall resulted in a slight delay in the vegetative cycle of the grapevine. Flowering took place between the end of May and early June, after which the growing season continued regularly with a hot summer free of excessive temperatures and some rainfall occurring between late July and early August. The mild temperatures in September and the good water reserves supported a slow and regular ripening of the grapes.
Lucente 2019 is an intense purplish red wine. The nose is characterized by notes of ripe red fruit, raspberries and sour cherries, combined with a touch of vanilla and a slight balsamic hint. On the palate, the wine is soft, balanced and well-supported by a pleasant crispness and smooth tannins, characteristics that together with its sweet aftertaste give the wine a persistent finish.
Food Pairing: Beef, Lamb, Veal, Poultry, Cured Meat
"Lots of blue fruit, graphite and stone aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with tight and linear tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. Punchy, yet fine, suggesting two to four years of bottle will soften the wine." - 94 points, James Suckling
Handpicked Regional Selection Shiraz 2018
This wine is everything we've come to expect from a Barossa Valley Shiraz – loads of spicy dark fruit with flavoursome oak and supple tannins.
Wine Style: Big & bold, red, full-bodied Food Pairing: Spicy hot pot, vegetarian stew, beef bourguignon, barbecued lamb Serving Temperature: 16°C "Beautifully ripe and fragrant with blackberry, sweet cherry, vanilla, mixed spice and roasted nut characters, it's supple and juicy in the mouth delivering fleshy texture and silky flow. Flavoursome and delightfully appealing. At its best: now to 2028." Wine Orbit
First Drop Cold Sweat Eden Valley Syrah – Moculta (Single Vineyard) 2014
Eden Valley is the perfect backdrop for us to further push our vinous boundaries. At a higher elevation than the Barossa Valley below, we embrace the funk to make even more diverse expressions of Syrah that speak of their unique sites. It’s all about the one. Give the drummer some! With this Eden Valley project we are looking for the ultimate expressions of three cooler climate sites and working hard to find them, utilising all our experience. Syrah from a single vineyard in Moculta.
Colour: Garnet red with purple hues
Nose: A complex nose of dark cherry, savoury and spice aromas
Palate: A brooding palate of grainy tannins support complex dark cherry, earthy and savoury flavours.
"A more conventional syrah, but that doesn’t make it any less attractive as it’s impressively well made. Fresh blackberry compote, fresh herbs, dark licorice, hot stones and cassis. Full-bodied with a lovely line of acidity that runs all the way through the layers of black fruit and right up to the chewy finish. Drink in 2022." - 95 points, James Suckling
