Ornellaia 2016 “La Tensione”

With low yields, small berries and lots of concentration, the array of fruit we were able to source was high in quality and replete with sensorial complexity. Featuring lots from all over the valley—from Atlas Peak to Coombsville, from Calistoga to the Rutherford Bench— this wine is a quintessential Napa Cab, made in the signature Orin Swift style.

Deep and luring aromas of raspberry and ripe cherry are intermingled with accents of star anise, five spice and freshly steeped black tea. The entry is smooth with a combination of cassis and blackberry with a satiating suppleness. Ultra-round and soft, the wine finishes with reverberating length.

Varietal : Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec

Mornington Peninsula, Australia

The Mornington Peninsula is famous for its Pinot Noir wines and this is a fine example from a great vintage: deep colour, spicy berry aromas, a silky-smooth palate and fine tannin to finish.

Vintage 2016 was marked by warm and dry conditions and the Mornington Peninsula harvest was one of the earliest on record. It arrived in a hurry too, catching some vignerons by surprise; many were picking in early February, about a month earlier than the long-term average. The 2016 wines have excellent colour, flavour and weight.

South East Australia

Scented with dark berries and toasty vanilla oak, the palate unfolds with ripe fruit flavours, oak complexity and satisfying tannin.

A full-bodied wine with great depth of flavour, it will complement a range of meat dishes. Ready to drink now but can be cellared over the medium term.