Podere Le Ripi Cielo d’Ulisse 2016

The 2010 vintage will be long remembered as a uniquely demanding year. Mother Nature was capricious and challenging in presenting us with tremendous variability – unseasonably cold days, untimely rainfall, and surprisingly sunny and hot days. While colder than normal, the leaves were able to produce the needed sugar, while the grape berries developed lovely and complex flavor and aroma components. Bud break and flowering were eight days later than the 5-year average. Unexpectedly high temperatures in late August and September allowed the vines to finish the growing season very well. Having left the sufficient number of leaves on the vines so as to have a full canopy, our grapes avoided possible sunburn from this late season heat. The success of the 2010 harvest was assured when we correctly assessed the early maturity of the grapes and had the confidence to pick at the first sight of ripeness. Harvest began on September 23 and succinctly concluded thirty-one days later on October 23.

Aromas of fresh blackberry, rose petals, chocolate and espresso accentuate a profound tapestry of fruity and earthy nuances. Round velvety tannins enrobe a silky texture with a slight touch of minerality. The flavors of dark fruit are enhanced by the well-integrated acidity. The acidity and tannin structure promise a very long life ahead for this wine.

Varietal : Cabernet Sauvignon 84%, Merlot 5.5%, Cabernet Franc 5.5%, Petit Verdot 4% and Malbec 1%

Our Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon was handcrafted from grapes 100 percent from the legendary Monte Rosso Vineyard. This impressive, fullbodied red wine has great depth and a surprisingly soft mouthfeel for such concentrated fruit. The wine swirls with aromas that include black cherry, earth and the classic Monte Rosso spice. On the palate, it offers red and dark fruit flavors including raspberry and blackberry, plus black fig and hints of dusty chocolate and espresso. Aging in French and American Oak created assertive-but-smooth tannins that melt seaMLessly into a lingering, elegant finish filled with flavors of anise, toasted oak and vanilla.

Varietal : 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Assemblage :
• Cabernet Sauvignon : 66 %
• Carmenère : 24 %
• Cabernet Franc : 8 %
• Petit Verdot : 2 %

Deep, intense and brilliant ruby red colour. The nose reveals delicate aromas of red fruits and berries, such as raspberry and blackberry, which are harmoniously integrated with notes of toffee and coffee, offering a refined and distinguished nose. The elegance of the wine is underscored by its round and fresh mouthfeel. Subtle, but present tannins frame the blend, leading to a vanilla and peppery finish. Complex and luxurious, Almaviva 2016 is a remarkably graceful and silky wine, faithful to its predecessors in style and precision. Barrel Aging: 16 Months, New French Oak.