First Drop Mother’s Ruin McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
VINTAGE 2019: A very dry winter and spring, with frost events in September and November disrupting bud burst and flowering, resulted in the lightest crops in the past decade. January and February were warm and dry, and in conjunction with the low yields, ripening was rapid. Quick decision making and early picking resulted in reds with great intensity and structure thanks also to the light crops and early tannin maturity. 2019 was a challenging vintage, but one of the most rewarding, with our alternative varieties showing particularly well. The overall quality is a tribute to our growers and their perseverance in a difficult growing season. We salute you!
The fruit is crushed/destemmed and fermented at temperatures ranging from 20- 25Ā°C for 10 days on skins. The ferment is managed by a variety of techniques, including āaerative pump oversā and ādrain and returnsā which assist in extracting colour, flavour and tannin from the grapes. At the end of fermentation, it is drained/pressed, and transferred to 10% new French oak barriques, and the balance to 3 and 4 year old French oak hogsheads to undergo MLF. Post MLF, sulphur dioxide is added, and the wines mature sur lie for 18 months.
Body: Medium Bodied
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon
Tenuta SantāAntonio Valpolicella Ripasso Monti Garbi 2019
The vineyards of Tenuta SantāAntonio lie on the Monti Garbi: harsh and impervious soil, but generous with great wines. Like this splendid combination of Valpolicella Giovane and Amarone skins. Produced from the municipality of Mezzane di Sotto - Monti Garbi District (Verona).
- Colour: ruby red.
- Nose: red fruit and cherry.
- Palate: semi-dry, soft, caressing, fresh, savoury and fairly tannic with a spicy aftertaste.
- Corvina and Corvinone 70% - Rondinella 20% - Croatina and Oseleta 10%.
Yangarra Shiraz 2019
There are 87 hectares of vineyards at Yangarra, of which 47 are Shiraz made up of thirteen individual blocks. Each block is defined by different aspects and subtle variations of the sand and Ironstone soils that overlie the ancient North Maslin Sands geological formation. Spread amongst an extra 70 hectares of creeks, native vegetation, and native corridors. Our estate has twelve individual blocks of Shiraz.
Kept on lees in 20% new French oak, 80% older French oak for 10 months.
VARIETY: 100% Shiraz
"Straight down the barrel of generous and hearty shiraz with dark berries and plums, framed in cedary oak and spice. The palate is boldly mouth-filling, saturated with ripe blackberry and dark-plum flavors. Drink now. Screw cap." - 91 points, James Suckling
Handpicked Regional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
This delicious wine has trademark aromas of blackberry, cassis and choc-mint with a lovely palate of concentrated dark fruits all balanced by leafy freshness and firm but long tannins. This is classic Coonawarra Cabernet.
Food Pairing: Roasted leg of lamb, slow cooked shanks, osso buco with gremolata, spicy meatballs.
Serving Temperature:Ā 13ĖC - 18ĖC
Cellar Potential: 2026
"The region is Margaret River and it stands out like the proverbial. Rich and powerful cabernet from this great vintage packs quite a punch as it extends to a sustained finish.ā 91 points, Ray Jordan - The West Australian
Que Bonito Cacareaba 2019
Que Bonito Cacareaba 2019 features a brilliant yellow colour. On the nose is a fine and elegant wine. With citrus aromas, notes of aromatic herbs and wild flowers, also with stone fruits touches (apricot, plum). Mineral future. The contribution of oak promises a good integration.
The palate is fresh and fine, with a good skeleton. A great balance between ripeness, acidity and freshness has been got making the harvest on time. It will have a long life. Itās a great white wine. Very fine one. Minerality and Elegance.
45% Garnacha Blanca, 38% Viura, 17% MalvasĆa
Handpicked Regional Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Tasting Notes
- A mouth-watering combination of juicy fruits, passionfruit, bright acidity and herbal lift. Pure Marlborough.
Season
- It was a warm and dry season in Marlborough with low yields as a result of unsettled weather around flowering in spring coupled with very dry weather after Christmas. There are advantages to such a season ā low disease pressure and excellent fruit intensity among them.
Winemaking
Region
- This wine is made to preserve and highlight its fresh fruit flavours and refreshing acidity. The fruit is pressed to a temperature-controlled stainless-steel tank and the juice is vinified at low temperatures over a long fermentation. It is bottled within months of harvest and is best enjoyed when youthful and fresh.
- This wine is from select vineyards in Marlborough, where warm daytime temperatures, high sunshine hours, low rainfall and cool nights encourage the development of the intense aromas and flavours that are the hallmark of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The wine region is centred on two river valleys in the north east of New Zealandās South Island ā the Wairau River and the Awatere River valleys. Soils are alluvial and free draining silty shingles intermingled with stones and rocks. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is an internationally recognised wine style and accounts for about two thirds of the total vineyard in New Zealand, more than 70% of the countryās wine production and about 85% of its wine exports.
- Green salads, Asian-style salads, and slaws, goats' cheese, fried calamari seasoned with pepper or chilli.
- Crisp & Refreshing
Arnaldo Rivera Barolo DOCG Undicicomuni 2019
A unique wine, a true expression of each vintage. A blend of Nebbiolo fruit from our prized vineyards located among the eleven villages (āundici comuniā, hence the name) in the Barolo growing area. The circular logo on the label shows, in different colors, the areas of the eleven villages.
"There is no wine like this in the appellation" - Monica Larner, Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate)
- Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo.
- Vinification: Fermentation and maceration for about three weeks in stainless steel at a controlled temperature. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in wood.
- Aging: 26 months in large casks followed by a further 6 months in concrete tanks.
- Average annual production: 50,000 bottles (4200 cases)
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere Blanc 2019
The Pessac-LĆ©ognan white 2019 present exceptional quality. The cool August produced superbly balanced grapes, highlighting their aromatic profiles.
76.1% Sauvignon, 23.9% SĆ©millon
āReally intense and powerful with great density and energy, showing sliced āālimes, green apples, stone and minerals.Ā It's full-bodied and very long.Ā Extremely minerally with precision and brightness.Ā Clear and transparent.Ā Wow.Ā ā - James Suckling
"This is a luscious wine, following in the tradition of impressive white wines from this estate. There is an inspired fruitiness and balance between citrus and quince flavors, with just a hint of spice from the wood aging." - Wine Enthusiast
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere Rouge 2019
The Grand Cru ClassĆ© in red Malartic-LagraviĆØre appellation Pessac-LĆ©ognan keeps all its promises and once again honors the tradition of wines from the Bordeaux region.
The Merlots, with the dry and warm June and July, are fleshy, round and aromatic. After the rains at the end of September, the Cabernets finish refining their tannins, preserving the freshness and thus offering extraordinary complexity, sap and silkiness.
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
āVery complex aromas of dark berries, mushrooms, earth, flowers and incense. Crushed stone, too. Full-bodied with very fine, refined tannins that are caressing and beautiful. Itās very, very long and persistent in the finish with subtle and complex flavors. This will deliver beauty with age. Drink after 2025.ā ā 96 points, James Suckling