Country: Spain Region: Rioja
Varietal: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo
Category: Red Wine Style: Dry
Producer: Bodegas LAN
Description:Founded in 1972, Bodegas LAN lies in the heart of Rioja Alta and boasts one of the most spectacular single-vineyard sites in the region: Viña Lanciano. The name LAN comes from the initials of the three provinces of the Rioja Designation of Origin: Logroño, Álava and Navarra. María Barúa has been the head winemaker and technical director since 2002, and brings both scientific expertise (with an academic background in chemistry in addition to her oenology degree) and local knowledge (having been born and raised in Rioja). Together with her young and energetic team, María focuses on using the latest advances in winemaking to ‘express the virtues of the land’.
The 2016 vintage in Rioja began with a cold winter, followed by a cool and rainy spring which replenished soil water reserves and sustained the vines through the hot and dry summer that followed. Good climatic conditions during the last stages of ripening provided very healthy grapes with an excellent balance between intensity of flavour and acidity. Harvest was around one week later than usual and the berries were small, due to the lack of rainfall during the summer, this resulted in wines with extraordinary depth of colour.
Tasting Notes:This wine is intense garnet in colour. Aromas of juicy strawberries, cherries and blackberries are married with notes of vanilla and spices from oak ageing and subtle earthy hints from bottle age. The palate is exceptionally well-structured, with velvety tannins and a vibrant acidity which carries the complex flavours onto the lingering finish.
Food Matches: Casseroles / Lamb / Smoked Fish / Soft Cheese
Country: Australia Region: South Australia
Varietal: ShirazVintage: 2018
Category: Red Wine Colour: Red
Producer: Mount Horrocks
"Mount Horrocks is owned by winemaker Stephanie Toole, who restricts production to approximately 4000 cases per year in order to achieve her aims of quality and single vineyard expression. The Clare Valley winery was established in 1980 and purchased by Stephanie in 1993, since when she has made significant improvements to the wines, vineyards and winery. In 2014, the winery and vineyards were organically certified by the ACO (Australian Certified Organic).Stephanie describes her wines as 'hand made food wines' with an emphasis on structure as well as generous fruit flavours. All grapes are estate grown and hand picked from three separate organically managed vineyards: Auburn vineyard for the 'Cordon Cut'; Watervale vineyard for the Riesling, Semillon and Shiraz; and Polish Hill River vineyard for the Cabernet Sauvignon, totalling nearly 10 hectares in the Clare Valley. Her persistence with classic, no-compromise winemaking and a fully integrated organic approach to growing sets Mount Horrocks wines apart from the mainstream.Each release from Stephanie seems to eclipse the quality standard set by the previous vintage. The Watervale Riesling is a regional classic, while the 'Cordon Cut' Riesling ranks among Australia's best sweet wines. Stephanie's Shiraz gets better every year. Stephanie decided to make a Nero d'Avola after falling for the variety on a trip to Italy. Hand picked at full ripeness, it is a wine that is bright and lively, medium weight and bursting with muscular fruit."
Product Features: Sustainable; Vegan; Vegetarian
Winemaker: Stephanie Toole
Vineyards:
The Mount Horrocks Shiraz was produced from low yielding vines produced from their estate owned single vineyard in Watervale, Clare Valley, which is certified organic.
Vinification:
The fruit was hand picked and fermented to dryness on the skins to improve structure. 10