Browsers Red Wine Club
THIS QUARTER'S RED SELECTION
A near 50/50 Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot - The 2021 Rosso is the result of a near-perfect growing season. Our vines have matured, and our viticulture is world-class. The resulting fruit is ripe with intense black fruit flavors encapsulated by perfect acidity and subtle herbs that dance across the palate. This is a serious wine with potential for 15+ years of aging. Yet, it opens quickly and offers a lengthy and silky dose of that “yes this is what I want in a red wine”. We are quite proud of Claudia, our winemaker, and the team at Due Santi.
We dedicate this vintage to our leader in Rome, the giant one, Dr Peter Hatlie. For without his tieless pushing this dream would never have been realized. Cheers to Peter and to all of us who love Due Santi. Enjoy this with all things from the grill.
I have been working with this winery since early 21st century and it is only getting better and better. One of my favorite wines in the world for the money. The 2021 Les Cimels incorporates 30% of that old vine Carignan (now over 80 years old), and it makes a world of difference. Aromas of an herbal nature, forest floor, lush undergrowth, mushroomy, black olive tapenade, black tea and cracked pepper waft from the glass. The wine’s fruitiness is not of a plummy nature, it’s more on the savory side, more in line with the olivey notes in the bouquet. The palate is medium-full with great balance and lithe tannins. It is a Rhone wine, so there is juicy purple and black fruit at its core, but its complexity makes it a standout.
It must be the Carignan. Back in 1998, Diane de Puymorin purchased Chateau d’Or et de Gueules, or “Red and Gold” in the Occitan dialect. She was strongly advised to rip up her Carignan vineyard in favor of re-planting it with more “noble” varieties such as Grenache and Syrah. Diane disagreed with her advisors, pointing out that the Carignan vines at the time were over 60 years old! She insisted on keeping them because they would help add complexity to her blends.
Now we get into Beast Mode! This is a meaty and delicious wine from the same brilliant family as the Les Cimels. In a continuation on a theme, the Mourvèdre vines at d’Or et de Gueules are also over 80 years old! For their elevated Trassegum cuvée, it’s 50% Syrah and equal parts of the old-vine Mourvèdre and Carignan.
It’s a full-bodied red with aromas of dark purple and black fruit at its core, with an amalgam of complex notes such as black olives, earthy minerals, and the signature forest floor. The palate is rich and full-bodied, yet fresh and balanced. The black fruit holds court, front and center, and is carried across the finish line by harmonious structure and nuance. Bring out that lamb for Easter or whatever meat you got. This wine can stand up to it all.
The food friendliest red of our bunch and also one of the most treasured wine grapes in the world that only seems to be reaching the height of its fame. Domaine Verret has been in the same family for over 250 years! Bruno Verret holds the reins of the estate, overseeing the 60+ hectares in total of the domaine's property. Verret grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, though he also has Sauvignon Blanc (for his Saint-Bris) and Gamay vines. The latter, specifically for his Coteaux Bourguignons. Bruno's 2020 Coteaux Bourguignons is an aromatic delight. Blackberries and cherry fruit intertwine with spices and berry thicket make for a finely tuned, complex introduction. On the palate, it is light and delicate, with the fruit and spices pronounced through to the finish. Its vibrant mouthfeel contributing to the lengthy finish. 2020 was a great Burgundy vintage, and technically, the Coteaux de Bourguignons is Burgundy, so make hay when the sun shines. No other Burgundies are coming to your door at this price.
You know we like to keep Italy represented. This is like an HGH Chianti. Rich and wonderful. Duke Cosimo III de' Medici - You know we're going back “a ways” if we're bringing up the Medici's - In 1716 the duke issued a declaration that wines from Carmignano and Chianti were allowed to be commercialized and shipped by sea. The areas were mapped out, effectively creating Italy's first Denomination of Controlled Origins. Cabernet Sauvignon was already growing in Carmignano at that time. Legend has it that Cabernet Sauvignon vine clippings were a wedding gift from France, upon the marriage of Catherine de' Medici and future French King, Henry II. Cabernet Sauvignon thrived in the hills near the Medici villa a few kilometers west of Firenze, and it became part of what made Carmignano what it is today.
Le Farnete's 2020 Carmignano is a super effort. Its aromas are expressive, revealing ripe, red fruit, herbs, with hints of earth and spice. The palate is zesty and fresh, the bright red fruit meeting darker notes in the rounded mid-palate, leading to the lively, balanced finish. It's a super next-level red that will obviously suit many Tuscan plates, though it can be enjoyed with smoky grilled meats, stews and a host of other fine foods.
