Tinta Barroca is a red grape type hailing from the northern area of Portugal called the Douro Valley. Tinta Barroca has a very high sugar and alcohol content and is most commonly used to make Port wines. Tinta Barroca will be most commonly found as a blending component, which is responsible for most Portuguese complex blends. Tinta Barroca can be found as a single variety wine, mostly all in South Africa, and has become a popular wine style of the Western Cape. Tinta Barroca is a high yielding crop, which makes it a popular choice for growers, but not necessary a top choice for producers. Tinta Barroca is ranked third in the Douro for the most widely planted because producers would rather use Tempranillo or even Touriga Franca in their wines, which are ranked second and first as most widely planted, respectively. Tinta Barroca is susceptible in hot weather, where the berries will shrivel and shrink. Because of this, Tinta Barroca is planted on the higher sides of the Douro Valley where the air is cooler and shaded from the heat of sunshine.
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It is hard to imagine with the Lithology range receiving 298 points out of 300 for the three single-vineyard wines, that there could possibly be a wine above them. But there is, and it is our Estate wine. Blended several times very intently by masters of their craft Philippe Melka and Michel Rolland, this is the ultimate expression of our house’s work. Positive, full-bodied, and quite powerful, there’s the expected crème de cassis and blackberry from St. Helena Cabernets, with mineral, herb, subtle tobacco and vanilla, plum skins, and pie crust, purple flowers, forest-conifer notes, and very fine tannic structure. It is a magnificent, and magnificently elegant expression of this house, and when asked recently, Monsieur Rolland stated plainly to me, “oh yes indeed – this is the best one, the best yet…”
Review:
The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Alejandro Bulgheroni comes from a selection made by winemakers Philippe Melka and Michel Rolland, mostly from Rutherford and Oakville fruit. Aged 20 months in 78% new French oak, it has incredible aromatics of black and blue fruits, spring flowers, and graphite to go with a massive, full-bodied, concentrated style on the palate that somehow stays graceful, weightless, and elegant. This tour de force in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is guaranteed to put a smile on your face over the coming 20-25+ years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points
This Thorn Clarke Mt. Crawford Riesling is a fine example of Mount Crawford climate, soil and aspect combining to display a varietal bouquet of spicy floral characters. With fresh, crisp citrus notes and a long finish on the palate, this wine can be enjoyed with a vast array of foods. The winemaker recommends enjoying this with spicy tandoori chicken.