Segries Clos Jean Alesi Cotes du Rhone Rouge is made from 1/3 each of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
This wine was originally called Segries Lanzac Clos Hermitage Cotes du Rhone Rouge
This 3.5 hectare vineyard, located in the famous “Quartier de la Chartreuse de Villeneuve-les-Avignon”, has been owned by the Formula 1 race car driver Jean Alesi since 1995. It is managed by Château de Ségriès.
This wine is a blend of 33% Grenache, 33% Syrah, and 33% Mourvedre sourced from 40-year-old vines. It was fermented in concrete vats then aged for nine months in 5% new oak barrels. The wine is a very grapey color in the glass. There is a light nose of tightly packed black fruit, dried herbs, pepper, and licorice. In the mouth there are tight-grained blue fruit, fine, powerful tannins, and a little strawberry flavor breaking loose. With air the wine reveals pencil and pepper flavors along with the structure for aging.
Yield: 40 hl/ha
Age of the vines: 40 years.
Vinification: 21 days skin maceration in temperature controlled concrete vats
Ageing: 9 months oak aging -5% new French oak from Seguin Moreau cooper and 95% of 1 year old barrels.
Delicious with roast meat, grilled vegetables, strong cheese and chocolate desserts.
Segries Cotes du Rhone Rouge is made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 10% Carignan
The wine is ripe, rich and round, with black raspberry, white pepper and spice flavors. True Cotes du Rhone in a Bistro style.
Segries Lirac Rouge Cuvee Reservee is made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre
Dark garnet in color. Expressive Red fruits and spicy. Sweet tannins and good length
Ageing up to 10 years
Vineyards Clay and limestone Area: 24 hectares Age of Vines: 80 years Yeild: 24 Hl/Ha Production: 570 Hl Harvest and VInification Harvest by hand and 100% destemmed. Maceration for 21 days in cement tank - Fermentation with controlled temperature at Château de Ségriès.
Pairs well with Stews, Grilled meats, Game, Various cheeses
Segries Lirac Rouge Cuvee Reservee is made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre
Dark garnet in color. Expressive Red fruits and spicy. Sweet tannins and good length
Ageing up to 10 years
Vineyards Clay and limestone Area: 24 hectares Age of Vines: 80 years Yeild: 24 Hl/Ha Production: 570 Hl Harvest and VInification Harvest by hand and 100% destemmed. Maceration for 21 days in cement tank - Fermentation with controlled temperature at Château de Ségriès.
Pairs well with Stews, Grilled meats, Game, Various cheeses
Review:
The 2022 Lirac Cuvée Réservée is also brilliant, with a juicy, layered, incredibly Provençal profile that has so much to love. Ripe black cherries, leather, peppery garrigue, and spice notes all give way to a medium to full-bodied, round, lush Southern Rhône that's balanced and has beautiful fruit as well as outstanding length. Based on 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and the balance Cinsault and Mourvèdre, destemmed and brought up in concrete, drink bottles over the coming 5-7 years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Segries Secret Grange Lirac Rouge is made from 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah.
This is a new wine for Chateau de Segries. 2013 is the first vintage.
The wine is dark and inky.
The aromas are intense and complex. It has fruit flavors of course, Strawberry and Blackberry, but it also have some interesting spice components, garrigue, pepper and licorice.
The finish is long and very pleasant as the tannins are round and well integrated.
La Grange is the name of the parcel where the grapes are grown. The soil is Clay and Limestone.
The average age of the vines is 80 years old.
Classic vinification in temperature controlled tanks. The skin contact maceration lasted 30 days and was completed in cement tanks.
The wine went through MaloLactic fermentation and was bottled without filtration.La Grange is the name of the parcel where the grapes are grown. The soil is Clay and Limestone.
The average age of the vines is 80 years old.
Classic vinification in temperature controlled tanks. The skin contact maceration lasted 30 days and was completed in cement tanks.
The wine went through MaloLactic fermentation and was bottled without filtration.
The grapes for this wine come vineyards in the villages of La Horra, Gumiel de Izan and Moradillo from 12 to 80 year-old vines.
Displaying a good vibrant deep cherry red color with fragrant, clear notes of cherry drop and violet there is a beautifully unadorned yet brooding quality to this; it feels deep, vinous and vibrant, flecked with bright red fruit notes, sweet earth and a darker, more spiced character on the finish.
The grapes for this wine come vineyards in the villages of La Horra, Gumiel de Izan and Moradillo from 12 to 80 year-old vines.
Displaying a good vibrant deep cherry red color with fragrant, clear notes of cherry drop and violet there is a beautifully unadorned yet brooding quality to this; it feels deep, vinous and vibrant, flecked with bright red fruit notes, sweet earth and a darker, more spiced character on the finish.
Sei Solo Ribera del Duero Tempranillo is made from 100 percent Tempranillo.
Named after Bach's six solos for violin, Sei Solo represents Javier Zaccagnini's vision of elegant, high-toned Ribera del Duero from the powerful, mineral soils of La Horra and the top vineyards of Barroso and Acos that are planted with old vines of 60 to 90 years old.
Displaying wonderful clarity of fruit and excellent transparency to the multi-layered flavors, there is no new oak influence on this at all, resulting in a wine that has nothing to hide behind. Deft tannins support a taut, mineral, dark fruited wine that, while tight knit and brooding is tremendously refined and vital and not at all tiring to drink. A Ribera built on elegance, refinement and nuance that promises great things for the future. A star is born.
Fermented in stainless steel tanks of small capacity, adapted to the size of every vineyard, allowing to do individual fermentation for every different plot.
Short and careful pumping over, never reaching high temperatures to respect the fruit and avoid over extraction of the tannins, gaining the full potential of elegance and finesse of the old vines. After alcoholic fermentation the wines are racked to two-year-old French barrels to undergo malolactic at low temperature ( less than 14 degrees C) . This process takes several months. When malolactic is finished, the wines are racked to 600 liter big barrels of French oak, which are not new to avoid a loss of balance and style of the wines. Aging in barrels for 20 months.
Review:
Made with Tempranillo from 60- to 100-year-old vines, this wine has a bouquet of purple plum, black currant and a hint of cedar. Plush tannins and striking acidity provide a backdrop to black cherry, Mission fig, caramel, milk chocolate and juniper-berry flavors. I did not want this wine to end; it is a gorgeous pour on its own, but to get the most out of it enjoy it alongside a Porterhouse or Tomahawk steak. Drink through 2034. — Mike DeSimone
- Wine Enthusiast (May 2024), 97 pts & Cellar Selection
Sei Solo Ribera del Duero Tempranillo is made from 100 percent Tempranillo.
Named after Bach's six solos for violin, Sei Solo represents Javier Zaccagnini's vision of elegant, high-toned Ribera del Duero from the powerful, mineral soils of La Horra and the top vineyards of Barroso and Acos that are planted with old vines of 60 to 90 years old.
Displaying wonderful clarity of fruit and excellent transparency to the multi-layered flavors, there is no new oak influence on this at all, resulting in a wine that has nothing to hide behind. Deft tannins support a taut, mineral, dark fruited wine that, while tight knit and brooding is tremendously refined and vital and not at all tiring to drink. A Ribera built on elegance, refinement and nuance that promises great things for the future. A star is born.
Fermented in stainless steel tanks of small capacity, adapted to the size of every vineyard, allowing to do individual fermentation for every different plot.
Short and careful pumping over, never reaching high temperatures to respect the fruit and avoid over extraction of the tannins, gaining the full potential of elegance and finesse of the old vines. After alcoholic fermentation the wines are racked to two-year-old French barrels to undergo malolactic at low temperature ( less than 14 degrees C) . This process takes several months. When malolactic is finished, the wines are racked to 600 liter big barrels of French oak, which are not new to avoid a loss of balance and style of the wines. Aging in barrels for 20 months.
Review:
"A very fine and serious Ribera del Duero that exhibits huge depth and uncoiled complexity. The aromas of spicy toast, chalky minerals, ripe but fresh blackberries, grilled herbs and cocoa powder fade and become more transparent. Well-judged wood influence. Really concentrated, mildly plush and hedonistic. Masses of fine, powdery tannins are fully integrated and cohesively knit. This will age beautifully. 100% tempranillo. Gorgeous. High alcohol, yes, but still poised. Drink from 2027, but this will hold well for years."
- James SUCKLING (December 2024), 97 pts
"The top wine from Sei Solo just seems to get better and better, making the most of a very good vintage in 2021. Sourced from seven different parcels in La Horra, this is an elegant, refined, beautifully judged Tinto Fino from a quality-obsessed winemaker. Framed by subtle oak, it's perfumed and acid-driven with sculpted tannins and a partnership of plum, black cherry fruit and toast. 2026-40"
- Tim Atkin MW (Ribera del Duero 2024 Special Report), 97 pts
Ti Cuntu… means “I will tell you a story…” in Sicilian dialect and it refers to the ability of the wines made from these native grapes to tell the story of their terroir and of their history. The label shows the dry stone walls and the wild myrtle which characterize their territory.
Frappato is a rare native grape of Vittoria and is almost exclusively grown in Eastern Sicily. The vineyards lie on the sides of Mont Iblei at 300 meters above sea level on a south-west exposure. The relatively infertile terrain encourages the concentrated structure with a light color and beautiful aromatics. Irrigation is generally avoided. There are 4,000 plants per hectare. Agriculture is sustainable and no herbicides or pesticides are used and wild herbs fill the vineyard rows.
Color: Light cherry red with garnet reflections.
Bouquet: A ripe strawberry, black cherry, roses and violets fill the bouquet along with notes of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.
Taste: Fresh and berry-filled with an intriguing root beer note. The tannins are refined and the acidity lively. The finish is notable and long.
Excellent with cold meats and salamis, seafood and light pasta dishes.
The 2021 Shafer Hillside Select is crafted exclusively from grapes grown on Shafer's rugged hillside vineyards, where steep, rocky soils push the vines to produce low yields of intensely concentrated fruit. The unique terroir, combined with Napa Valley's hallmark climate of warm, sunny days and cool nights, contributed to a vintage with exceptional structure, lush tannins, and deep, vibrant color. The 2021 growing season exemplified these conditions, allowing the grapes to mature beautifully by early September, resulting in a wine with refined, pure aromas and flavors that reflect the richness and elegance of the vineyard.
“Such a beautifully balanced wine with tremendous staying power and expressive Stags Leap ironstone minerality with heady sagebrush and conifer notes with white pepper and walnut husk. The wine has an impressive depth of red-toned fruit on the mid-palate framed by tannins that practically dance across the palate, exuding length, tension, and power. Huckleberry and black cherry fruits, black truffle, dried violets, graphite, and salted dark chocolate are all framed by racy acidity, which keeps everything fresh and lifted. The 2021 releases mark Elias Fernandez's 38th vintage as Shafer's winemaker. He was hired by John Shafer in 1984, two weeks out of UC Davis.”
-Decanter, 99 Points
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select was tasted as a barrel sample. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out with powerful notes of creme de cassis, plum preserves, and juicy blueberries giving way to an undercurrent of tar, candied violets, and star anise. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and impactful, delivering a firm, grainy texture and well-knit freshness to support the generous black and blue fruits, finishing long with loads of mineral and exotic spices sparks. This is impressive!”
-The Wine Independent, 98-100 Points
“As always, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that will spend 28 months in new barrels. Its deep purple hue gives way to a behemoth of a wine that has incredible cassis, black raspberry, and even blue fruits to go with loads of camphor, minty herbs, graphite, and darker chocolate. It's full-bodied, concentrated, yet pure, flawlessly balanced, and has a great finish.”
-Jeb Dunnuck, 97-99 Points
Sourcing immaculate fruit from the cool Adelaide Hills region, Shaw + Smith carry out whole berry fermentation in open-topped steel vats allowing for gentle yet thorough extraction and optimal aromatics. Maturation in French oak allows tannins to soften and aromas to harmonize before bottling under screw cap.
Shaw + Smith own two vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, at Balhannah and Lenswood, totalling 55 hectares. The vineyards are planted to varieties that perform particularly well in the region, namely Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz.
Hand picked, sorted and fermented as a combination of whole berries and whole bunches in open fermenters, with gentle plunging and minimal working. Aged in French oak for fourteen months, of which one third was new.
Shaw + Smith Shiraz is a medium bodied cool-climate Shiraz, in which balance is more important than power.
Decant and enjoy with slow cooked lamb shoulder.
Review:
Lovely crunchy fruit to this, with spice and dried-meat undertones through the wine, from the nose to the palate. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh and vivid finish. Tangy and bright. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
-James Suckling 94 Points
Franz Prager, co-founder of the Vinea Wachau, had already earned a reputation for his wines when Toni Bodenstein married into the family. Bodenstein’s passion for biodiversity and old terraces, coupled with brilliant winemaking, places Prager in the highest echelon of Austrian producers.
Smaragd is a designation of ripeness for dry wines used exclusively by members of the Vinea Wachau. The wines must have minimum alcohol of 12.5%. The grapes are hand-harvested, typically in October and November, and are sent directly to press where they spontaneously ferment in stainless-steel tanks.
Zwerithaler is a sub-site of Buschenberg and sits to the east of Weißenkirchen. The name Zwerithaler, meaning "nestled between the valleys," is a near monopole of Weingut Prager. It has a complex soil of paragneiss with alternating layers of dark and calcareous rock. Zwerithaler Kammergut is a 0.34-hectare parcel planted before WWI. The wine from these ungrafted, 100-year-old vines was bottled separately by Prager for the first time in 2015.
Light greenish yellow, silver reflections. Fine savory, delicate nuances of anise, tobacco notes, delicate yellow fruit, a touch of mango and honey blossom. Full-bodied, juicy white apple fruit, well-integrated, silky acidity structure, finesse and long persistence, saline finish, lingers for minutes, Veltliner at its best.
-Falstaff 99 Points
"The aromas of this old-vine gruner veltliner leap out and shake you to the core. Full-bodied and full of weighty and balanced layers of papayas, mangoes, nectarines, chives, white tea and oranges. Fantastic concentration, giving so much pleasure already, but it will keep blossoming if you give it time. From vines planted in 1907. Sustainable. Drink or hold."
-James Suckling 98 Points
Cabrieres Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge Les Silex is made from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah .
The vineyard is situated on the high tablelands, which are characteristic of the northern area of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The terrain consists mainly of alpine diluvium and chalky Miocenian soil, with large flint pebbles covering the surface. These pebbles conserve the heat of the day during the night, thus avoiding too much evaporation.
This 2020 has opened up and is drinking great right now. A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Elegant cherry red color, with expressive notes of red fruits (strawberry and raspberry). Mellow tannins, well-balanced on the palate. I feel I need to point out the freshness, it is bright and lively on the palate, something we don’t see a lot of in this region. This also makes it extremely food friendly as it can hold up to fatty proteins.
Very good with white meat, red meat, charcuterie and cheese.