Thierry Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin Vigne Belle 2014

Thorn Clarke William Randel Cabernet is made from 100 percent Cabernet

Deep red in colour. The nose is lifted and expressive with lovely Christmas cake and mint characters along with black olives and tobacco leaf adding complexity. The palate is medium to full bodied with blueberry and hints of cassis as the primary fruit flavours. The palate has great poise with the vibrant fruit, spicy French oak and fine tannin structure all wonderfully balanced, and the wine finishes with great length of fruit.

Review:

Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from an excellent vintage. Deep, dark fruit crashes over firm, ropey tannin. To say that this will live and mature over a long period is an understatement. Mint, cassis, clovey oak, undergrowth. A substantial wine with a substantial future. - The Wine Front 94 Points 

Raymond Chan, NZ, April 2016

 Dark, deep, near saturated black-red colour with a touch of garnet on the edge. The nose is very firm and tightly bound with concentrated aromas of blackberry fruit harmoniously entwined with layers of menthol and cedar, revealing nuances of eucalypt, black olives and cassis. The aromatics build in intensity with aeration. Full-bodied, the palate features a firm and tightly concentrated heart with layers of rich and lusciously sweet, blackcurrant fruit with cassis, blackberries, menthol. mint and cedar. The palate is well-constructed with plenty of fine-grained tannin extraction forming a firm and dense core, with integrated acidity lending tension and drive, and enhancing the fruit sweetness. The structure carries the flavours to a long, lingering finish. This is a finely concentrated, firm, but fine-grained Cabernet Sauvignon with sweet blackcurrant fruit and layers of cassis, menthol, mint and cedar. Serve with lamb and beef, and with hard cheeses over the next 7-10 years. Fruit from ‘Milton’ Park, Eden Valley, fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 16 months in French oak hogsheads. -18.5/20 Raymond Chan, NZ, April 2016

Vitanza Quadrimendo is made from 50% Sangiovese Grosso, and 50% Merlot

This wine is flavorful and complex with a good backbone of acid and tannin.
Deep red ruby color. Intense aromas with characteristic peppery notes. Dry, tannic and powerful but with a smooth body.

Total aging time was 12 months in French oak, and 12 months bottle refinement.

"Plenty of spice, chili and berry character with hints of cedar and dried mushrooms. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. A blend of sangiovese and merlot. Drink now or hold."

- Jamessuckling.com (August 2015), 92 pts

The namesake knoll from where this fruit is sourced is part of a larger area of the Napa Valley floor in the far north of St Helena where there is topographical undulation, indicating a onetime geologically active area where there was plenty of movement and unsettled earth as the valley floor was forming millions of years ago. The benefit is wine grapes grown in an area like this display more complexity and in particular, spice notes that other valley floor sites do not inherently possess.

The invitingly beautiful, rich, lush burgundy color is your first sense engaging you to taste. The nose gives off black currant, velvety vanilla, subtle fig, and crisp bell pepper with a clean refreshing hint of grapefruit. The finish is long and beautiful with a liveliness and hint of richness, all leading you to a pleasurable lasting finish.