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With the snow beginning to fall last evening I decided to light a fire and tackle a story on a few bottles of wine from Spain. But when I went to retrieve the wines, a bottle that was lying next to the Spanish wines distracted me. It was a vintage 1996 Super Tuscan and it was begging to be opened on this cold and snowy evening.   For those of you who may not be familiar with Antinori, let me give you a quick introduction to this Tuscan family who began making wine in 1385 and spans 26 generations! It started with Giovanni di Piero Antinori who in 1385 became a member of the Florentine Winemaker’s Guild. Since that time tradition and passion for winemaking have been passed on from generation to generation. Today, Albiera Antinori is president of Marchesi Antinori along with the support of her sisters, Allegra and Alessia. Their father Marchesi Piero Antinori is the current Honorary President of the company.  Antinori family Photo credit: Antinori Antinori has 8 estates located throughout Tuscany and Umbria. And the one that I am focusing on today is Tenuta Tignanello estate located in the heart of Chianti Classico. It is comprised of 319 hectares of which 127 are dedicated to vines. The estate is divided into smaller parcels with 2 of its finest vineyards being Tignanello and Solaia. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are among the grape varieties grown here at an altitude of 1148 to 1312 feet above sea level. The dramatic diurnal temperature variation and soil that is rich in calcareous rock and marl all contribute to the concentration and uniqueness of this wine.  Tenuta Tignanello Photo credit: Antinori Tignanello is considered the original Super Tuscan, being the first Sangiovese red wine to be blended with untraditional grapes such as Cabernet. It also has the distinction of being the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques and is one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region to not use white grapes.  Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 1996 is a single vineyard blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet grapes. As stated on the bottle, “The wine is matured for about 14 months in oak casks followed by a further 12 months in the bottle prior to release. The wine is unfiltered." I had no idea what to expect, but the moment I began pouring the wine into my glass, an array of aromas wafted towards me making me giddy with excitement! The color was garnet with muted brick around the rim. Aromas of red berries, dried fruit, cherry, plum and hints of must greeted me. My first sip told me that this 1996 vintage still has it going on! I allowed the wine to open for about 15 minutes and then immersed myself in this expressive wine. The palate offered dark berries, cherry, plum, anise and hints of preserved fruit with a smooth and jammy finish. Yes, the wine is softer and a bit muted, but after 23 years it is truly impressive! I think it’s time to start opening more of these hidden gems in my cellar.
Alcohol: 13% As soon as I come back down to earth from this wonderful wine treat, I’ll be back with some very interesting Spanish wines. Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com When the doorbell rings and the UPS or FedEx delivery person is standing there with a large box, it usually means wine/spirit samples have arrived.  And I must admit that it always feels like Xmas opening up the boxes!  So, when a few wine samples of Domaine Bousquet arrived the other day that included a bottle of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, I thought it might be fun to open the Reserve along with a bottle of Domaine Bousquet Varietal Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 that had been sitting in my wine cellar for several months.  Although Argentina is considered “the land of Malbec” there are some mighty fine Cabernet Sauvignons being produced here, particularly from Domaine Bousquet.  Domaine Bousquet is located in the Gualtallary Valley in Tupungato, part of Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Sitting at an altitude of 4,000 feet, it is considered one of the highest altitude vineyards in Mendoza and the world! Gualtallary has up to 7 different types of soil, but Domaine Bousquet is the only estate with sand as its primary soil. Sandy soil drains well and retains heat that helps to produce highly aromatic wines with less acidity and low tannins. All of Domaine Bousquet wines are made from 100% organic fruit and always have been since the first vines were planted in 2000. With the benefits of cool climate, sandy soil, controlled water irrigation and healthy organic grapes, it sets the stage for quality wines. Premium Varietal Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 The wine is made from 100% organic fruit and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with minimal dependence on oak. The color is dark ruby with a tinge of purple. The nose offers fresh berries, dark cherry and spice. The palate is layered with cherry, pomegranate and dark berries with a touch of licorice and spice. Hints of pepper and chocolate linger on the finish. Tannins are smooth. Pair with bold cheeses, grilled meat and hearty soups. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $13  Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 The wine is made from100% organic fruit and is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Malbec. These are estate-grown grapes from plots with low yields. Wines are aged for 10 months in French oak. The color is purple with aromas of floral, cherry, plum and spice. The palate offers lots of juicy dark fruit, plum, strawberry, spice, black cherry and hints of smoke and anise. This is a full-bodied, smooth wine that is quite expressive. Serve with spicy cuisine, aged cheese and hearty entrees. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $18  If you would like more detailed information about Domain Bousquet’s history, its owners and their "French-infused" Argentinian wines, please click on the menu at right to read my stories.
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com With autumn fast approaching, my attention is turning to a more focused look at red wines and a heartier dining menu. However, as I’ve said many times before, I do enjoy white, rosé and sparkling wines all year long! Donald Hess is the founder of Hess Wines, a family-owned, fifth-generation company in Napa Valley, CA. In the 1970s, Donald made a business trip to Napa Valley and it was during this visit that he took an interest in mountain winegrowing. He learned that the Mount Veeder mountain vineyards were an ideal area for growing grapes which produce unique character and flavor due to the microclimate and soils.  In 1978 Donald made his first land purchase on Mount Veeder, a property in which winemaking and farming go back as far as 1876. This property is now the site of the Hess Collection Winery. By 1982, Donald had acquired 900 acres and in 1986 he opened the Hess Collection Winery to the public. Dave Guffy became Director of Winemaking in 1999 and Donald formally retired in 2011, passing on the baton to Timothy Persson as CEO and fifth generation of the Hess family. Hess Wines focuses on sustainable practices in the vineyard and winery. In addition to its mountain vineyards, Hess Wines has estate vineyards in areas such as Pope Valley and near the Carneros region of the Napa Valley. Hess Wines also produces wine in Argentina and South Africa. I recently received two bottles of Hess Select wines, made from grapes grown in the Central and North Coast of California.   Hess Select Central Coast Pinot Noir 2016 is 100% Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands region of the Central Coast. The wine is aged in neutral French oak, up to 12 months. The color is ruby with enticing aromas of sweet spice, cherry and strawberry. The palate is layered with red cherry, yellow plum, strawberry, pomegranate and allspice and finishes with a touch of pepper and vanilla. Smooth tannins and nice acidity make this a great wine to pair with fish, white meat, cheese and light pasta. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $20   Hess Select North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petite Sirah, 4% Malbec, 2% Syrah, 2% Merlot and 2% Zinfandel. The grapes are harvested from the North Coast known for its mild Mediterranean climate and well-drained volcanic and gravelly soils. The wines are aged in 35% new French and American oak for 18 months. The wine color is dark ruby with juicy aromas of cherry, blackberry, spice and cocoa. The palate offers rich jammy flavors of dark cherry, plum, blackberry, spice and a touch of anise, vanilla and toast on the finish. This is a smooth and beautifully balanced wine. Pair with meats, stew, hearty soups, grilled veggies and an array of cheeses. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $19   Hess Wines has a wide range of wines to choose from. Visit their website for more information. https://www.hesscollection.com
Happy Wine Wednesday! Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com As you may have guessed from previous posts, I am a big fan of Argentine wines. I have sampled many wines from this country including Bodega Trivento wines located in Mendoza. Trivento wines have oodles of flavor and personality and their price to value ratio is a bonus. So I was quite happy when bottles of Trivento Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec arrived.   For those of you who may not have read my previous posts on Mendoza or Bodega Trivento, here is a quick recap. Mendoza is considered the “heart of wine growing” in Argentina, with over 70% of all Argentine wine produced here. Of that amount, 85% of it is Malbec. Bodega Trivento is located in Mendoza, Argentina against the backdrop of the Andes. In the mid-1990s Concha y Toro, Chile’s leading wine producer, purchased this collection of eight vineyards spreading across the Maipu, Tupungato, Uco Valley, Luján de Cuyo, San Martin and Rivadavia districts, making it one of the largest wine estates in Mendoza with 3,185 acres.  The name Trivento means “three winds”, referring to the Polar, Zonda and Sudestada winds that blow across the sun-drenched and arid land of Mendoza. These winds are an integral part in the growth and unique character of the grapes. The frigid Polar winds of winter forces the sap deep into the vines. Next, the Zonda winds hurtle down from the Andes out of the West, awakening dormant sap to generate new spring growth. And finally, in the summer months, the Sudestada winds drawing from the East provides a cool breeze from the scorching sun, giving the grapes relief and aid in ripening. Trivento’s high-altitude and huge swings in day and night temperatures help influence and enhance the wines’ aromatic quality. In addition, rainfall averages only 8 inches a year. However, Mother Nature lends a hand by irrigating the vineyards with the spring snowmelt that cascades from the mountains nearby. All eight vineyards of Trivento are equipped with state of the art technology, drip irrigation systems and a dedicated team of winemakers and technicians. The Trivento Reserve Collection wines are made by Maximiliano Ortiz, a native of Mendoza, who apprenticed with internationally renowned Italian consulting enologist, Alberto Antonini, who still consults for Trivento. The grapes for the Reserve line are harvested by hand and aged for about six months in French oak barrels, followed by six months in bottle. The Trivento Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon harvested from the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo districts. The color is dark ruby with aromas of red berries, pepper and sage. The palate presented bitterness at first, which immediately segued into layers of cherry, tobacco, spices and a hint of cocoa with a pleasing finish. This is a full-bodied wine with medium tannins. Alcohol: 13.3% SRP: $11  The Trivento Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec 2016 is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Malbec. Grapes are harvested from the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo districts. The color is deep garnet with aromas of fresh cherry, plum spice and pepper. The palate offers fresh red and black berries, chocolate, spices and a hint of herbs with soft tannins and a lingering finish. Alcohol: 13.30% SRP: $11  With the rain coming down and the winds howling outside, I can’t think of a better time spent, than sipping wines from Argentina!  Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com
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