| Hello wine clubbers, your December edition of Vine Arts Wine Club is here. This is the first month we've offered an all red wine option, so we hope you love the wines. Thanks for all of your support in 2021. Have a great holiday season! Cheers! |
| 2020 La Comarcal Delmoro Tinto Valencia, Spain $25.94 | Where Located in the southeast corner of Spain is the Comunidad of Valencia. Sometimes referred to as the Levant (“getting up place”), the region is positioned between the cool waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the broad expanse of Spain’s arid central plain. Created in the 1950’s, the appellation includes 13,000 hectares of vineyards separated into two distinct areas. 65 km south of the city of Valencia, to the west of Gandia, the smaller section is known as Clarino. Positioned to the west and north of the city, the larger section is home to most of the region's vineyards and is divided into 3 subzones: Alto Turia, Valentino, and Moscatel de Valencia. The topography extends from coastal plains to the foothills of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range. While scant vegetation is apparent further inland, much of the land nearer to the coast is heavily cultivated. Planted not only to grapevines, the area is covered in olive groves and orange trees. What Although there is no single definitive Valencian wine style, richly fruit-forward red wines are common. The Delmoro Tinto is made from grapes harvested from organically farmed vineyards near the village of Venta del Moro. The vines range in age between 15 and 50 years old. The cuvée comprises 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah. Most of the Garanacha was harvested from a 4 ha single-vineyard called Guindal. The site was planted in 1987 at an elevation of 600 meters. The Syrah was harvested from bush-trained, old bush vines. Hand selected and sorted in the vineyard, 70% of the grapes were destemmed and crushed. 30% of the grapes were whole-fermented with the stems for added texture and complexity. Fermentation was done separately by variety with indenegenous yeasts. Prior to blending, the Garnacha was aged 8 months in stainless steel tanks, while the Syrah was aged 8 months in concrete tanks. Once rested, the wine was bottled without fining or filtration. Who La Comarcal is a boutique wine project created by rising-winemaker, Javi Revert and Victor Marqués. Meaning “the District”, the project was founded in 2017 in the mountainous village of Venta del Moro. The aspirations of Javi and Victor was to create youthful wines made from endemic Valencian grape varieties harvested from high elevation sites. Good friends, they met each other while working together for ten years at the influential Valencian winery, Celler del Roure. Self-described “travelling winemakers”, the duo are always exploring their region in search of distinct plots of old vines. Their overriding ethos is to farm the vines as naturally as possible to allow the uniqueness of each vineyard site to shine through. Taste The entrypoint to Javi and Victor’s red wines, the Delmoro Tinto is fresh and packed with notes of high-toned Mediterranean fruits and herbs. Garnet red in colour, the wine exhibits fragrant aromas of stewed red plums, strawberry preserve, orange rind, thyme and cinnamon. The palate is medium bodied with sunbaked tulare cherry flavours, balanced acidity, and approachable tannins. The finish is a touch rustic with a dry balsamic note. Pair this wine with savoury and flavourful dishes such as a paella prepared with a variety of meats. One of the most famous Spanish dishes, paella hails originally from Valencia. |
| 2020 Temple Bruer Mataro Shiraz Grenache South Australia, Australia $28.30 | Where As suggested by the name, South Australia is located at the southern end of the country. Abbreviated as SA, it’s one of Australia’s 6 states and covers some of the most arid parts of the country. Spanning 1200 kilometers from east to west, it is a vast region. Given its massive size, South Australia is home to many micro-climates and sub-zones. Most viticulture is centered in the southern part of the state where temperatures are cooler. Temperatures in the north are too hot for the vines to manage. South Australia is home to some of the country's most famous wine appellations, such as Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and Riverland. What South Australia is well known for producing robust and powerful red wines. A productive region, it is responsible for half of Australia’s total wine production. Accounting for 1 in 3 vines, Shiraz is the flagship grape variety. The red wine blend is made from a cuvee of Mataro (aka Mourvèdre), Grenache, and Shiraz harvested from organically grown vines. The vineyard parcels were crushed and fermented separately. Daily pump overs were used for good fermentation temperature control and improved colour extraction. Following fermentation the wine saw some influence of French oak for added complexity. Fully vegan, the wine saw no addition of sulphur dioxide during the winemaking process. Who Temple Bruer was created in the 1970’s by David and Barbara Bruer, who established their first small vineyard on the main road between the towns of Strathalbyn and Milang, in the grape-growing district of Langhorne Creek. David managed Roseworthy College's Oenology Department before becoming a full-time winemaker, while Barbara also taught chemistry at Roseworthy College and Flinders University for ten years. 50 years later, Temple Bruer is one of Australia’s largest organic wine labels. It’s one of a few Australian wineries that are not only fully organic but also carbon neutral. Since 2006 the wines have been made without the assistance of any preservatives. In addition to Temple Bruer’s first vineyard in Langhorne Creek, the estate now includes vineyards in Eden Valley and Riverland. The winery is still managed by David Bruer, who has been joined in the cellar by Michael Bruer and Verity Cowley. Taste The classic Rhône GSM blend is a favourite of Australian winemakers, and rightfully so. The three varieties perfectly complement each other. The Temple Bruer Mataro Shiraz Grenache displays plenty of Australian ripeness and piquant spice. Purplish red in colour, the nose expresses concentrated aromas of fully mature blackberry, raspberry, red plum, and Herbes de Provence. The palate is medium bodied with meaty tannins, and flavours of blackberry and green peppercorn. Complemented by a bitter dark chocolate finish, this red wine is a great match for barbecued meats. |
| 2020 Domaine Lyrarakis Liatiko “Queen” Red Crete, Greece $28.54 | Where Positioned at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea, Crete is Greece’s largest island. Spanning 260 km from west to east, the island is separated from the Greek mainland by 160 km of azure blue waters. A chunk of land steeped in history, Crete has been inhabited for 130,000 years and was home to Europe’s first advanced civilization. The land of the Minoans, who ruled Crete from 2700 to 1420 BC, this is where the great hero Theseus killed the half-man/half-bull known as the Minotaur. The island's landscape consists of 1,046 km of coastline, and a largely mountainous interior. Crete’s highest peaks rise up to 2,000 meters in elevation. Regarding viticulture, there are four official PDO wine regions: Peza, Arhanes, Dafnes and Sitia. The vineyards are located on the north side of the island, sheltered from hot North-African winds and cooled by breezes from the Aegean Sea. In search of cool, acidity preserving temperatures, growers plant their vines as high as 900 in elevation. What The Lyrarakis “Queen” red is made from one of Crete’s key indigenous grape varieties - Liatiko. A grape with ancient origins, its name derives from the short-form Greek word for “July”, a reference to Liatiko’s tendency to ripen early. A versatile variety for winemakers to work with, it can be used for both dry and sweet wine styles. Sweet Liatiko wines are typically made from grapes that have been sundried rather than fortified. Although the skins are heavily pigmented, winemakers can struggle to get full colour extraction from Liatiko grapes. The colour is particularly prone to “bricking”, an effect where the wine's colour shifts to a garnet brown-orange hue. On the palate Liatiko wines are most often full-bodied, with high alcohol and soft tannins. The fruit for the “Queen” Liatiko was harvested from dry-farmed sites located in Rethymno, central Crete, and Sitia in eastern Crete. Macerated for 3 days, the wine was vinfied in INOX tanks with selected organic yeasts. Who Located south of the city of Heraklion in the village of Alagni, Domaine Lyrarakis is a leader in Crete’s wine industry. Created in 1966, the winery has done much to preserve and realize Crete’s distinct indegenous grape varieties. Thanks to the hard work of Manolis Lyrarakis and his brother Sotiris, varieties such as Plytó, Dafni, and Vidiano have been saved from the dustbin of history. Their single varietal Plytó, of which there are only 6 hectares planted on Crete, was the first search example ever released for commercial sale. A small business, until 1992 Manolis and Sotiris would sell their entire production in bulk. Today managed by Sotiris’ son Bart, Domaine Lyrarakis is held-up as an archetype for other Cretan wineries to follow. Taste “Like a hug” - this is how Master of Wine Yiannis Karakasis describes Liatiko. Working off of this friendly description, one could describe the Lyrarakis “Queen” red as a “half-hug”, being fresher in style and more relaxed. Medium garnet in colour, it’s sweet-scented with aromas of lambert cherries, wild berries, pomegranate and marmalade. The palate is medium bodied with fine tannins, radiant red fruit flavours, and a fine finish. When enjoying this wine, serve it slightly chilled. Lively and unpretentious, it’s a great match for pork gyro. |
| 2019 Mas de Sainte Croix Côtes du Rhône Villages Tendresse d'un Climat Rhône Valley, France $20.46 | Where Valréas is located at the northeastern corner of the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation in southern France. The area is situated near the point where the Southern Rhône meets the Northern Rhône. The vineyards are located on the rocky, sandy soils of a low, flat plateau to the west of the village of Valréas. Although part of the Mediterranean Southern Rhône, the climate is closer to that of the cooler Northern Rhône. Unsheltered by the surrounding landscape, the vineyards of Valréas are heavily impacted by the fierce Mistral wind. What Valréas is predominantly red wine country. With 479 hectares planted to vine, about 99% of the area's total production is given to red grape varieties. Due to the close proximity to the Northern Rhône, Syrah plays a more significant role than in areas further south. Mourvèdre plays a minor part, where Grenache must make up at least 50% of the blend of any rosé or red labelled as Côtes du Rhône Villages. Historically the wines of Valréas were considered of a superior quality. In fact the wines of the area were favoured by Pope Clement V when the center of the Catholic world was moved from Rome to Avignon during the 14th century. The Tendresse d'un Climat is made from a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. The grapes were harvested from stony hillside vineyards with south and southwest exposures. The vines are located on a 350 to 400 meter high plateau situated between Valréas and Vinsobre. Due to the elevation, the vines experience reliably cool nighttime temperatures. Once in the winery the grapes were fermented and aged for 12 months in concrete tanks to preserve freshness in the wine. Who The history of Mas de Sainte Croix goes back centuries, when the domaines land was owned by the church. The first building constructed on the site was a chapel, and was managed by a chaplain of the papal territories. Confiscated from the church during the revolution, it was passed on to private owners. Sold numerous times over the years, the estate was eventually purchased in 2002 by the current owners. It was the previous owner, Mr Guy Laussinot, who had planted the property's 25 hectares of vineyards. Prior to this the land was used to grow some vines, but also lavender, and for raising cattle. The winery itself was built in 2002 and since 2018 the vines have been farmed according to organic standards. Taste A step above the basic Côtes du Rhône in quality, the Mas de Sainte Croix Côtes du Rhône Villages Tendresse d'un Climat offers plenty of fruity freshness with a round and rich flavours. Ruby red in colour, it exudes fetching provençal aromas of lavender, tarragon, thyme, bay leaf, and stewed strawberry and plum. The palate is medium bodied with good ripeness, soft tannins and ripe flavours. The finish has length and some warmth, but not overly so. Like other good examples of Côtes du Rhône Villages, this wine is extremely versatile when it comes to food pairings. A staple of brasserie menus everywhere, it goes fantastically well with chunky pieces of Rosette Lyonnaise. Made from leg of pork, this cured saucisson is very popular in southern France, particularly in Lyon. |
| 2018 Cantine Casabella Gutturnio Superiore Emilia-Romagna, Italy $21.48 | Where Gutturnio is a recently recognized wine appellation located south of Piacenza in the beautiful Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Officially designated as a DOC in 2010, there are just over 2,000 hectares of vineyards within its borders. Gutturnio gets its name from gutturnium, the Roman word for a wine jug. Emilia-Romagna itself has been home to viticulture since the time of the Etruscans. Gutturnio is located in the western Emilia section of the region, where the north facing slopes of the Apennines drop down to low lying plains. A mostly flat landscape, nearly half of Emilia-Romagna is designated as plains. The northern border is marked by the Po River which cuts across the Italian Peninsula from west to east. What Emilia Romagna is a rich region, in wealth and gastronomy. The regional capital Bologna, has one of Italy's highest quality of life indices. The region's cities attract foodies from around the globe. Emilia-Romagna can lay claim to creating dishes like tortellini, lasagne, gramigna and tagliatelle. Home to Parmigiano Reggiano, it is the source of the best balsamic vinegar in the world. With all of this going for it, you would think that Emilia Romagna would have endless amounts of high quality wine. Shockingly though, only 15% of the wine in Emilia-Romagna is designated as DOC. The region's most famous wine, Lambrusco, has long been ridiculed as cheap and sweet (a reputation that sadly discounts the delicious traditional Lambruscos being made today). It is worth being said though that the Italians themselves consider Emilia-Romagna to be a source of great, and underrated wine. The area of Gutturnio makes wines made from a blend of grape varieties. Barbera must account for between 55 and 70% of the cuvee, with Croatina constituting the remainder. The local name for Croatina is Bonarda, a name shared by at least two other grape varieties. The Superiore designation is reserved for wines which have at least 12.5% alcohol by volume. The Cantine Casabella Gutturnio Superiore is made from 55% Barbera and 45% Croatina/Bonarda. Who Cantine Casabella was created in the early twentieth century by Luigi Montemartini , a natural science scholar and deputy of the Kingdom of Italy. The Montemartini family sold the property in 1914. Changing hands over the years, eventually it was purchased in 1991 by a cooperative of investors, who took over 50 hectares of vineyards. In 1998 they were able to further expand their holdings when they bought the Castell'Arquato winery. Today the estate produces wines made from the grapes of 150 winemakers who tend vines from Ziano to Val d’Arda. The modern winery, which makes use of all the most up to date technologies, sits in a valley overlooked by the medieval Castell’Arquato. Taste It is said that the wines of Emilia resemble the wines of northern Italy, while the wines of Romagna are more similar to the wines of southern Italy. The Cantine Casabella Gutturnio Superiore certainly could be compared to the Barbera based wines of Piedmont or Lombardy. Deep blue-ruby in colour, on the nose it has aromas of ripe blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and baking spice. The palate is lush with round tannins and balanced acidity. On the finish it is dry with lingering succulent blackfruit flavors. This wine is an excellent choice for pairing with the rich cuisine of Emilia-Romagna. A sure hit with meaty lasagna! |
| 2018 Luis Segundo Correas El Ciprés Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza, Argentina $18.88 | Where Luis Segundo Correas is a winery that owns vineyards in three different areas of Mendoza: Medrano, Maipú and Luján de Cuyo. Maipú and Luján de Cuyo are Mendoza’s two principal subregions, and home to Mendoza’s oldest wineries. With about 150,000 hectares of vineyards, Mendoza is the largest Argentine wine region by a large margin. The area sits on the western edge of Argentina in the shadow of the Andes Mountains. Key to Mendoza’s success is the region's high elevation, ranging from 800 to 1200 meters above sea level. Protected by a rainshadow, the area experiences sunny and warm days followed by reliably cool nights, which allows grapes to ripen slowly. Mendoza is so dry that irrigation from mountain fed rivers is necessary for vineyards to survive. What Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for only 15% of all vineyard plantings in Mendoza, a small percentage in comparison to Malbec. Even so, Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly well suited to Mendoza. The dry climate and poor, stony soils create red wines that are highly structured, with concentrated flavours and firm tannins. The El Ciprés Cabernet Sauvignon is made from grapes picked from the Doña Ofelia estate in the district of Medrano, where the vineyards are planted 850 meters above sea level. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are hand harvested from old vines which are up to 70 years old. Following extended maceration on the skins, the wine was fermented with selected yeasts and aged in stainless steel tanks. Who The Correas family have been living in Mendoza since the end of the 16th century. In 1860 they became involved in the wine industry when Don Segundo Correas planted French grape varieties and constructed a winery. In the 1930’s Julian Correas founded the winery ‘El Cypress’, which established a reputation for making some of Argentina’s best Cabernet Sauvignons. In the 1970’s the present winery at Tres Acequias Street was expanded to manage the family's increased holdings. Today the Correas family are able to produce wines made exclusively from grapes harvested from their 400 hectares of vineyards. Winemaking at Luis Segundo Correas is overseen by Diego Correas and oenologist Daniel Mayorga. Taste The Luis Segundo Correas El Ciprés Cabernet Sauvignon is a youthful and easy drinking plush red wine. Bright ruby red in colour, the plummy nose has aromas of cassis, cherry licorice, black currant, and violet. The medium-full bodied palate is rich with lavish blackfruit flavours and supple tannins. Balanced acidity adds freshness, extending into a dry finish. A wine that can be enjoyed with or without food, it is a strong match for sweet and spicy, barbecued pork ribs. |
