Lustrous & Bold Reds
It’s usually around this time of year when we start getting apocalyptic weather headlines telling us that another Icelandic cold snap or Polar vortex is about to throw the UK’s travel infrastructure into meltdown and make the country look like Narnia for a month - forgetting that planes, trains and automobiles keep working in Iceland and Siberia, all year round.
It’s also around this time of year when us Wine Merchants start talking about robust, lustrous wines to match this change in weather - even if it still feels like Spring. Perhaps it’s all that steam coming out of Greta Thunberg’s ears at Cop27.
So, assuming that it WILL get colder in however many ‘sleeps’ there are until Santa shoots down your chimney in a pair of shorts and a T shirt, here is a selection of muscular, bold reds to ponder.
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2020 ACUMA Ego Bodegas
Jumilla Spain 14% Red
Monastrell, Syrah, Petit Verdot.
Intense cherry garnet, medium-high layer, clean and bright. The aroma of good intensity, elegant, fine and harmonious. The presence of red and black fruit is reflected in toasted aromas and minerals wrapped in creaminess...(read more)
Winemaker's notes
2020 REY DON GARCIA RIOJA Crianza Bodegas Ruconia
Rioja Alta Rioja Spain 13% Red
Graciano, Tempranillo, Mazuelo.
A lovely Crianza from Bodegas Ruconia. This is a firm favourite at L&S. Lots of lively cherry fruit wrapped up in attractive vanilla oak. Medium bodied, the wine holds a good high tone throughout. Another Rioja that...(read more)
L&S
2022 BUGALUGS Barossa Grenache Tim Smith Wines
Barossa Valley South Australia Australia 14.5% Red
Grenache, Mourvèdre.
As Tim said 'chuck the screwcap away, you won't need it again' This is the epitome of generosity of fruit, it has such an attractive floral sweet spot on the nose, with fresh raspberry & violets in abundance, I'd go...(read more)
L&S
2018 ZINFANDEL Cemetery Vineyard m2 Wines
Lodi California USA 14.5% Red
Zinfandel.
Deep and richly fruited. there's cinnamon and sweet tobacco balanced by delicious cherry fruit and plum. Yet again it is the drive and line that he conjures up in these Lodi gems that are so impressive. This is a beautif...(read more)
L&S
2021 PLAER Priorat Ritme Celler
Priorat Spain 15% Red
Garnacha, Carignan.
This may seem like a bit of a contradiction, but for a full bodied wine, the Plaer 2021 is really rather light on it's feet. It never gets heavy in any way, yes it has a bold tannic structure, but they are ripe and frame...(read more)
L&S
2018 MONTETI Tenuta Monteti
Maremma Tuscany Italy 14% Red
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot.
Cassis, mint, cherries and dark chocolate, quite a plush, elegant but concentrated feel. In the mouth it is sleek and bold, rich pure tannins, an aromatic fruit profile, cassis and cherries, dark chocolate, mint and toba...(read more)
L&S
2020 SAINT JOSEPH Domaine Graeme & Julie Bott
Northern Rhône Rhône France 13.5% Red
Syrah.
If there was a wine region that is in focus and a region of the moment then St Joseph could lay claim. There are two distinct styles, north & south. The G&J Bott Saint Jospeh Rouge is most definitely the north. 3...(read more)
L&S
2020 DAMASCENE Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch South Africa 14.5% Red
Cabernet Sauvignon.
Displaying beautiful oak aromas with fresh, red fruit tones, the 2020 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy with notes of cranberry skin and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, the palate offers a firm, rocky minerality tha...(read more)
Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate
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2020 LA QUINTA Podere Giodo di Carlo Ferrini
Tuscany Italy 14% Red
Sangiovese.
Lots of earth, meat and spice with cherries and spices. Bark and mushrooms, too. Medium-to full-bodied, deep and dense, but not heavy, with lots of forest fruit at the end. Rather unique. Sangiovese made first in stainle...(read more)
James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com
2020 DOMAINE DE CAMBES
Bordeaux France 13% Red
Cabernet Franc, Merlot.
80% Merlot with the balance being made up of Cabernet Franc. Similarly refined like Roc de Cambes but more damson, loganberry and fragrant blueberry. Structurally very together and harmonious. Lovely wine and as it was t...(read more)
L&S
2020 CÔTE RÔTIE Éminence Domaine Rémi Niero
Northern Rhône Rhône France 13.5% Red
Syrah, Viognier.
A blend of approximately one-third La Viallière (in the north) and two-thirds Coteaux de Bassenon (the very south) this barrel sample of the 2020 Côte Rôtie Eminence included about three or four per ce...(read more)
Joe Czerwinski, www.robertparker.com
2017 VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO Bossona Riserva Cantine Dei
Tuscany Italy 15.5% Red
Prugnolo Gentile.
It’s hard to put the 2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Bossona down, as it entrances with a dark and rich bouquet of rum-soaked cherries, dark chocolate, tobacco and sweet smoke. This is creamy yet energetic in f...(read more)
Eric Guido, www.vinous.comORDER
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