A trio of great reds for the Holidays!
A trio of great reds for the holidays!
Fontanafredda Serralunga d’Alba Barolo 2017
Piedmont lies at the foot of the Alps and produces renowned wines including Barolos made from their flagship varietal, Nebbiolo. The historic Fontanafredda winery was founded in 1858 and this Alba wine is from one of the 11 villages that make Barolo shine. This Serralunga is hip. It’s tiled, clear, with kirsch cherry, dried flowers, a nice patina of tannins and an ineffable length on the palate. A short period of decanting, 30 to 60 minutes, will give it wings. A succulent organic wine that can be kept for 10 to 15 years, even if it is already very good. Enjoy it with prosciutto or a fine piece of veal to embellish it. Brilliant!
Contino Reserva Rioja 2017
The province of Rioja is located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula and is the capital of Spain’s renowned wines. It is surrounded by mountains in the north of its Avalesa section and the Ebro River in the south, and has a Mediterranean climate. This bottle is the result of 130 years of craftsmanship and great care. On the nose, the berries are charming, complementing the balsamic floral notes. On the palate, we find cherry, tertiary aromas of mushroom and cigar box. . . A minimum of one year’s maturation in oak barrels, of which 40% are American and 60% are French, as well as one year in the bottle, enhances the whole, bringing out its spicy notes and smooth, even silky tannins. What freshness, complexity and personality! It will enhance red meats and grilled vegetables, as well as cheeses such as Manchego. Decanter gave it a score of 89 out of 100, it is balanced and elegant! To go higher, consider the singular Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja 2015.
- 85 % Tempranillo
- 10 % Graciano
- 3 % Mazuelo
- 2 % Grenache
Château Arnauld Cru Bourgeois Haut-Médoc 2015
- 52% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 43% Merlot
- 5% Petit Verdot
