La Posta Armando Bonarda Argentine red wine
La Posta Armando Bonarda 2023 Argentine red wine
La Posta Armando Bonarda 2023 is a red wine from Argentina that should be decanted for an hour before serving. If you want to try something different from the usual Malbec, this wine made from the Bonarda grape is a great choice. The wine has aromas of red and black fruits, with hints of smoke, oak, sandalwood, and cocoa.
La Posta was created by Nicolas and Laura Catena, along with Luis Reginato, and some grape-growing families in Mendoza in 2000. The grapes for this wine come from a single vineyard in Guaymallen, tended by the Armando family since 1887. It is a full-bodied wine with flavors of blackberry, raspberries, oak, and dark chocolate, along with ripe tannins, acidity, and a long finish.
Bonarda wines are similar to Zinfandel and pair well with steak, barbecue, or cheese.
La Raia Gavi 2023 Italian white wine
La Raia Gavi 2023 is a crisp Italian white wine that is best served chilled. It has a lively flavor profile with refreshing hints of citrus, peach, and mineral notes. The wine has a bright acidity, light body, and a clean finish that makes it perfect for sipping on its own or pairing with seafood, fish, tomato-based pasta dishes, charcuterie, or cheeses.
The Cortese grapes used to make this wine are fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve their natural vibrancy and create a light and elegant final product. La Raia Gavi is produced on the biodynamic Ravi estate, where the grapes are grown without herbicides or pesticides. The estate, owned by the Rossi Cairo family since 2003, is dedicated to restoring biodiversity and nurturing the local ecosystem.
The winemaking process is overseen by Piero Ballario, a renowned consultant for small Italian wineries. La Raia Gavi is a high-quality wine crafted from indigenous grape varieties, reflecting the estate’s commitment to sustainability and producing top-notch wines.
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010 Spanish red wine
The La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2010 is a top-quality Spanish red wine that should be decanted for an hour before serving. La Rioja Alta is a renowned producer of traditional-style red wines, with a history dating back to 1890 when five local winemaking families came together to export their wines internationally. The estate now spans 300 hectares in the Rioja Alta region, remaining committed to excellence and local winemaking traditions.
The Gran Reserva 890 is their flagship wine, made primarily from Tempranillo grapes from estate vineyards in Brinas, Villalba, and Labastida, with a touch of Mazuelo and Graciano. The grapes are carefully selected and vinified before being aged for 6 years in American oak barrels made in their own cooperage. The resulting wine boasts firm tannins, a strong structure, and rich flavors of dark fruit, spices, earth, and leather.
This Rioja is perfect for aging for another decade or two, but can also be enjoyed now with hearty red meat dishes.
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 2015 Spanish Rioja wine
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 2015 is a Spanish Rioja wine that should be decanted for at least an hour before serving. La Rioja Alta was founded in 1890 by five local growers looking to expand their reach beyond Spain, leading to a merger with Bodegas Ardanza in 1904. This Gran Reserva 904 is primarily made from 60-year-old Tempranillo vines in Rodezno, Brinas, and Villalba, with a touch of Graciano from Montecillo for added elegance.
The grapes are crushed and fermented naturally for 75 days before aging in American oak barrels for almost three years. The wine is then racked eight times before being bottled the following year. This wine offers a harmonious blend of red plum and cherry flavors that evolve into earthy and savory notes on the palate.
It is a versatile wine that can be aged further or enjoyed now with hearty dishes like game, prime steak, or beef cheeks with creamy polenta.
La Rioja Alta Torre de Ona Martelo Rioja Reserva 2019 red wine
The La Rioja Alta Torre de Ona Martelo Rioja Reserva 2019 red wine should be decanted at least 1 hour before serving. La Rioja Alta focuses on showcasing the unique terroir of the top sites in Rioja’s Alavesa region. Established in 1995, the winery carefully studies and divides its vineyards to capture the best expressions of the land, choosing to vinify each parcel separately.
The Torre de Ona line represents one of these divisions. The 2015 vintage had excellent weather, resulting in perfect conditions for ripening the grapes on the estate. This high-quality fruit allows for long-term aging potential in the bottle.
The wine appears garnet red with a medium-high intensity and offers aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, as well as hints of clove, white pepper, anise, and cedar. It has a full yet fresh mouthfeel and a long finish. This bold wine pairs well with creamy or fatty dishes to balance its tannic structure.
Enjoy it with aged cheese, charcoal-grilled vegetables, marbled meats, or a hearty game stew.
La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2019 Spanish red wine
La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva is a Spanish red wine known for its traditional style. Established in 1890 by five local growers, La Rioja Alta aimed to showcase quality Rioja wines to European markets. With 300 hectares of organically farmed vineyards in Rioja Alta, the winery focuses on quality and tradition.
The Vina Ardanza Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo from 30-year-old vines and Garnacha from Tudelilla. After manual harvesting and spontaneous fermentation, the wine is aged for 36 months in American oak barrels for the Tempranillo and 30 months for the Garnacha. This extended aging process results in a classic Rioja flavor profile with red fruit, toasted oak, sweet spice, and vanilla notes.
The wine has soft tannins, a medium body, and a long finish, making it an ideal pairing for beef dishes, barbecued ribs, or game meats like venison.