Brunello di Montalcino is a bold and intricate Italian red wine

Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino 2018 Italian red wine

Le Chiuse Brunello di Montalcino 2018 is a bold and intricate Italian red wine that should be decanted for up to two hours before serving. This flagship wine from Le Chiuse offers a deep ruby color and a majestic flavor profile. Once opened, the aroma is vibrant and powerful, with hints of red cherry, plum, violet, and rich earthy notes of tobacco and leather.

The Sangiovese grapes used in this wine come from three vineyards with nutrient-rich clay soils. Located in the picturesque heart of Montalcino, Tuscany, Le Chiuse is a prestigious winery with a history dating back to the 18th century. Known for their traditional winemaking techniques, this wine is a true representation of the quality and craftsmanship that Le Chiuse is famous for.

Le Macchiole Paleo Bolgheri 2018 Italian red wine

Le Macchiole Paleo Bolgheri 2018 is a highly regarded Italian red wine that should be decanted for at least 30 minutes before enjoying. Established in the 1980s by Eugenio Campolmi and Cinzia Merli, Le Macchiole is a small winery in Tuscany with 25 hectares of organically farmed vineyards. Their focus is on showcasing the unique terroir and biodiversity of the region.

The winery specializes in growing French grape varieties like Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah, which thrive in the Bolgheri area. Paleo is considered the pinnacle of Cabernet Franc in Italy, embodying the essence of Bolgheri and its exceptional terroir. The wine is produced in an area near the Tyrrhenian Sea, where the Mediterranean climate and diverse soils create expressive and well-structured wines that age beautifully.

Paleo, first crafted in 1989 as a Bordeaux blend before becoming a pure Cabernet Franc in 2001, is aged for 14 months in French oak barrels after manual harvesting and vinification. In the glass, Paleo displays a deep ruby color and a complex aroma of ripe red fruits, balsamic, spice, and mineral notes. The palate offers a dynamic and powerful experience with a solid structure, integrated tannins, freshness, and a lingering warm finish.

This wine pairs wonderfully with game dishes or aged cheeses.

Les Asteries Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2007 French red wine

The Les Asteries Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2007 is a French red wine that should be decanted for at least 2 hours before serving. This Bordeaux wine comes from a single vineyard located in the heart of Saint Emilion, between Chateau Fonroque and Clos Fourtet, known for its limestone-rich soils. The wine has a fragrant aroma of blackberry and blackcurrant, complemented by hints of cocoa, coffee, leather, and prune.

Made from a classic blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, Les Asteries is a premium wine with a rich history – the 1.2-hectare vineyard boasts vines as old as eighty years.

Les Asteries Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2015 French red wine

Les Asteries Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2015 is a French red wine that should be decanted for at least 2 hours before serving. This Bordeaux wine comes from a single vineyard located in the limestone-rich soils between Chateau Fonroque and Clos Fourtet in the heart of Saint Emilion. The wine has a complex aroma of blackberry, blackcurrant, cocoa, coffee, leather, and prune.

It is a traditional blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, showcasing the classic flavors of Saint Emilion. The vineyard spans 1.2 hectares and boasts vines that are up to eighty years old.

Leviathan Red 2018 California red wine

Leviathan Red 2018 is a California red wine that should be decanted for one hour before serving. Founded in 2004 by Annie Favia and Andy Erickson, Leviathan aims to showcase the diverse terroirs of California. With over 35 years of experience in vineyards and cellars, the duo has worked at renowned wineries like Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle.

Leviathan allows Erickson and Favia to create their own wine without the constraints of big Napa names. The blend typically includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot sourced from various terroirs such as Coombsville, Moon Mountain, Carneros, and the Sierra Foothills. This wine bursts with boysenberry, black cherry, and ripe plum notes, complemented by hints of cocoa, nutmeg, and cigar box spice.

The palate offers a full body, firm tannins, and earthy flavors of bay, sage, and cedar. The long finish, bold fruit flavors, and well-structured nature make it ideal for cellaring or enjoying now with hearty red meat dishes.

Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape 2022 French red wine

Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape 2022 is a French red wine that should be decanted for an hour before serving. This wine comes from the Le Vieux Donjon winery in Chateauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhone Valley, which was established in the late 1970s by Lucien and Marie-Jose Michel and is now run by their children Claire and Francois. The estate has 15 hectares of vineyards primarily planted with red grape varieties.

This Chateauneuf du Pape wine is a refined blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault grapes, all hand-harvested from vineyards with clay-limestone and sandy soils. After fermentation in cement tanks at a controlled temperature, the wine is aged in 50hl vats for 12-18 months. In the glass, it presents a rich, deep color with hints of purple and an aromatic profile dominated by Grenache, offering flavors of raspberry, redcurrant, and blackberry.