James Suckling is regarded worldwide as an authority and prominent critic of wine and vintage cigars. He is also a former Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief of Wine Spectator as well as European Editor of Cigar Aficionado. His website - ww.jamessuckling.com - posts daily wine ratings, wine reviews, HD wine videos, articles, and wine tasting notes.
Valle Las Acequias - Bonarda 2016
Winery: Luis Segundo Correas
Area: Medrano, Mendoza
Grapes: 90% Bonarda 10% Malbec
Vintage: 2016
SKU: 191833
Alc/Vol: 14%
Origin: Estate Dona Ofelia. Low vineyard of 30 year old.
Harvest: Hand-picked in small plastics bins. Selection of clusters
Color: Deep intensity dark berries and cherries color.
Aroma: Dark berries with subtle Chocolate notes. Oak give elegant soft vanilla
Flavor: Attractive fleshy character with cedar and fine spice.
Concentrated, balanced tannins, and great persistence.
Oak: 6 months in 1st and 2nd Used French Oak Barrels
Pair with: roasted meats, cheese and pasta
93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING
Ca Del Magro
Winery: Monte del Fra
Area: Custoza Veneto
Grapes: Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Tocai Friulano, Cortese, Incrocio Manzoni, Chardonnay, Riesling Italico, Malvasia
Vintage: 2016
SKU: 216077
Alc/Vol: 13%
Price: $ 21.99
BCLiquorStores.com
Origin: 30 years old vineyards. Calcareous, clayey, gravelly soil
Harvest: From September to October.
Winemaking Process: Fermentation and ageing on the lees in steel and cement vats plus 6 months in bottle
Color: Day bright yellow.
Aroma: Medium intensity with floral, fruity, spices aromas such as white flowers, tea leaves, apple, pear, citrus, peach, apricot, tropical fruit and ginger.
Flavor: Lovely, dried fruit sensations with wet stones and honey. Dry, with medium acidity, and intensity.
Long finish. Drink it now. Outstanding.
91 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING
Amarone Valpolicella 2015
Winery: Monte del Fra
Area: Fiumane, Valpolicella
Grapes: Corvina Veronese Corvinone 20% Rondinella
Vintage: 2015
SKU: 216085
Alc/Vol: 12.5%
Price: $ 59.99
BCLiquorStores.com
Origin: Single Vineyard Estate in Fiumane
Harvest: October after a short drying in the plant continued in the fruit cellar in boxes at controlled temperature and humidity. The resting of the grapes lasts around 120 days, until the sugar concentration of the grapes has reached at least 28% – 30%Wine
Oak: 24 months in 20 and 30 hl french oak and 6 months in the bottle
Color: Intense with fine tannins, fruity, spices aromas, vanilla, cloves, chocolate, and coffee
Aroma: Leather, tobacco, prune dried berries a total umami experience.
Flavor: Medium acidity, with fine tannins and full body. The flavours remain true to the nose. Long finish. Drink now and has beautiful potential of aging for 20 + year. Outstanding
Pair with: Excellent with red braised, grilled or roasted meat. It goes well with aged cheeses, fatty fish and asian cuisine
91 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING
Ripasso Classico Superiore 2015
Winery: Monte del Fra
Area: Lena di Mezzo, Valpolicella
Grapes: Corvina Rondinella
Vintage: 2015
SKU: 883314
Alc/Vol: 14%
Origin: 18 hectares in Lena di Mezzo Estate, in the heart of Fumane.
Harvest: Handpicked grapes first days of October and are left to dry in crates.
Wine Making Process: Fermentation done in small truncated cone-shaped stainless steel vats, then the skins of the grapes that have been pressed to make Amarone are added towards the end of winter, setting off a second and slow fermentation.
Oak: French oak casks for at least 18 months
Color: Deep ruby red.
Aroma: Cherries, plums, licorice; spices such as pepper and cinnamon
Taste: Flavour dry, fruity, pleasantly well-balanced
Pair with: Delicious with roasts, stews or braised meats and with hard cheeses
93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING
Gratius Toscana IGT 2011
Winery: Il Molino di Grace
Area: Panzano, Chianti
Grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino
Vintage: 2011
SKU: 172469
Alc/Vol: 14%
Origin: Estate grown
Harvest: Hand picked grapes by the end September to early October
Winemaking Process: Certified Organic winery: Winery plows each vineyard only once every three years. Winery uses the cuttings from the vines to fuel the heating and air conditioning in the winery. All of the fertilizer used is organic, the yeast is indigenous
Oak: 12 months french barriques and tonneaux new and first use
Color: Rich, dark ruby with light garnet edge
Aroma: Red plums
Flavor: Rich and tannic red with lots of plum, dried cedar and chocolate powder aromas and flavors. Full body and structure. Delicious!
Pair with: Grilled meats, game dishes and semi aged cheeses.
100% CERTIFIED ORGANIC since 2010
93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING