Wine Enthusiast calls Amarone “one of 15 icons in Italian wine”. They are certainly some of the country’s most treasured reds. Rooted in the ancient tradition of sun-drying grapes before fermentation, Amarone wines offer exceptional richness and a glorious combination of power and complexity that cellars well, too. No wonder they are sought after worldwide. This 2020 from esteemed Cantina Negrar pays tribute to 18th century poet Bartolomeo Lorenzi, whose epic poems celebrating rural life made Valpolicella wines famous.
The grapes are from the ancient, dry, stone terraces of the cool Marano Valley, where they ripen slowly. They are then air-dried for 120 days to intensify flavours. Decant early and enjoy with hearty dishes, or cellar.
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With four Trophies and 80+ Golds, Château La Clarière is clear proof that Castillon wines can surpass those of Grand Cru St-Émilion. From the exceptional 2020 vintage, this rich, velvety claret, packed with fruit, deserves its five Golds.
This is a BIG fruity red that customers adore. It comes from the little-known Jumilla region, which stretches along Spain’s eastern coast. Akin to the desert landscapes seen in Spaghetti Westerns, Jumilla is home to some of Spain’s oldest Syrah and Monastrell vines, which produce small quantities of intensely flavoured grapes. Camino de Seda, meaning ‘Silk Road’, is produced by a winery just off this historic route which brought wealth and splendour to the region over 500 years ago. It’s crafted by Scottish-born winemaker Pamela Geddes, who first gained experience in Australia, learning how to capture the freshness and fruitiness of grapes even in the hottest climates. So she’s right at home in Jumilla. A red to enjoy with hearty dishes.
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The label's also been a favourite of the papacy since 1958, when Pope John XXII blessed Cuvée du Vatican. Their gorgeously rich and spicy Réserve Côtes du Rhône is a delicious way to experience this very fine estate at an excellent price. Look forward to red berry jam, tobacco, wood smoke and wild herb complexity. Superb.
What RedHeads does best – searches out small parcels of fabulous quality grapes, brimful of flavour. Then they blend them, bit by bit, to handcraft a wine with abundant character and plenty of stylish panache. Our winemaker spotted these two unusual Spaniards on the Rocca's small family property in One Tree Hill, a tiny hamlet between the Barossa and Adelaide Hills. Not quite in the elevated part, it gets quite warm during the day, but there’s a cool draught from the Hills at night, which slows ripening and explains the amazing deep crimson hue of Vin’atus. Hand picked, destemmed and hand plunged (with effort!), and vinified in our traditional open-top fermenters, this is a hefty red, but velvet smooth. Ideal with lamb or rich bean stew.
