Red

94 points Jeb Dunnuck
Indeed the 75th iteration of this wine, the NV OVR Old Vine Red Lot 75 has been made since the 1980s, for most of those years by founder Chris Bilbro. Son Scot now continues the tradition, blending a mix of primarily Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah with smaller amounts of Barbera, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot with the goal of being delicious. It certainly is, offering one of the greatest values in California wine from a family producer, supple, reliable, and approachable, with full-bodied fruitiness thats balanced and has lasting tannin structure to keep it interesting for another 10 years.

91 points Wine Advocate
The NV Old Vine Red Lot 75 has a medium ruby-purple color is scented of red and black plums, raspberry candy, powdered sugar, prosciutto and floral potpourri. The medium-bodied palate is rounded and bright with understated, earth-laced fruit and a softly spicy finish. That herbal edge and juicy acidity make this wonderfully easy to drink!

#79 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

91 points Wine Spectator
An elegant red, with fine tannins enmeshed with flavors of pureed raspberry and black plum reduction, soft fig, thyme and lavender accents, while a minerally underpinning echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2028.

92 points Wine Advocate
The bread-and-butter wine here is the 2021 Bela, produced with Tempranillo from the village of Villalba de Duero (mentioned on the label), from sandy and clay rich soils on limestone mother rock that delivers powerful but not overripe wines with a short-ish élevage to achieve a fine-boned and fresh wine. The grapes were picked between October 1st and 25th, mostly Tempranillo but some 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot too, and it matured in French oak barrels for nine months. it's ripe without excess, with very integrated oak and a velvety palate with silky tannins. It reminds me of the historical wines from the early 1990s, Valribeño and so on, with some rusticity but very honest and characterful. With time in the glass, it develops a precise note of licorice intermixed with berry fruit and some spices and herbs.

The review is on the previous vintage.

#30 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

92 points Wine Spectator
This stands out for its expressive, elegant bouquet of citrus blossoms, guava and red currant—flavors that are equally engaging and fresh on the palate, picking up mineral details and lingering nicely around polished tannins. Drink now.

94 points James Suckling
Such a beautiful, fresh nose with tons of wild herbs, thyme, rosemary, sour cherries and flowers. Very linear and bright on the palate, charged with silky, fine-grained tannins and fine austerity. You can literally smell the herbs and the wild flowers from the vineyard. Pristine but intense and so fresh and precise. Pure fruit! Insane value for a $20 bottle. Drink now.

Winemaker Notes:
"This crisp, fruit-forward and juicy wine has expressive aromas and flavors of ripe red berries, with nice heft in the mouth, and mineral and spice notes. Most red meats and grilled or roasted white meats, especially those prepared with savory herbs or spices."

Winemaker Notes:
"Cherry colour with garnet rim, bright and intense. Red fruit expression, powerful, elegant, dry stone, coca bean, creamy oak, hints of spices. Powerful, flavourful, fruity, good acidity, smoky aftertaste, toasty, long finish."

In 1927, a group of 15 vine-growers banded together to create the Cooperativa Ribera del Duero (which translates as "Bank of the Duero River"). They were the first to make a wine called "Ribera del Duero", and as regional pioneers, eventually gave their name to the DO when it was created in 1982. Generations later, this cooperative is producing some of the most highly acclaimed wines in Spain under the name "Protos", meaning "First" in Greek.

In 2008, Protos reached another milestone with the completion of its state-of-the-art winery by renowned British architect Richard Rogers. A modern architectural gem, the winery is built into the mountain just beneath Penafiel Castle, at once complementing and contrasting the ancient landmark.

LOCATION OF VINEYARD
Protos has two wineries in the heart of the Ribera del Duero: Penafiel (near Valladolid) and Anguix (near Burgos). Their third winery, La Seca, is where they make Verdejo in the neighboring Rueda DO near Valladolid. Protos owns 100 hectares of vineyards around its wineries and has partnerships with several local growers who supply additional grapes.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
Protos has the unique distinction of offering wines from two DOs, producing fresh, aromatic Verdejos from Rueda in addition to varietal Tempranillos from Ribera del Duero. Harvesting is entirely manual, and production is gathered in 20-kilogram boxes (just over 44 pounds) to aid in ensuring only completely healthy, whole grapes reach the fermentation tanks. Protos has also implemented an extensive R&D program to test the effects of different types of barrels on its wines.

In both DOs, Protos leverages its generations of winemaking experience, cutting-edge technology, and philosophy of "Quality above all" to produce exceptional wines.

Jose Serrano Carlos Guzman graduated from the L??Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique in Montpellier, France, with a degree in viticulture. Following graduation, he served as winemaker and technical director at several estates, including Bodega Cooperative de Morales de Toro (DO Toro), Bodegas Marques de Riscal (DO Rueda), and finally Bodegas Roqueta (DO Pla de Bages). He became Winemaker Director at Bodegas Protos in 1999.

Organic

91 pts Wine Advocate
The certified organic red 2020 Cune Organic is aromatic, expressive and fruit-driven but with depth and complexity. They liked the Garnacha in 2020, which represents no less than 60% of the blend, complemented by 30% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano. The wine is fresh and has a profile similar to the young and juicy Crianza, with good ripeness and a solid palate. It matured in second use 300-liter oak barrels for six months. Urrutia mentioned cheerful and barbecue when talking about this wine. Very good at that.

93 points James Suckling
Peppery and floral nose with some dark cherries, graphite, peppermint and wild herbs. Juicy and fine-grained on the palate with silky, close-knit tannins. Pretty long and bright.

Organic

This is the most important wine of the estate, a serious red vinified to reflect its capacity to age. The grapes are harvested at a point of slight surmaturit?? which captures the profound scents and flavors of the surrounding hillside garrigue. The cuvaison continues for at least a month; then, the wine is racked into tank for aging. The wine is bottled twenty to twenty-four months after harvest. As the wine ages in bottle, it develops enticing notes of juniper, rosemary and thyme as well as the savory flavors of wild berries and a hint of the "animal" all in all, one of the more compelling values in all of France.

Floral nose with plenty of violet, morello cherries, dried oregano and thyme-like herbs. Fleshy, flavorful dark cherry fruit and wild herbs to the palate followed by a fruity, firm finish. Juicy and generous with a medium to full body.

Winemaker Notes:
"Intense ruby red color with violet nuances; intense, characteristic bouquet of the primary grape aromas; fruity component, fullbodied and robust, well-balanced with tannin and oak features"

Organic

92+ points Wine Advocate
The first wine they produced in 2007 is now the current 2023 Graciano, produced with grapes from different vineyards in the village of Corella in a zone with more Mediterranean influence, crafted in an approachable and fresh style with the local typicity, produced with very soft pump-overs. It fermented in 10,000-liter stainless steel vats with a soft extraction and matured in French oak barrels of different sizes for nine months. It has a nose of ripe berries, quite primary, and is fruit-driven with some honeyed undertones, herbal and balsamic. It has good ripeness, 13.3% alcohol, a pH of 3.40 and 5.35 grams of acidity, along with a juicy palate with very fine tannins.

The high-acid Graciano is the last one of their grapes to be harvested, in their vineyards around the village of Corella. Following a light maceration the wine ferments in steel. 25% of the wine is racked into French oak for malolactic, the rest happens in steel. The wines were blended and stayed 9 months on their lees in French barrels.

Organic

Traditional Sardinian producer with large cavernous cement tanks under house; old vine Cannonau (avg. 50 yr. old). Decomposed granitic soils gives wines acidic zing. Practicing organic.

Winery Notes:
"Deep garnet color. Luxurious and dynamic aromas of ripe strawberry, bright cherry and faint notes of spicy oak and vanilla. The complexity of the palate smoothly layers rich red currant notes and baking spice flavors with light smoke, earth and leather. A balanced, velvety texture and supple tannins carry the wine through to a lingering, succulent finish."

93-95 points Wine Independent
The 2022 Marjosse is a blend of 75% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec. Owner Pierre Lurton commented, "We have a lot of chalk and clay at Marjosse, so we never have a problem with freshness. We recently bought a small plot of Cabernet Franc, which did very well. It was a long harvest starting on 5th September and ending at the beginning of October. We had to go very light on the extraction and we couldn't use any of the press juice because it was too powerful." The wine has a deep garnet-purple color and shoots from the glass with energetic notes of fresh, juicy blackberries, warm plums, and kirsch, followed by hints of cardamom, dusty soil, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is coated with bright, expressive black fruits, supported by a lively backbone and plush, velvety tannins, finishing long, with a spicy lift. Well placed to succeed in these hot, dry vintages and with a good proportion of very old vines, which tend to handle these climatic conditions very well, this is likely to be one of the best bargains of the vintage.

91 points Vinous
The 2022 Marjosse is a bright, nervy red. Floral notes, orange peel, mint and white pepper lend notable energy throughout. Readers will find an atypically vibrant wine for the year. More than anything else, the 2022 represents a pretty significant shift for Marjosse toward a style that focuses on greater freshness than in the past.

Organic

93 points Wine Advocate
The young 2022 Ultreia Saint Jacques was selected from 10 vineyards, mostly cooler places because of the warmer year. The nose is harmonious and subtle, and it doesn’t show any excess ripeness or heat. In fact, it is most impressive. It fermented with 100% full clusters and matured in used oak‡barrels and foudres‡for 14 months. The palate is medium-bodied, with a juicy texture and very fine tannins. It has a lot of fruit, but with time, it develops more complexity, with notes of fennel and aromatic herbs.

Good fruit and depth here, a medium to full-bodied palate and fine-grained tannins, and the wine has the stuffing and balance to overcome the creamy oak with some more time in bottle. It matured in a mixture of oak vats and barrels for some six to eight months. 200,000 bottles produced.

Winemaker Notes:
Lovely dark ruby red, clear and bright with garnet reflexes. Intense and involving aroma. It starts with the final notes of red berries and floral aromas, followed by notes of cocoa and spices. In the mouth it is full, embracing and harmonious, with a fine texture, freshness and persistence. Excellent if drunk now but with great ageing potential.

Winery Notes:
" Steep hillside vineyards present the ultimate challenge, but the results are extraordinary. The harsh conditions yield fewer clusters and smaller berries. The intensely flavored grapes are aged in new French oak barrels that creates a wine with luxurious flavor and texture. rich, ripe, and delicious. "

From Negroamaro grapes, with minor additions of Malvasia Nera and Montepulciano. Ruby red wine with garnet effects, intense, full, rich and ethereal scent with hints of blackberry, plum, Mediterranean vegetation, ripe fruit and leather; warm, rich and generous taste, with advanced and complex tones and flavors of almond and blackcurrant.

In the Apulian plain, in the center of the Salento peninsula, between the Ionian and the Adriatic sea, extends the territory of Copertino. On this red soil, vineyards and olive trees harmoniously alternate: century-old twisted trunks of olive trees often introduces the characteristic Apulian shrub-vines that produces this strong and generous wine.

In 1935, thirty-six vine growers founded the Cantina Sociale of Copertino, with the aim of improving the cooperation and the production of their own vineyards and the trade of their wine. Today the cooperative numbers 300 proud members who confer their own harvest. The vine cultivated area extends to around 300 hectares, and all wines are meticulously treated with wisdom, result of tradition and innovation, obtaining excellent wines, able to arouse enthusiasm.

Organic / Biodynamic

Mas des Capitelles’ workhorse Vieilles Vignes is built on the backs of Mourvèdre (50%) and Carignan (25%) from vines up to 80 years old, with Syrah (25%) completing the blend. After a 30-day maceration with a small proportion of semi-carbonic whole clusters in the fermentation, one-fifth of the cuvée was aged in oak and four-fifths in fiberglass and enamel vats, with bottling taking place after 14 months. An exuberant nose of blueberries, violets, and warm dust evokes the sun-scorched slopes of the appellation in visceral fashion, and the palate sizzles with an almost spiky minerality, framed by rich but firm blue and black fruits. The balance of refinement and wildness here is extraordinary, with neither trait calling too much attention to itself.

Mas des Capitelles began in 1999, when ninth-generation vigneron Jean Laugé began bottling his own wine after a lengthy stint at the local co-operative, where his father's a driving force in the creation of the Faugères appellation in the early 1980's had served as president.

91 points Wine Enthusiast
Soft and velvety in texture, this wine is full of ripe fruit. Cushioned by the texture, the tannins are dense enough to promise aging to this wine with potential. Drink from 2024.

Organic / Biodynamic

"Wafts of raspberry, black cherry, red currant, eucalyptus and fresh tobacco offer a distinctive Willamette Valley introduction. Medium-bodied, the bright entry leads to a silky palate gushing with ripe Bing cherry, cranberry sauce, plum and a kiss of chocolate. A hint of star anise and earthy toast complete the soft and lush palate." - Winery

The review is on the previous vintage.

92 points Wine Enthusiast
#4 Top 100 Best Buys of 2023
Currently showing oak-forward notes of fresh cedar, vanilla and toasted wood. This is followed by earthy tones of capsicum, black currant, bramble, fresh black cherry and boysenberry. Elevated acidity keeps the wine alive from start to finish; chalky tannins coat the palate.

A single-vineyard wine made by the winemaking team of Margaux estate Ch??teau Siran, this wine has structure, dense tannins and layer upon layer of black fruits. 2019 was an excellent vintage in Bordeaux.

80% Merlot, 10.5% Petit Verdot, and 9.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. From an eleven hectare single-vineyard plot on the Margaux border. 25 year-old vines planted in a sandy gravel subsoil with clay topsoil. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for twelve months in French oak, with two rackings.

"This outstanding property in Labarde in the southern part of the Margaux appellation is making consistently delicious, fragrant, deeply colored wines that are in quality on a par with the best Grands Bourgeois Exceptionnels." - Robert Parker, Bordeaux: The Definitive Guide For The Wines Produced Since 1961

Chateau Siran is a highly regarded Bordeaux producer vinifying wine in Margaux. We have had a vintage or two of their Margaux over the years, but we didn?????t know they produce a second wine named Saint Jaques De Siran. And it is this wine that recently knocked our socks off while tasting through an assortment of French wines. Saint Jacques de Siran is a throwback to the Bordeaux of yesteryear with its oak-influenced characteristics. This is not a new-aged, acid-driven Bordeaux all about upfront juicy fruit. No, this has all those classic notes that made Bordeaux popular in the first place, like cedar, saddle leather, tobacco leaf, and dried fruits. I had a flashback while tasting this that it was the early 2000s and I had Bordeau from the nineties in my glass!

Chateau Siran has long been recognized as one of the top estates in Margaux. The property has been in the Miailhe family for six generations????? a total of 160 years. Today, the property covers 88 hectares, with 38 hectares planted to vines. The other fifty hectares are left as woods and meadows, for their beauty and to promote biodiversity, a priority of the Siran team.

The majority of Chateau Siran?????s vines are planted in the commune of Margaux, but they also have a very special 11 hectare parcel on the border, which is classified as Bordeaux Superieur and bottled as ?????Saint-Jacques de Siran?????. The terroir here has clay topsoil over the famous Bordeaux sandy gravel subsoil. The vines are planted at a density of 5,000 vines per hectare and average 25 years old. The Miailhe family has practiced sustainable agriculture since 2000 and the vineyards have been certified sustainable, HVE3 since 2018. Only organic fertilizers are used and they work with grass cover and plowing to control weeds

Winemaker Notes:
"The J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and dense in color to the rim of the glass. Layered aromas of black cherry, currant and blueberry are accented by an authentic barrel-aged bouquet of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and roasted coffee. The palate peaks with high-toned red berry fruit, and follows with bright acidity and a full structure that is both dense and soft at once. "

Winemaker Notes:
"An intense nose, dominated by red fruit, with spices and some oak notes; a round and supple wine with well knit tannins on the palate."

91 points James Suckling
Aromatic and lifted, with sour cherries, violets, rosemary and mild oak spices on the nose. It has a fresh and harmonious palate showing a medium body, finely woven tannins and excellent balance between fruit purity and savory complexity. Sustainable. Drink or hold.

Organic

Winemaker Notes:
"Apothic Red reveals intense fruit aromas and flavors of rhubarb and black cherry, complemented by hints of mocha, chocolate, brown spice and vanilla. The plush, velvety mouthfeel and the smooth finish round out this intriguing, full-bodied red blend."

Inspired by the "Apotheca", a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe, Apothic Red offers a truly unique wine experience.

The brambly spice of Zinfandel, dark fruit flavors of Syrah, the bold notes of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smooth elegance of Merlot unite to create this captivating red blend.

"Offering a joyous explosion of color and fun, it is a substantial, dense, full-bodied, whopper style of wine loaded with pure black fruit and vanilla flavors that coat the palate. It reveals remarkable richness with a finish that is slightly dry and seems to linger." Winemaker notes

Like elephants whose size is imposing, Petite Petit is large! A blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot.

Aged 16 months in French oak, our memorable blend of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot definitely steals the show! Our trunks detect blueberry, violet and plum. Chalky tannins give a smooth and seamless finish to this jumbo sized offering, leaving you wanting more.

The 2021 vintage was The Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Best Buys of 2023 First Place Winner!
93 points
This is a very satisfying Syrah for a rather stunning price. Lush and generous aromas of baked berry, hot spice cake and a touch of crushed rock show on the nose. The palate is brooding in cassis, boysenberry pudding and baking spice flavors, framed by impressively deep tannins. Best Buy.

Deeply colored with vibrant purple and magenta hues. Varietal aromas of black cherry and fresh blueberry are accented by black tea, bergamot, and lilac. The juicy and spicy structure of this northern Rhone cultivar is lengthened and lifted by the inclusion of Grenache, Mourvedre, Roussanne, and Viognier. Try with spicy chicken fajitas or oven-baked baby back ribs. (Winery)

The Rosso Canavese is a gorgeous, fresh red Nebbiol/Barbera blend to drink now and over the next few years. Rose petal, sweet red berry fruit, cedar, pipe tobacco and dried herbs are beautifully delineated. All the savory and mineral energy of this Alpine district comes alive in an accessible, entry-level offering that can be enjoyed with minimal fanfare. What a delight this is.

The Ferrando family has produced and traded wine for five generations. Ferrando Vini was founded in 1890 by Giuseppe Ferrando, who moved to Ivrea from Acqui to introduce the wines of Piedmont into the neighbouring region of Valle d?????Aosta. Giuseppe's son Luigi then expanded and developed the winemaking business. In 1957, Giuseppe Ferrando junior, the founder's grandson, began production of one of the rarest wines obtained from the Nebbiolo variety: Carema, named after a small town in northern Piedmont, on the border with Valle d?????Aosta. Here, in 1964, the Ferrando family built cellars for the production and ageing of this unique "mountain Barolo" (D.O.C. since 1967). In the early Eighties, Giuseppe?????s son Luigi took over the company, which is currently owned by his son Roberto. The company's creativity and inventiveness have been faithfully passed on through the generations, along with a steady commitment to quality.

Produced predominantly from Nebbiolo with roughly 30% Barbera and a touch of a local variety known as "Neretta" (the little black), this lovely red wine, vinified in stainless steel and bottled 12 to 15 months after harvest, is full of wild berries (notably strawberry and raspberry), spice and a touch of warm earthiness. The tannins are delicate and fine which enables this wine to be consumed with pleasure in its youth. As always with Nebbiolo-based wines, harvest occurs usually in the early to mid parts of October.

Organic

The review is on the previous vintage.

93 points Vinous
The 2022 Carménère Gravel Soils hails from Isla de Maipo. Purple in hue. The nose opens with ashes and spices, green bell pepper and sandalwood, and hints of incense. It is an attractive and nuanced red. On the palate, it offers loose and fine grain tannins textured as well as a more silky than velvety palate. A rare red lean in the flow and voluptuous in weight

Grapes are sorted and destemed and then fermented in stainless steel with wild yeast.

Post fermentation the wine is moved to neutral barrels to rest for a few months before going into 5,000 l foudres for aging for 12 months.

Winemaker Notes:
"Our prize offering, the ultra premium Claret, sports a label that honors the first Cabernet Sauvignon blended in a Bordeaux style by Gustave Niebaum in 1910. Claret is a term originally coined by the British to describe Cabernet-based wines. This Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc blend is alluring and sophisticated; it is memorably lush with a tapestry of smooth tannins and succulent flavors of wild berries, plum and anise. Borrowing tradition of European wineries, we add gold netting to bottle to signify outstanding quality of wine."

77% Cabernet Sauvignon 19% Petit Verdot 3% Cabernet Franc 1% Merlot. Aged 12 months in French oak.

This blend brings together the aromatic intensity of Touriga Nacional, sophisticated delicacy of Tinta Roriz (better known in Spain as Tempranillo), and the structure and elegance of Touriga Franca. Fresh red fruits on the nose persist through the palate, announcing a young, energetic wine with swirling, well-integrated tannins and a lovely, long finish. - Winery

"Ruby red colour with a golden rim. Bright and deep. Complex aromas. There is a great balance between the fruit (cherries, black plums, ripe blackberries) and the clean nuances of the wood (clove, pepper, vanilla and coconut). The nose is further enriched by the aromas that develop during bottle ageing. Smooth and balanced on the palate with a full, elegant feel and a long, lingering finish." Winemaker notes

Aged for 18 months in American and French-oak casks (50%). Rounded off for 18 months in the bottle cellar.

Winery Notes:
"The bouquet is rich with dark fruits, cinnamon, clove and subtle oak aromas. The wine is juicy on the palate with bright red cherries and blackberry flavors prominent, accented by delicate vanilla flavors and toasty oak, finishing long with round, soft tannins. The complex flavor of this wine complements just about any well-seasoned meat such as beef, pork, or lamb, followed by an indulgent dessert or espresso."

Organic

A blend of the native varietals Ja??n and Tinta Roriz. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks and traditional, open-topped stone lagares. Most of the grapes are destemmed before fermentation. The grapes undergo seven to 28 days of skin contact. aging for 6 months in cement and used barrel. A full but restrained mouthfeel reveals delightful plum and black currant notes. Intriguing herbal, or garrigue, element coyly pokes its head out. This is a dry, easy-drinking value from Portugal that may surprise you with how much it has to offer. It surprised me!

Natalia Jessa is the mastermind behind Gota which has a simple yet bold objective: craft aromatically-driven, authentic fine wines of Portugal, while remaining value-conscious. Her many prior travels throughout Portuguese wine country on behalf of one of Europe?????s major food markets enabled Natalia to develop invaluable relationships and gain access to some of the most exciting and as-of-yet undiscovered wineries and vineyards. She collaborates with them, as negociant, to select grapes that capture the optimal expression of a vintage. Vineyards are dry-farmed. Vines are ungrafted. To preserve fruit aromatics, winemaking utilizes ambient yeast and minimizes oak use. Adhering to tradition, wines are varietal blends and grapes are only native (no international varietals). Gota means "drop", referring to the humble origins of this project.

A delicious, savory cabernet with aromas and flavors of dried flowers and cherries. Medium body with round, creamy tannins. Savory and flavorful. Supple. Real cabernet character.

Marques de Riscal's Crianza is fresh, fruity wine with a lovely attack, reminiscent of red fruit mingled with the coconut and vanilla aromas from the oak. Full and supple with a long finish. A wine with character which showcases the quality of the grapes used to make it.

100% Listan Negro that comes from two training styles - classic cordon and royat espalier.

It is vinified in stainless steel. 20% carbonic maceration. 30% goes into American oak for 2-3 months before release.

Augustin explains that you find good acidity from the Listan Negro that grows at around 600m, and good body from the vines that grow around 200m. Vinifying by parcel has allowed him to really get to know the character of each of his vineyards.

#31 on The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2025

90 points Wine Spectator
Dark cherry, plum, earth and tobacco flavors are enmeshed in the lush texture of this broad red. There are solid tannins and bright acidity for support as this fades on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2030.

A wine which pays homage to the adventure of the Portuguese sailors that explored the world in the XV Century. The route from Europe to the Indian Ocean - known as the "Silk & Spice Route" - was pioneered by Vasco da Gama who rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. Flavors like nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper changed world cuisine, while silk from China became prized for its luxurious touch. An original XV century map on the label shows the Bay of Bengal, separating South and Southeast Asia, and the Portuguese coat of arms, a historical graphical element dating to 1248.

A slightly sweet red.

This blend of wines from Dao, Bairrada and Lisboa is ripe, full of black fruits and with subtle signs of the wood aging.... it is warm with its own spiciness as well as as a juicy aftertaste.

Winery Notes:
"A classic Cabernet Sauvignon that shows off rich color, layered aromatics and good structure. The wine is smooth and vibrant with cassis, dark cherry and black olive aromas preceding rich fruit flavors of dark plum and cherry preserves followed by a note of roasted coffee bean.
Blend: An excellent companion to aged blue cheese, braised or grilled beef, and roast pork with fruit "

Organic

Lamé-Delisle-Boucard’s Vieilles Vignes is pure Cabernet Franc exclusively from vines over 40 years of age in the commune of Ingrandes de Touraine part from the sandy gravel terraces of the lieu-dit Louys, and part from hillside plantings in the clay-limestone of Mont Sigou. This cuvée undergoes alcoholic fermentation in tronconic oak casks with a 10-day maceration, then spends a year in large, very old 25-hectoliter foudres. Invitingly ripe on the nose and tinged with earth, it enters the mouth silkily, revealing its underlying minerality as it moves across the palate, and it closes with a gentle clench of supremely elegant tannins.

Winemaker Notes:

"Opens with intense aromas of blackberry, plum and a hint of mocha. Dark fruit flavors intertwine with notes of spice, licorice and chocolate to create a magnificent, full-bodied Malbec. Round tannins and a plush mouthfeel lead the way to a long, velvety finish."

After primary fermentation, this wine underwent malolactic fermentation to create a smooth, round mouthfeel. Seven months of oak influence imparted subtle brown spice notes.