Le Sommelier Mixed Case: Fuller Reds

Wine Type:
Style of Wine:	Various
Country of Origin:	Various
Grape Varietal:	Various, Grenache, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Tempranillo
Bottle Format:	750mL
Case Size:	12 bottles
$399.00 Per Case ($33.25/btl) Add to Cart

Tasting Notes

Each case contains two bottles of the following wines:

Olivier Rivière Rayos Uva 2020, DOCa Rioja, Spain.

Rayos Uva is Olivier’s version of a Bourgogne Rouge, sourced from fruit grown in the sandy, gravelly and alluvial soils of Rioja Baja. This year’s blends biodynamically farmed Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano into a bright, unoaked red for drinking now. Juicy and youthful, with black cherry, raspberry, perfumed blackberry, framed with toasted tobacco, threaded with subtle reduction, and lightened with a stony minerality. Tannins are long and lightly gritty, carrying this to a warming, spiced, 13.5% finish. Drink this smart young red to see modern, fresh Rioja.

Narrative Cabernet Franc 2017, BC VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada.

Narrative is a line of wines from Okanagan Crush Pad, meant to tell the story of the Okanagan Valley through friendly, accessible wines. Earthy forest bark, ripe raspberry, baked cherry, dried roses and milk chocolate coat this downy-textured red, weighted by the southern Okanagan sun. From certified organic vineyards in Kaledon and Osoyoos, this was fermented and aged in concrete Nico Velo for 8 months. The concrete provides a welcome textural grip to the sides of this medium bodied franc, housed by supple tannins, and finishing with peppery spice. Chill slightly, and crack with fired burgers or ribs.

Papantonis Meden Agan Agiorgitiko 2019, PGI Peloponnese, Nemea, Greece.

Papantonis Winery was established in 1993 by siblings Antony and Kallie Papantonis. The vineyards, situated just outside of the village Malandreni, belong to the renowned viticultural region of Nemea. This Agiorgitiko was grown in sandy clay soils at 230m altitude. After fermentation, the wine spent 14 months in French oak. Rich, full, and wood-forward, this powerful big red is primed for equally powerful red meat dishes.

Assuli Ruggiero Syrah 2018, DOC Sicilia, Italy.

Baglio Assuli lies in the midst of land belonging to the Caruso family, a splendid area of countryside in a property of over 120 hectares. Assuli ("In the sunshine" in Sicilian dialect), is the result of the patient, painstaking restoration of an old 18th century baglio (farm). Today, the third generation of the family, Roberto, Nicoletta and Michele, lead the organically farmed winery. From Sicily’s clay and limestone laced soils, this Syrah was fermented and rested in stainless to preserve freshness. Sunripened black cherry, and violets are seasoned with ample black pepper, flooding a fuller, dense palate, finishing with a lick of anise and cool mint. Smooth and primed for drinking now.

Bancal del Bosc Tinto 2019, DO Montsant, Spain.

Vinyes Domènech is a family project started Joan Ignaci and his wife, Rita, in Capçanes, in the south of Priorat. Together with their sons, they biodynamically farm 15 hectares of recovered old-vines vineyards. This is 85/15 Garnacha / Samsó (AKA Carignan) from red clay and calcareous soils. After a native ferment, this aged in both French oak and stainless for 6 months. Dark cherry, boozy dark plums, flood a brooding, full palate, freshened by stony mountain acidity, and framed with gritty, iron-dusted tannins. Quite authentic and pure view of a region.

FitaPreta Vinhos Tinto 2019, VR Alentejano, Portugal.

This characterful blend of Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, and Trincadeira comes from the rocky schistous vineyards of Alentejo, and vines planted 1979-1989 at 300-400m. After native ferment in inox, this rested 9 months between French barrel and inox. Bright and lively with tobacco, branch, black raspberry and red currant, this medium bodied red is bedded on stones, seasoned with rock roses, and spiced with subtle red pepper on the finish. Tannins are grippy and fine, and acidity is brisk throughout, easily carrying this through the finish.

Critical Praise

Bigger in body, tannins, and structure, this 12 pack of reds will appeal to the red wine drinker looking for a bit more from their wines.

Estimated delivery time is 3-10 business days.