Petit Verdot Archives - Iconica

Principal Grande Reserva Red 2012

Iconica — Mon, 05 May 2025 09:27:42 +0000

The property’s 61 hectares are spread over the rich clay-limestone soils that dominate the gentle hills of this property. The entire vineyard is dry farmed. It is here that 4 of the world’s most reputed red grape varietals (Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot) are planted. These wines are vinified using gravity flow winemaking to produce our most emblamatic red wine, which will stand shoulder to shoulder with all of the fine red wines in the world. Atlantic-influenced climate, protected by the Caramulo and Bussaco Hills. Vineyards planted at high density (5555 plants per hectare) on gentle hills of clay-limestone soils. Completely dry farmed.

All grapes are harvested manually and then placed onto a selection tray where only the best bunches will enter the winery. Destemming and crushing follow, where the grapes are then transferred to temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and alcoholic and malolactic fermentation takes place. Maceration lasts for approximately 20 days, using the delestage technique. The wine is then aged for 24 to 30 months in 225 litre French oak barrels (new and used). The final blend ages for another 6 years in the bottle before being released to the market.

To explore the other Mentzendorff Wines in this exclusive portfolio – click here

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Melka Metisse Martinez Napa Valley 2017

Philippa Mitchell — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:11:03 +0000

“A spectacular example of a classic hillside site showing intense power and finesse.”
-Philippe & Cherie Melka, proprietors

Vineyards

Our seventh vintage from this vineyard located on Pritchard Hill at 1200 feet in elevation above Oakville. We continue to strive to craft wines we love with the three Bordeaux varietals from this spectacular site. A complex wine that builds in crescendo with graphite, iron, wet stone, black currant and tobacco. The wine exhibits intense minerality along side beautiful elements such as cocoa bean, lavender and violets. There is a restrained masculinity about this wine that is demonstrated in its long lasting textural tannins and superb length of finish.

Production: 360 cases 750ml, 10 cases 1.5L
Bottling: August, 2023
Aging: 20 months in 70% new French oak barrels

For more information about Melka Vineyards click here or visit their website here.

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Melka CJ Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Philippa Mitchell — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:07:20 +0000

“A beautiful expression of Napa Valley Cabernet from three of our favorite vineyards that have continually produced great fruit for years.”
~ Philippe and Cherie Melka, proprietors

As we begin our third decade of producing this Cabernet named after our children (CJ is an acronym for Chloe and Jeremy), we are excited at how incredible this wine continues to be. Exhibiting a nose of dark blackberry and blackcurrant, nuanced with notes of vanilla, and fresh rose powder, the subtlety and finesse are what strike the mind. The beautiful framework of this creamy, velvety and rich wine has amazing structure and mid-palate with a mouthfeel full dark cherry and purity of fruit expression. This wine has incredible balance and length to its finish.

Production: 1375 cases
Bottling: June, 2019
Aging: 22 months 40% new French oak
Release: January 21, 2020

For more information about Melka Vineyards click here or visit their website here.

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Ulysses Napa Valley 2016

Philippa Mitchell — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:36:05 +0000

Tasting Notes

Remarkably fresh and full of energy, the Ulysses 2016 offers deep boysenberry,lavender and sage, spruce, rose petals, and wild cherry. The palate vibrates with ﬁne-grained tannins and a long, bracing ﬁnish.

Vintage

2016 was characterized by a rainy and warmer than average winter. With soil water reserves full, vines quickly grew dense and vigorous canopies. Bloom and veraison unfolded in warm and dry conditions. Ripening slowed down in August because of cooler temperatures and late morning fog. Warm temperatures in September (99 F on 18th, 100 F on 25th, 100 F on 26th) helped fruit to ripen consistently.

Serving and Decanting Ulysses with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon wines are best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Young vintages of their red wine can be decanted for 1-3 hours, depending on the character of the vintage. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Ulysses is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, ribs, hamburgers, barbecue, roasted, braised, grilled dishes and stews. Ulysses is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms and pasta.

For more information about Ulysses Vineyard click here or visit their website here.

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Craggy Range ‘Te Kahu’ Gimblett Gravels 2019

Philippa Mitchell — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:52:13 +0000

Background

Te Kahu means “the cloak” in Te Reo Māori, symbolizing the mist that covers Giants Winery in Tukituki Valley. According to legend, this mist protected a mythical Māori maiden from the sun as she visited her lover, Te Mata. This wine shows richness, deep black fruit flavors, and a structured, long finish.

Tasting Note

A deep crimson red, Te Kahu offers aromas of cassis, black olive, dried tobacco, and a hint of roasted hazelnut. The palate brims with ripe red and black fruits, reflecting a warm, extended ripening season. This wine embodies a medium-bodied Bordeaux-style blend from Gimblett Gravels.

The Wine

Craggy Range ‘Te Kahu’ Gimblett Gravels Red is a Bordeaux-inspired blend: Merlot (49%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Cabernet Franc (12%), Malbec (3%), and Petit Verdot (2%).

The Winery

At the winery, fermentation took place in closed top stainless-steel tanks, with selected yeasts. Maturation lasted for 16 months in oak barriques, of which 18% were new. The wine displays concentrated aromas of cassis, black olive and dried tobacco that leads to a palate of great energy, with red fruits and liquorice framed by dark chocolate laced tannins. Te Kahu means ‘the cloak’ in te reo Maori and refers to the mist that envelops Giants Winery in the Tukituki Valley. Legend has it that this mist was used to protect a mythical Maori maiden from the sun as she visited her lover Te Mata.

Food Pairing

Pairs perfectly with Braised lamb.

For more information about Craggy Range wines click here or visit their website here.

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Craggy Range ‘Te Kahu’ Gimblett Gravels 2023

Philippa Mitchell — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:12:51 +0000

In the Winery

The Craggy Range ‘Te Kahu’ Gimblett Gravels 2023 is a Bordeaux inspired blend of Merlot (49%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Cabernet Franc (12%), Malbec (3%) and Petit Verdot (2%). At the winery, fermentation took place in closed top stainless-steel tanks, with selected yeasts. Maturation lasted for 16 months in oak barriques, of which 18% were new.

Background

Te Kahu means ‘the cloak’ in te reo Maori and refers to the mist that envelops Giants Winery in the Tukituki Valley. Legend has it that this mist was used to protect a mythical Maori maiden from the sun as she visited her lover Te Mata. This is a wine of richness and an abundance of black fruit flavours and a long structured finish.

For more information about Craggy Range wines click here or visit their website here.

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Opus One 2021

Iconica — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 12:29:07 +0000

Opus One Returns with a stellar 2021 vintage, after a fire-damaged 2020 vintage led to no release. This exceptional wine has received a perfect 100-point score, showcasing the brilliance of the vintage.

Vinification

With a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than previous vintages, the harvest lasted 4 weeks. Aged for 19 months in 100% new French oak barrels.

Background

Baron Philippe de Rothschild, proprietor of Château Mouton Rothschild, and Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi founded Opus One. They combined their families’ winemaking traditions and innovations to create an exceptional wine in Napa Valley. Opus One was born from their passion and dedication to uncompromised quality. Its sole purpose is to express this vision and passionate spirit for generations to come.

Additional Ratings

97 points | Antonio Galloni

The 2021 Opus One is absolutely gorgeous. Vibrant, layered and quite sensual in feel, the 2021 possesses the concentration and depth of years such as 2013 and 2010 but with more polished tannins. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and a touch of cinnamon open gracefully. Sweet floral notes extend the mid-palate into the finish, where silky tannins wrap it all together. The 2021 is an incredibly promising Opus One. Anticipated maturity: 2026-2051 [Tasted, 21/12/2023]

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Opus One is another riveting wine from this estate. Pure cassis, graphite, chocolate, and nicely integrated oak, as well as an undeniable sense of minerality, all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, building tannins, wonderful purity and precision, and a great finish. This is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet in the making, and it’s going to evolve for 20-25 years if well stored.

Learn about the Opus One click here or visit the Opus One website here.

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Opus One 2019

Iconica — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 15:49:27 +0000

Opus One 2019 is one of the best vintages of this famous wine.

Tasting Note

The Opus One 2019 has intense aromas of black plum, blueberry, black currant, and dried rose petals, accentuated by mineral undertones. The creamy, satiny texture is framed by ﬁne-grained tannins. The freshness and soft glow of acidity create a subtle tension with dark fruit ﬂavors, savory herbs, espresso, and cocoa. A delicate dark chocolate bitterness lingers on the ﬁnish.

Vintage

Grapes were harvested ten days earlier than average, on 10th September, with harvest lasting four weeks. 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec complete the blend—ageing 19 months in new French oak.

Background

Additional Ratings

98 points | Jane Anson

Hold +3 years or carafe 4 hours.

The balance of the 2019 vintage in Napa is a pleasure to taste, and this is a brilliant Opus One, showing nuance, depth and concentration, and a ton of rich dark fruits. There is so much to love here, it ebbs and flows through the palate, has some of the character of the early years, those 1979s and 1980s that are still tasting incredible, and the utterly brilliant 1987.

Raspberry, blueberry, damson, cassis, there are crunchy fruits and sweet fruits at the same time, playing off against each other, fine tannins, a full bloom of floral violet and peony aromatics, gentle woodsmoke and white pepper, with tension, depth and poise. 22 day skin contact. A wet winter meant a late bud break, 10-15 days behind average, followed by a hot summer that allowed the vines to catch up, so harvest relatively normal beginning September 10 for one month. Drink 2024 – 2042

Learn about the Opus One click here or visit the Opus One website here.

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Ornellaia ‘Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia’ Bolgheri Rosso 2020

Iconica — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:50:17 +0000

Bolgheri DOC Rosso

Crafted from the same varieties, under the same sky, from the same philosophy: Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is a proud second vin, which has the ability to foretell the personality of the estate’s flagship wine. Together, the two wines provide their own distinctive points of view. The pleasure of sipping Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia evolves over time, adding the charm of maturity to the vigour of youth.

Winemaker’s Notes

“Deep ruby red colour, with purple highlights, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2020 clearly reveals an evident and generous aromatic expression, characterised by scents of ripe red fruit. The wine is smooth, rounded and enveloping, but full-bodied and substantial at the same time, showing great balance between structure, fullness and elegance.” Olga Fusari – Winemaker April 2022

44% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot

The 2020 Growing Season

After a mild, rainy winter, March brought a temporary drop in temperatures. A few nights dipped below 0°C at the start of budding. Fortunately, the cottony tissue of the buds protected the new shoots from frost damage. The rest of spring remained warm, and normal rainfall ensured steady growth until flowering, which occurred between May 20 and 25.

In mid-June, intense rain fell, followed by a long dry spell with little rain and high temperatures until late August. Véraison occurred quickly and evenly from July 20 to 25, with grapes ripening under the hot sun. Rains arrived at the end of August, causing temperatures to drop significantly to 13°C at night. This created ideal conditions for the Merlot grapes to complete their ripening.

We harvested the Merlot in just two weeks to maintain freshness and fruitiness. We timed this well to avoid a sudden heatwave that raised temperatures to 37°C, increasing sugar levels in the remaining varieties. Consequently, we began harvesting Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from young vines on September 17.

Towards the end of September, a burst of rain restored normal conditions. The rain absorbed by the grapes lowered alcohol levels to normal. We completed the harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot by October 3

Vinification & Aging

The grapes were handpicked into 15 kg baskets. The bunches were selected by hand on a double sorting table before and after de-stemming, then finally soft-pressed. In addition to handpicking, we introduced optical selection in 2016 in order to further increase the quality of berry selection. Each variety and each parcel of land was vinified separately. The alcoholic fermentation took place partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in concrete vats at temperatures between 22-28°C for two weeks, followed by maceration for a total of about 10-15 days.

The malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steelwas after which the wines were racked into barriques (25% new and 75% used once). The wine remained in barriques in Ornellaia’s temperature-controlled cellars for about 15 months. After the first 12 months the wine was blended and then returned to the barriques for an additional three months of ageing. The wine remains in the bottle for another six months prior to release. Axel Heinz – Estate Director

Learn more about this wine at the Ornellaia website here.

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Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2021

Iconica — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:50:17 +0000

Bolgheri DOC Superiore Rosso

Ornellaia is a blend of nature and musing. Complex ancient soils converse through human wisdom with a delicate microclimate that is echoed and reflected in the Mediterranean Sea. Prolonged ageing accompanies the estate’s fine wine in achieving its utmost expression, revealing finesse and generosity over time.

Winemaker’s Notes

Ornellaia 2021 displays the characteristics of a typical vintage in Bolgheri, with not a few sunny spells and devoid of rain, crafting a rich and concentrated wine that is also deeply expressive and generous. Signature notes of Mediterranean shrub, herbs, cypress berries, classic blackberry and dark fruit aromas unfurl on the nose, accompanying a palate endowed with dense tannins but certainly not lacking in precision and finesse. The finish is vibrant and enduring, bringing a feeling of aromatic freshness and elegance.

The 2021 Growing Season

2021 began with a mild, rainy winter. This replenished the soil’s water resources. After a dry March, budbreak occurred in early April. Gradual temperature rises and normal rainfall allowed even shoot development. Flowering took place under superb conditions at the end of May.

Summer arrived in June with slightly above-average temperatures and almost no rain. Veraison occurred in the last week of July. The dry spell continued through August and September. However, spring rains and our estate’s deep soils prevented excessive water stress. This created conditions for small, concentrated grapes with exceptional quality potential.

September remained hot and sunny, with no rainfall. This allowed for an “à la carte” harvest, maximizing quality from each vineyard. We mostly harvested red grapes in September, starting with Merlot in the first fortnight. Other estate varieties followed from September 13 onward, ending on October 1.

Vinification & Aging

The clusters were hand-picked into 15 kg crates and then selected by hand on a double sorting table, before and after destemming, and then softly crushed. In 2016, optical sorting has been introduced in addition to manual selection, to further increase the quality of selection. Each grape variety and single vineyard block were vinified separately. Fermentation took place in stainless steel and concrete tanks at temperatures between 26 and 30°C for one week, followed by maceration for about 15 days, for a total time in the vat of about three weeks.

The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barrels, 70% new and 30% used once. The wine then remained in barriques, in Ornellaia’s cellars for about 18 months. After the first 12 months of maturation, the wine was assembled and then returned to the barriques for an additional 6 months. After bottling, the wine was aged for a further 12 months prior to release.

Read more about Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2021 on the Ornellaia website here.

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