Chilean Maipo Valley Carmenère/Cabernet Sauvignon

Car-men-yair Cah-burn-ay So-vin-yawn

Chile is one of the oldest ‘new world’ winegrowing regions, with its first vintage planted by the Spanish in the 16th century. Just south of the capital of Santiago, the Maipo Valley is Chile’s most famous growing area for Bordeaux-style grapes, including Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon. Similar to (and often mistaken for) Merlot, its very name is a synonym for brilliant red, ‘carmine’. Blended with the king of red grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, it produces exceptionally powerful, rich red wines of great length and structure. Winexpert’s Carmenère Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep ruby colour with intense aromas of red fruits and berries and a hint of spice. Medium-bodied with good balance, this wine has soft tannins and a beautiful velvety finish, lingering and richly flavoured by coffee and spice, damsons and smoke. Ideal with steak and pasta dishes.

California Lake County Trio Blanca

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In California’s Lake County, the vineyards nestle in steep hills in the west, while Clear Lake, directly east, moderates the blistering heat of summer, ensuring slow, even ripening and perfect grapes.A unique blend of three grapes, Selection Limited Edition Trio Blanca is an outstanding white wine that showcases bright fruit flavours, excellent structure, and a long finish. Pinot Blanc, a white variant of the more famous red Pinot Noir, contributes the delicate floral character and full body while Chenin Blanc gives a wonderful melony-honeyed aroma with hints of apple. The third grape variety, Sauvignon Blanc contributes zesty acidity and aromas of gooseberry and herbs. After six months ageing, the Sauvignon Blanc will dominate with zest and crispness. After a year, the Chenin Blanc’s honey and melon will come out, and at 18 months to two years the Pinot Blanc will show a perfumed floweriness and lingering structure. Enjoy by itself or serve Trio Blanca with seafood, chicken or vegetarian dishes.

California Amador County Petite Sirah Zinfandel

Peh-teet sir-ah Zin-fan-dell

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Amador County is sometimes called ‘California’s Piedmont’, due to its relatively isolated setting. Zinfandel is a grape whose origin has been a mystery for two centuries. Previously thought to be an old Italian variety, in 2002, DNA fingerprinting established that Zinfandel is, in fact, identical to a Croatian grape called Crljenak.Petite Sirah is another grape of less-than-certain heritage. Although related in some way to the Durif grape in the Rhone, there is more than one Petite Sirah being grown! It’s a classic blending partner for Zinfandel.And what partners they make! Winexpert’s Petite Sirah is grippingly tannic, bold and deeply coloured. Petite Sirah complements the jamminess of Zinfandel, taming the abundant blueberries and blackberries with a hint of dark cherry and vanilla. Extremely full bodied with a lingering palate and peppery spice, this is a wine of unprecedented power and length. Ideal with sausages, stews and red meats.

Agrigento Sicilian Grillo

Ah-gri-jen-toe Greel-loe

Sicily is a growing region steeped in history and tradition and has always played a huge role in agriculture and winemaking in the Mediterranean. Sambuca di Sicilia, in the northwest of Agrigento province is blessed with a typical Sicilian climate—long hot summers, plenty of sunshine and mild winters with enough rainfall to keep the vines strong. For thirty centuries this wonderful climate has allowed Sicily to make wines of distinction and elegance.Grillo (the favourite wine of Julius Caesar) also makes the famous Sicilian dessert wine Marsala. Winexpert’s Agrigento Sicilian Grillo is golden in colour, transparent but bright. Attractive aromas of citrus and lemon-lime with a gentle whiff of wildflowers, are accented with notes of honey and almond. The flavour is as elegant as the aroma, crisp and pleasantly zesty joining snappy citrus and delicate almond in a long finish. Serve Grillo with any seafood, fish or outstanding with Prawns in Lemon Butter Sauce.

Italian Piedmont Nebbiolo D’Alba

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Situated in the northwest corner of Italy, distinctive chalky soils show the best growing areas on the hillsides running down from the Alps, where the climate produces enough summer heat to ripen Italy’s most famous grape, Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo is a late ripener that ages brilliantly, producing wine of excellent acidity, high tannins, and rare subtlety, perfumed with aromas of tar, rose, mint, chocolate, and licorice.Winexpert’s Italian Piedmont Nebbiolo d’ Alba has a rich mouth-feel and spicy fruit flavours such as cherries, violets, and black licorice that deliver the true character of the grape, finishing with rich, chewy, deep and long-lasting flavour. Nebbiolo is perfect with lamb, grilled steak, and rib-sticking stews as well as dry, aged cheeses that may be too strong or distinctive for other wines.