Brava Wine Company is a small wine distribution company. Our focus is bringing quality, value driven wines to the Denver area. Erika Bates has done quite a few in-store tastings at GrapeEx with her fantastic line-up of wines. This week is no exception. She is featuring four wines, 2 each from two producers.
Zinke Rose - Delightfully pastel in color, this Old World style Rosé of Grenache exhibits a bouquet of under ripe watermelon, rose petals, and elegant red fruit. The delicate minerality balances with hibiscus and tart red berry notes to create the perfectly zippy Rosé for hot summer days.
Zinke Grenache - A blend of 81% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre and 7% Syrah. A bright, acid driven Grenache that screams violets, freshly tart plumbs, and raspberries. White pepper, strawberries and a very subtle baking spice caress your palate and finishes with a smooth mouthfeel. Enjoy now or put in your cellar for years to come, and pair with lightly roasted spring vegetables, chicken, and anything with pomegranate.
Lionello Marchesi Insieme Rosso - A Sangiovese-based 'Super-Tuscan'. In addition, there's Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Alicante, a perfect marriage of old- and new-world. The oak is perfectly integrated rather than taking a more assertive role; this is more Brunello than Napa. The nose is full-fleshed: sage-y garrigues, brandied cherries, red baked earth, brambly wild berries, fresh firewood. It evolves as it warms up and oxygenates, exposing undercurrents of raisins and dark chocolate and raspberry jam. There's so much substance here, and you really notice it. On the palate, it has exquisite balance and poise - bright acidity without being overly tart, a touch of tannins without being grippy. The mid-palate is spicy and complicated, while the finish is substantive and straightforwardly pleasurable.
Lionello Marchesi Rosso di Montalcino - This is 100% Sangiovese. The wine opens with aromas of black plum, leather and underbrush. The straightforward palate offers blackberry jam, star anise and a hint of vanilla alongside close-grained tannins. Considered to be the 'younger sibling' of Brunello, since it is made with the same type of grape. For a wine that is fresher and more easily paired with dishes of every kind. Refinement is also shorter - just eight months in small oak barrels, followed by eight months in the bottle. This wine nevertheless boasts an excellent structure; it is fruity, with impressive and persistent perfumes and suitable for moderate ageing.
