Falstaff Magazin International 01/2021

wine / 100 ICONIC RED

wine / 100 ICONIC RED WINES ALMAVIVA ALMAVIVA WINERY, MAIPO VALLEY, CHILE Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and Eduardo Guilisasti of Viña Concha y Toro agreed in 1997 to make a fine Cabernet-based wine called Almaviva. They presented their first vintage in 1998. Recommended recent vintages: 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2012, 2007 CLOS APALTA CASA LAPOSTOLLE, COLCHAGUA, CHILE Old vines and an exquisite site are the secret behind Clos Apalta which was first made in 1997 by the French Marnier-Lapostolle family in the Apalta Valley within Chile’s Colchagua region. Recommended recent vintages: 2018, 2016, 2015, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2002 VIÑA SEÑA VIÑA SEÑA, ACONCAGUA VALLEY, CHILE Californian legend Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errazuriz entered into this jointventure to create a top wine based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chilean flagship variety Carménère. Recommended recent vintages: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013, 2006, 2004 VIÑA CHADWICK VIÑEDO CHADWICK, MAIPO, CHILE Eduardo Chadwick, who joined his family’s Errazuriz estate in 1983, created this elegant top cuvée from Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère in 1999. Recommended recent vintages: 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990 MUNDUS BACILLUS TERRAE CATENA ZAPATA, UCO VALLEY, ARGENTINA The grapes for this pure Malbec wine grow in the Adrianna Vineyard under the watchful eye of Dr Laura Catena Zapata. The wine’s name pays homage to the bacterial life of the vineyard soil. Recommended recent vintages: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010 GRAN ENEMIGO EL ENEMIGO, UCO VALLEY, ARGENTINA This wine is the result of a joint venture between Adrianna Catena and oenologist Alejandro Vigil at Bodega Aleanna. It is a blend of Malbec, Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Recommended recent vintages: 2017, 2016, 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 BELLA VISTA MALBEC ACHÁVAL-FERRER, LUJÁN DE CUYO, ARG. Santiago Achával, Manuel Ferrer and Italian “flying winemaker” Roberto Cipresso got together to save ancient Malbec vineyards. The result are the most scented wines from 110-year-old vines. Recommended recent vintages: 2016, 2011, 2007 COLUMELLA THE SADIE FAMILY, SWARTLAND, S. AFRICA Ex-surfer Eben Sadie started his project in 1999 and named his first vintage after Roman author Columella. He crafts astonishing vines from Rhône varieties in hot Swarland’s granitic soils. Recommended recent vintages: 2018, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008 Vineyards in Chile’s Elqui Valley. PAUL SAUER KANONKOP, STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA The first grapes of what is the Kanonkop Estate today were planted in 1921 by the wine‘s visionary namesake Paul Sauer. The Bordeaux blend was first made in 1974 by cellar master Jan Coetzee. Recommended recent vintages: 2017, 2015, 2014, 2011, 2004, 1994 HILL OF GRACE SHIRAZ HENSCHKE, EDEN VALLEY, AUSTRALIA Made from 161-year-old, gnarly Shiraz vines and named after the vineyard and its tiny Protestant church dating to 1860, Hill of Grace is Australia‘s most iconic and emblematic wine. Recommended recent vintages: 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2005 THE ARMAGH JIM BARRY, CLARE VALLEY, AUSTRALIA Made from vines planted by Jim Barry in 1968, the Armagh Shiraz is a modern Australian flagship that speaks of the altitude in Clare Valley and its cooler nights via its elegance and juiciness. Recommended recent vintages: 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2007, 2006 GRANGE BIN 95 PENFOLDS, AUSTRALIA First made in 1951 by legendary Penfolds winemaker Max Schubert, this cross-regional blend of Shiraz and Cabernet is today crafted by talented winemaker Peter Gago and highly collectable. Recommended recent vintages: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004 ASTRALIS SYRAH CLARENDON HILLS, MCLAREN VALE, AUS. Talented winemaker Roman Bratasiuk created a veritable McLaren Vale legend with this elegant and expressive French-oak-aged Shiraz made from vines that are more than 100 years old. Recommended recent vintages: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2005 RUNRIG SHIRAZ TORBRECK, BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA Founded in 1994 with the express aim to make wines from ancient vineyards, RunRig is the estate’s top Shiraz, always made with a smidgeon of Viognier that lends that certain something. Recommended recent vintages: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010 WENDOUREE SHIRAZ A.P. BIRKS, CLARE VALLEY, AUSTRALIA Founded by Alfred Percy Birks in 1893, Wendouree wines are made in such tiny quantities that they are exceedingly rare. The wines are made from vines planted in 1919, 1920 and 1940. Recommended recent vintages: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008 ATA RANGI PINOT NOIR ATA RANGI, MARTINBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND When Clive Paton planted his Pinot Noir vineyard in then run-down Martinborough in 1980, he was Photos: mauritius images / Christian Handl / imageBROKER, Shutterstock, Kanonkop, The Armagh 66 falstaff winter 2021

A view of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago, New Zealand. amongst New Zealand’s pioneers. His wines not only put Ata Rangi but Martinborough on the map. Recommended recent vintages: 2017, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2003 BLOCK 3 PINOT NOIR FELTON ROAD, CENTRAL OTAGO, N. ZEALAND Founded in 1992, Felton Road is now a byname for New Zealand Pinot Noir. The local waenga soils are particularly deep in Block 3 so the Pinots are always exquisitely scented, complex and elegant. Recommended recent vintages: 2020, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012 BELL HILL PINOT NOIR BELL HILL, CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND Marcel Giesen and his wife Sherwyn Veldhuizen started their project in 1997 after locating some of New Zealand’s rare limestone soils. Their high-density plantings give tiny yields so the wines are rare. Recommended recent vintages: 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008 AO YUN AO YUN, YUNNAN, CHINA Moët Hennessy started this ambitious project in 2002 by planting vines at altitudes of up to 2,200 – 2,600m in the southern Chinese Yunnan Province to craft this elegant and rare Cabernet blend. Recommended recent vintages: 2017, 2015, 2013 < winter 2021 falstaff 67