Ca’ del Bosco Maurizio Zanella 2019

Ca' del Bosco sit in the hills of Erbusco in Lombardia, a name better known for sparkling wine, and Maurizio Zanella is the estate's red wine made from a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The vineyards lie on glacial moraine soils in a continental climate moderated by nearby Lake Iseo, conditions that ripen Cabernet fully while keeping the freshness these varieties need. Farming is organic. The blend ferments and then ages twelve months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen transfer through the wood softens the firm Cabernet tannins and builds structure, followed by twenty four months in bottle that knit the components together before release. The wine is a deep, bright ruby. The nose carries ripe plum and black cherry with cocoa, tobacco, cedar and sweet spice from the oak. The palate is full bodied and structured, with firm fine grained tannins, fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits red meats, lamb and mature cheeses.