Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Le Macchiole from Tuscany, Italy. Named for the vineyard of its provenance, Paleo Rosso is the flagship wine for Le Macchiole and was the first wine in Bolgheri to made entirely from Cabernet Franc. Ruby red with violet flecks, its red fruit aroma offers notes of yellow and black pepper, tobacco, and nutmeg. Clean on the palate, it finishes with elegant minerality, ripe fruit, and a hint of balsamic. Moderately saturated ruby. Cassis, plum and milk chocolate on the nose, lifted by a floral perfume. Sweet, dense and youthfully unevolved, with classic cabernet flavors of dark berries, graphite, and a touch of cedar. Broadens out impressively on the back end and shows increasing sweetness of fruit with extended aeration. -International Wine Cellar

Red Wine by Ironstone from Sierra Foothills, California. This seductive, full bodied wine was produced from premium grapes that were hand selected from Ironstone's top vineyards in the Sierra Foothills of Calaveras County. After undergoing extended fermentation and maceration, the wine was aged in French and American oak for 24 months with additional bottle aging prior to release. The Reserve series' unique aging process of using small oak casks stored in underground caverns ensures a fuller, richer, finer wine of true varietal character. The Ironstone 2004 Reserve Cabernet Franc is an elegant, rich yet soft wine. With fleshy black cherry, blackberry and spicy oak aromas this seductive Cabernet Franc is worth drinking now or cellaring for a special occasion. Succulent, dark fruit flavors of plum, black cherry with a hint of sweet oak fills the palate and gives way to a smooth, medium finish. The rich fruit in Ironstone Reserve Cabernet Franc pairs well with pan-seared pork or game with a variety of fruit sauces. Pan-seared duck with pomegranate glaze is an excellent meal to accompany this lush, dark, fruit-forward wine.