Jeanneret First Creek Glaetzer Carlos Serres Solaris Chain of Ponds 2021 Wine List

Carlos Serres is a bit of an OG - one of the few Rioja producers with a century of winemaking behind them. Carlos was actually named Charles, a French Winemaker who left Bordeaux, fed up with dealing with phylloxera riddled vineyards, landing in Spain. He founded the first winery in Rioja with export certification and applied French winemaking techniques to Rioja fruit. Pretty soon, there was a demand for Rioja in the rest of Europe and the US.

Carlos Serres Crianza is 100% Tempranillo and spends 14 months in a combo of French and American oak. Being 'Crianza', the wine has spent a year in barrel, and another on bottle prior to release. Typically aged in older oak, Crianza can have quite assertive tannins and fruit which is intense whilst retaining great freshness. This is a particularly good example, packed with red fruits, cherries, spice, oak and nervy acidity.

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Wine writer Windsor Dobbin asks why this doesn't sell at a much higher price, and we concur. 35 to 120 year old vines yielding at a minuscule 1.25 tonne per acre, 40% new oak, 90% of which is French, black cherries, spice, raspberries, olive tapenade and black pepper. A stunning wine already, which will improve with cellaring. Learn More

84% Shiraz and 16% Grenache sourced from 50-100 year old vines yielding at less than 1.5 tonnes per acre. Old oak here and mostly French, a wonderful fragrance of plum and lavender leads to a palate offering the same plus raspberries, anise, pepper and more. Crazy that a product with this fruit source, which is beautifully executed, retails for just $25 a bottle. Learn More