Volcanos, Rolling Hills and much more £75pp
I am smiling writing this email as Mhairi and I have been arguing over the logic of the wines we have chosen, there is no logic! Just amazing wines that we want to taste. ‘Italian Greats’ is a wide diverse subject, with 20 wine regions and rumour has it, over 3,000 grape varieties, we are excited for our tasting!
The Aperitif and Arneis are from one of my favourite winemakers, Giacomo Fenocchio, his wife and two daughters are an absolute delight as are all his wines, he mixes the modern with the tradition and in my mind creating perfection. The rolling hills of Piedmont could easily be one of my favourite regions and we also have a Barbera from Maria Teresa Mascarello – 4th Generation from Domaine Mascarello – wines that defy time.
Tuscany (and all its beautiful landscapes) has many wines but we are looking at the iconic Brunello di Montalcino from Giodo, a future icon if not already – a wine I found in Vinitaly last year and have not forgotten – a wine leaves a mark!
Comparing Brunello of course to a Super Tuscan, Caccia Al Piano - a best kept secret this estate is definitely one to watch in the future - it has the hallmark of greatness!
Liguria is a haven for small artisan wineries, with natural production, we believe Selvadolce is one of the best. With a background in flowers and the grape Rossese planted 600m altitude, the sea and the mistral wind, the outcome is just stunning textural wines…delicious!
I could not have a tasting without a Nebbiolo, especially one from the soils known as Ori Di Lessona…lessona’s gold…formed 300 million years ago, showcases the exquisite minerality that Nebbiolo can produce.
Then our agency wine from Puglia where in Vinitaly, Mauro’s new vintages again proved his legendary capacity. His ‘Campo Minimo’ is made from Primitivo grapes grown on a single plot of land - made in a Burgundian style and is gaining icon status.
Italy is very much not all about reds and alongside Arneis, that I always quote as one of the best value white wines you can find, We are showing a legendary Chardonnay from Antinori, Bramito, baby brother of the iconic Cervaro della Sala, exceptional wine in its own right.
We will also taste Poggio alle Gazze from the incredible Ornellaia estate and the volcanic soils of Sicily Pietradolce…a class act.
Italy has so many favourite wines and regions…whatever the mood or the moment…
Come and try some awesome producers and some fabulous wines…
…see you on Wednesday!
What you will be tasting…
Aperitif
NV Anima Arancio Arneis, Giacomo Fenocchio, Piedmont, Italy
Whites
2022 Poggio Alle Gazze dell'Ornellaia, Ornellaia, Tuscany, Italy
2023 Bramito, Castello della Sala, Antinori, Umbria, Italy
2023 Etna Bianco, Pietradolce, Sicily, Italy
2022 Roero Arneis, Giacomo Fenocchio, Piedmont, Italy
Red
2018 Brunello di Montalcino, Giodo, Tuscany, Italy
2017 Rosso, 'se...', Selvadolce, Liguria, Italy
2019 Bolgheri Superiore, Caccia Al Piano, Tuscany, Italy
2022 Primitivo, 'Campo Minimo', Campi Deantera, Puglia, Italy
2021 Barbera, Bartolo Mascarello, Piedmont, Italy
2020 Proprietà Sperino, ‘Uvaggio’ Coste della Sesia, Piedmont, Italy