A brilliant garnet red, the nose carries hints of strawberry, red fruit, rose, violet and a touch of liquorice. On the palate it is full of power and precision with clean tannins.
Italy
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Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano
CA103A17
Taste Notes:
This wine is deep purple in colour with ruby red highlights. On the nose, cherry and plum aromas are complemented by a touch of oak. Rounded and ripe on the palate, it shows lovely balanced fruit and tannin structure. There is a hint of spiced berries on the long, elegant finish.
70% Sangiovese , 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Canaiolo, 5% Cabernet Franc
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Sangiovese di Toscana, Caparzo CASE OF 6
ts230
Bright ruby colour with hints of violet. Intense, fruity, bouquet, with ripe blackberries, wild strawberries and spice. The palate has a warm brambly feel, full of soft ripe fruit and a peristant spice to the finish. Easy drinking.
Sangiovese sourced from the three different estates of Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini. The vineyards are found in Montalcino, Castelnuovo Berardenga and Magliano. To ensure optimum fruit quality, the grapes are harvested at different times and vinified separately. Vinified in stainless steel to retain fruit and freshness. The final blend is made just before bottling and the wine is aged for 1-3 months in bottle before being released.
Great with panzanella, sausages with white beans, spaghetti with tomatoes and basil.
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2018 Tufarello, `Vigneti Canosini` Nero di Troia
TU201B18
Taste Notes:
100% Nero di Troia. Deep ruby red in colour with garnet highlights, the 2018 Vigneto Canosini has an intense, long-lasting and fruity perfume. It has great structure and well-balanced tannins.
Vineyard:
Canosini is an old, 30 hectare, bush-trained vineyard which produces fruit of outstanding quality. On the right bank of the Ofanto river, the area lies nearly 20 kilometres from the Adriatic Sea between 105 and 140 metres above sea level.
Vinification:
On arrival at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and gently crushed before fermentation and maceration on the skins in stainless-steel tanks between 30-32°C for 15 days. After fermentation, the wine was aged in barriques for four months.
Producer:
Another of the enterprising Valentino Sciotti's projects, Tufarello is made by the Farnese winemaking team at their winery where Dennis Verdecchia is in charge with Alberto Antonini as consultant. The wine is made from the Uva di Troia (also known as Nero di Troia) grape that is grown around Canosa di Puglia in southern Italy. The name attests to its Greek origins (Troy) and it is said to take its name from the nearby town of Troia, named by the Greek invader Diomedes.
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Vigneti del Vulture, `Pipoli` Aglianico del Vulture
VU103B18
Taste Notes:
100% Aglianico. This wine is bright ruby red in colour, with violet reflections. On the nose, there are intense aromas of cherry, violets and cocoa. Full-bodied, this wine has a sweet red fruit character with delicate oak nuances of vanilla and spice on the long finish.
Vineyard:
The estate vineyards are trained low and planted on volcanic soils on the slopes of Mount Vulture, at an altitude of up to 800 metres above sea level. According to the consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini, the area is isolated and just like stepping back in time.
Vinification:
On arrival at the winery, the grapes were destemmed and gently crushed, then the must was fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks at temperatures of 22-24°C. Frequent and gentle pumping over took place during fermentation, which lasted approximately 30 days. The wine was then aged in stainless-steel tanks (60%) and in used oak barriques (40%) for 10 months. Finally, it was aged in bottle for a further three months before release.
Producer:
Valentino Sciotti (of Vesevo, Gran Sasso and other Farnese estates) took over this small co-operative in Basilicata in Acerenza in the heart of the Aglianico del Vulture zone in 2008. Consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini works with Manuel Barbone, and together they manage to capture the character of the grapes and the zone superbly in the bottle.
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Allegrini, `Palazzo della Torre`
AL203B16
Taste Notes:
70% Corvina/Corvinone , 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese. This wine is ruby red in colour with purple highlights. On the nose, there are enticing aromas of cherry with rich dark chocolate notes and hints of cloves and vanilla. Velvety in texture, it is well-balanced and offers ripe, juicy dark fruit, with silky tannins and refreshing acidity.
Vineyard:
Palazzo della Torre covers 26 hectares of east-facing vineyard planted between 1962 and 2013, situated 240 metres above sea level. Allegrini purchased this vineyard in 1978. Soils are cretaceous and calcareous, with Pergola Trentina trained vines planted at 3,000 vines per hectare.
Vinification:
Franco Allegrini used the modern version of the traditional 'ripasso' technique for Palazzo della Torre, drying a proportion of the grapes in the 'Terre di Fumane' drying centre, to intensify the character of this vineyard. The grapes that were dried were hand picked during September, and the grapes vinified immediately were picked at the end of the month. 70% of the grapes picked were vinified immediately and 30% were left to dry until the second half of December when they were vinified and then refermented with the wine from the fresh grapes. The wine spent 15 months in second-use barriques, and was blended together for two months, then aged for a further seven months in bottle.
Producer:
The Allegrini family estate covers 100 hectares of vineyard in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The family has been growing grapes here for six generations, but the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. When he passed away in 1983, it passed to his three children, who ran it together until Walter's death in July 2003. Franco now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker, and Marilisa is director of marketing.
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Gran Passione, Veneto Rosso IGT
GP0119
Taste Notes:
Merlot: 60%, Corvina: 40%. Vibrant purple colour, rich luscious nose full of sweet ripe dark cherry, plum, vanilla and christmas spice. Rich and velvety, with lots of juicy fruit. Very easy drinking.
Vinification:
The grapes come from selected vineyards harvested at the beginning of October, to allow the grapes to have increased maturation. Before picking, the vines' cordons are cut, but the grapes are left on the vines, and for up to 15 days the grapes begin to dry naturally on the vine (Appassimento on vine). The grapes are then carefully hand harvested before being pressed. After fermentation the wine is aged in oak for 3-4 months.
Producer:
For centuries Veneto, in the North East of Italy, has been one of the foremost wine producing regions and one of the most modernised of Italy. With its vast micro-climates, no other region offers more diversity in such close proximity than Veneto. The Gran Passione project was set up in 2013 in homage to the Venetians long standing history of being great traders and their rich wine culture. The aim was to create wines of high quality, that are affordable and representative in style to those that have been made in Veneto for centuries. Using traditional varieties, whilst honouring long-established techniques, Gran Passione create beautiful expressions of these classic Venetian wines.
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Allegrini La Grola` IGT
AL204B16
Taste Notes:
La Grola is a full bodied, intense and elegant wine. Dark, ruby red in colour, it has aromas of wild berries, juniper, tobacco and coffee essence. The high plant density and resulting low yields give this wine its unique concentration.
90% Corvina , 10% Oseleta -
San Polo Rubio IGT Toscana
SP604B17
Brilliant ruby red in colour, this wine opens with intense and persistent aromas of red cherries, violets and blackcurrants, followed by subtle spicy notes. This wine is well-structured and balanced with satisfying tannins and excellent length. The flavours of forest fruits and cherries make Rubio easy to drink, yet still intense and elegant.
85% Sangiovese , 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
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Zabu` `Il Passo` Nero d’Avola `Verde`/Bio
AB113A19
100% Nero d`Avola
This is a young estate in southwestern Sicily, whose vineyards caught the eye and winemaking talents of Valentino Sciotti. Valentino (of Gran Sasso and Vesevo) saw they had great vineyards and a good winery but were missing the necessary expertise to make wines the market required. Valentino and his team of young winemakers have taken the raw materials and transformed them into wines that people want to drink.
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Massolino Barolo Halves
VR204H16
This 23 hectare estate has been in the Massolino family since 1896. Since 1994 the style of the wines has undergone a subtle transformation. Winemaker Franco Massolino has done a wonderful job of marrying change with a respect for tradition, something that sets him apart from most of the younger producers in Barolo today. This is in part dictated by the nature of the vineyards that the Massolino family owns in the commune of Serralunga d'Alba - the source of some of the greatest, most structured, robust and long-lived Barolo wines.
100% Nebbiolo
37.5cl half bottle.
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Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Half
IO102H16
This Chianti Classico is crimson in colour with typical sour cherry and bramble notes. The palate has a supple, lithe character full of perfumed fruit and is given depth by a mineral vein. Structure comes from the taut acidity and tannin structure.
37.5cl half bottle.
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Costanti Brunello di Montalcino HALF
CO402H15
The Costanti family has owned this 10 hectare estate for over 200 years. Andrea Costanti inherited it from his uncle in the mid-1980s, and has worked hard to take it to its current positon as one of the very best in Montalcino. The style is characterised by a striking elegance and intensity, combining the power of Montalcino with the elegance that comes from vineyards situated at a high altitude in the northern part of the zone. The vineyards are planted over 400 metres above sea level, on galestro soil that is typical of the area. This friable rock soil is also found in Chianti Classico, and is particularly suited to the production of good Sangiovese.
100% Sangiovese
37.5cl half bottle.
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Allegrini Valpolicella Half
AL201H18
This wine is ruby red in colour, with youthful highlights. Fragrant fruit with prominent notes of dark cherries are echoed by fresher hints of pepper and aromatic herbs, typical of Corvina and its genetic cousin Corvinone, the historic varieties of this appellation. This Valpolicella is impressively lively and playful on the palate, whilst exhibiting delicacy and finesse at the same time.
70% Corvina , 30% Rondinella
37.5cl half bottle.
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Barolo, Serralunga, Ettore Germano
ET0715
Stunning with risotto milanese or braised venison with polenta and porcini.
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Alpha Zeta, `A` Amarone della Valpolicella
AZ110B15
This Amarone is deep and intense on the nose with aromas of dried cherries and blueberries and notes of spiced autumn fruit compote. On the palate it is powerful, with a lovely balance of ripe tannins and spiced, concentrated savoury cherry fruit character. A touch of woodsmoke completes the long finish.
- Vegan, Vegetarian
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Bolgheri Rosso 'Volpolo'
PS0116
Complex nose with real depth offering spice, leather, olive and pepper. Concentrated style with a sweet oak finish.
The estate was founded in 1999, after Massimo Piccin convinced his father to invest in land and to create a wine-making estate in what is one of Italy’s most hallowed viticultural areas. A native of the North-Eastern Italian region of Veneto, Massimo always felt a deep-rooted passion for wine and wanted to direct this passion towards his own wine project.
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Barbaresco 2016
PB0216
A ruby red with powerful aromas of concentrated and ripe red and black fruits. The fruit aroma reaches a wonderful depth and is complemented by herbal and medicinal hints. The palate is beautiful; silky, rounded and textured with red and black fruits, perfume and liquorice notes. The tannins are ripe and firm with a balancing acidity and lingering notes of dried cherries.
An outstanding vintage from a renowned producer. Limited availability.
"The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can't remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel.. What a wine!" Antonio Galloni (November 2019)
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Sogno Di Ulisse, Montepulciano D’Abruzzo
NGW3
SOGNO DI ULISSE Montepulciano D’Abruzzo is a wine that has made the history of modern Abruzzo wine-making. Today, thanks to the passion of some producers and winemakers, the Montepulciano has emerged to the international limelight as one of the best quality red grapes in world.
Tenuta Ulisse maintains a strong family imprint characterized by respect for the values like tradition, history and territory and is now run by brothers Antonio and Luigi Ulisse.
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Barbera d'Asti 'Solo Acciaio'
MT0518
A typical Barbera, which has a lovely, soft, medium body and flavours of forest fruit jam and juicy cherries along with notes of black pepper and spices.
Montalbera calls its Barbera 'Solo Acciaio' (only steel) to show that it rebels against the majority of Barberas on the market today, which are all oaked. Instead, this is a wine which is extremely elegant, fresh and supple, with the fruity punch only obtained from harvesting slightly overripe grapes coupled with slow maturation in steel vats and then in the bottle.
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Borgo Selene, Nero d'Avola/Nerello Mascalese
BS102A15
Ruby red in colour with notes of fresh red berries on the nose. Round and smooth on the palate with soft tannins, the wine has lovely spiced cherry flavours that linger on the finish.
Made and blended by Alberto Antonini at the Curatolo family winery, the Borgo Selene wines represent superb value for money. The name derives from the Greek goddess of the Moon, Selene, illustrating the influence the Greeks (who also brought the vine to Sicily) have had on the Mediterranean's largest island.
Vegan, Vegetarian
