Please contact Alan directly if you are interested in these wines - as En Primeur they are currently in barrel and not in stock.

A unique and elegant wine.

L'Bruno de' Venti

The  story  is  told  that  many  years  ago, the  woods  surrounding  this vineyard were  the  refuge  of  a  dark  skinned reclusive  with  piercing  eyes, very  attractive  to  women. He  lived  by  poaching  game and  doing  whatever  he could. No  one  knew  exactly  where he  lived,  but  from  time  to  time he  appeared  near  Poggio  ai  Venti vineyard,  and  so  the  people hereabouts  called  him “’l  Bruno de’  Venti ” (the  Dark  Fellow  of  the  Winds).

Introducing Fattorie dei Dolfi

Born from ancient family vineyards and the infectious passion of a career-change winemaker, Fattorie dei Dolfi is a relatively young estate with a remarkably bright future. Giovanni Dolfi initially pursued a very successful career as a horse trainer during which he had the opportunity to meet the Queen Mother and began working for Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta, the owner of the legendary Tenuta San Guido which produces Sassicaia. Through this connection he was introduced to the estate’s winemaker, Giacomo Tachis, who is regarded as the father of Sassicaia and was named Decanter’s Man of the Year in 2011. From then on Giovanni’s fate was sealed and it was only a matter of time before he and Giacomo began exploring how to unlock the potential of his family’s century-old vineyards close to the city of Pisa. Oeno Director and Co-founder Daniel Carnio describes Giovanni’s project as “a small paradise” thanks to his relentless commitment to quality in his vineyards. Most of Fattorie dei Dolfi’s plots are surrounded by woodland which helps to shield the vines from contamination from other forms of agriculture and preserves a high degree of biodiversity. As well as creating a very low incidence of disease, this also means the estate does not need to use any chemicals on the vines. To allow the remarkable quality of the fruit to shine through, Giovanni uses a light touch in the winery as well with his wines ageing in oak barrels previously used for Sassicaia. The estate’s top wines will be produced in tiny quantities of a few thousand bottles a year, making them highly attractive for investors and collectors of fine and rare Italian wines.

The Artorius and Imeneus red wines are both crafted using the Prugnolo Gentile grape which is the Sangiovese clone typically used in Montalcino. The former is an easy-going style ideal for enjoying with family and friends alongside a simple, wholesome meal. Imeneus, which is named after the beautiful son of Aphrodite and Bacchus in Greek mythology, is a more serious red which ages in oak barrels for up to 36 months. This bottling is a true collector’s wine with a remarkably complex flavour profile and high investment potential.

Finally, Bianco Per Amore is Giovanni’s personal project, created to be a wine that he himself would like to drink. Reminiscent of fine white Burgundy, this generous and full bodied white is made from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot grapes. Giovanni only produces around 150 bottles of this very special wine of which he retains a significant proportion for his own drinking pleasure!

Tasting Notes

‘L Bruno De’ Venti is a Bordeaux blend. Dark currents pervade with a muscular back bone. Pure of fruit, the tannins are well rounded. Merlot vines from massal selection or between 50-70 years old. Cabernet Franc vines from massal selection of old vines.

Colour

Ruby red tending to garnet, velvety yet brilliant.

Fragrance

Very fragrant and rich with intense notes of cherry, plums and hints of toasted spices.

Flavour

Authoritarian and persistent, with soft and elegant tannins.

Bottles Produced

• Vintage 2008: 1743 (non more available).    
• Vintage 2009: 1790 (non more available).    
• Vintage 2010: 1696 (non more available).
• Vintage 2011: 1811 (non more available).
• Vintage 2012: 1432 

Specifications

 Please contact Alan directly if you are interested in these wines - as En Primeur they are currently in barrel and not in stock. 

An unparalleled and unique wine.

Imeneus

The myth says that Imeneus, offspring of Aphrodite and Bacchus, was a young Athenian of modest social standing but of extraordinary beauty. ​He fell in love with a  young noble girl. While she was travelling to Eleusis, she was captured by pirates with her handmaids; among them was also  Imeneus,  who was mistaken for a  girl. While the captors were sleeping, he slew them all and brought the girls back safe to Athens. For his courageous deed,  he was awarded the hand of his beloved. For this reason, the ancient Greeks invoked Imeneus as a bringer of happiness in marriage.

Introducing Fattorie dei Dolfi

Born from ancient family vineyards and the infectious passion of a career-change winemaker, Fattorie dei Dolfi is a relatively young estate with a remarkably bright future. Giovanni Dolfi initially pursued a very successful career as a horse trainer during which he had the opportunity to meet the Queen Mother and began working for Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta, the owner of the legendary Tenuta San Guido which produces Sassicaia. Through this connection, he was introduced to the estate’s winemaker, Giacomo Tachis, who is regarded as the father of Sassicaia and was named Decanter’s Man of the Year in 2011. From then on Giovanni’s fate was sealed and it was only a matter of time before he and Giacomo began exploring how to unlock the potential of his family’s century-old vineyards close to the city of Pisa. 

Most of Fattorie dei Dolfi’s plots are surrounded by woodland which helps to shield the vines from contamination from other forms of agriculture and preserves a high degree of biodiversity. As well as creating a very low incidence of disease, this also means the estate does not need to use any chemicals on the vines. To allow the remarkable quality of the fruit to shine through, Giovanni uses a light touch in the winery as well with his wines ageing in oak barrels previously used for Sassicaia. The estate’s top wines will be produced in tiny quantities of a few thousand bottles a year, making them highly attractive for investors and collectors of fine and rare Italian wines.

The Imeneus red is crafted using the Prugnolo Gentile grape which is the Sangiovese clone typically used in Montalcino. Imeneus is a more serious red that ages in oak barrels for up to 36 months. This bottling is a true collector’s wine with a remarkably complex flavour profile and high investment potential.

Tasting Notes

Imeneus is an earthy, spicy wine. Smooth and mellow with hints of iron. The tannins are quite crunchy with this wine. 

Colour

Joyous ruby red, velvety and brilliant.

Fragrance

Full, rich and persistent with hints of fragrant fruit in perfect harmony with sweet spices that give it complexity.

Flavour

It has exceptional skills of elegance in order to be truly unique, aristocratic and with a closing of great length and cleanliness.

Giovanni explains it best: ‘I hope that my drinkers could imagine themselves standing on the hills of Poggio ai Venti with me, feeling the warmth of sunshine, the mild sea breeze on their faces, hear the chirping of the birds in the quiet woods around and see a grey hare rush through the vineyards. All these feelings of harmony and equilibrium are inside my wines.’

Bottles Produced

• Vintage 2008: 1419 (no more available).    
• Vintage 2009: 1452 (no more available).    
• Vintage 2010: 1709 (no more available).
• Vintage 2011: 1450 (no more available).
• Vintage 2012: 1452.

Specifications

A really pretty and perfumed example of the Frappato grape from south-eastern Sicily.

Tasting Notes

This organic red has delicious floral and red berry characters and is surprisingly fresh and delicate given the hot climate.

Nose

Delicate and lightly floral aromas of strawberry, redcurrant and wild berries, with hints of aromatic herbs.

Palate

The palate has vibrant red berry characters balancing fresh acidity.

Producer

Is there a more dynamic place to make wine in Italy than on Mount Etna in Sicily? Cantine Nicosia is based at the foot of Etna, on the east coast of Sicily, where Carmelo Nicosia, along with his sons Franceso and Graziano (5th generation), have developed their family business into one of the area's most important wine producers. Their Trecastagni winery is where tradition meets ultra-modern technology.

Trecastagni, at the base of one of the extinguished craters dotting Mount Etna and at an altitude of around 700m, is home to the ancient vineyards of Monte Gorna, with their distinctive lava terraces. The vineyards have been completely restructured and replanted, focusing on the native varieties used for Etna DOC wines: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio for the red, and Catarratto and Carricante for the whites. The extraordinary wealth of minerals found in Etna's volcanic soils can be credited with the very rich flavour and unique character of the wines produced here.

Just a few miles from the southernmost tip of the Italian peninsula is the lively agricultural center of Vittoria and the Contrada Bonincontro district - home to the large and impeccably groomed Cerasuolo di Vittoria vineyards planted exclusively with Nero d’Avola, Frappato and Syrah.

Production Method

Frappato grapes are grown on sandy soil situated at approximately 200m above sea level. Grapes are hand-picked in September. The grapes undergo maceration and fermentation for approximately 10-15 at a controlled temperature of between 22-24°C. The wine is aged in stainless steel vats and 2 months in the bottle.

A Note on Sustainability

A proportion of Cantine Nicosia’s vineyards are certified organic by SIDEL, and its wines are certified as vegan by the Istituto Certificazione Etica e Ambiente.

Specifications

Tasting Notes

This prized Brunello from San Felice's distinguished Campogiovanni estate is a complex, richly-flavoured and robust wine that will evolve beautifully.

Nose

Offers up aromas of well-ripened wild berry fruit, plum, aromatic cedar, tobacco leaf and tanned leather.

Palate

An expansive, generous palate displays rich fruit and mouthfeel with fine-grained tannins; developing into a long, persistent and fruit-filled finish with notes of graphite.

Producer

The Tenuta Campogiovanni is a sister estate to Agricola San Felice, and is located on the southern slope of the Montalcino hill, near San Angelo in Colle.

This 65ha estate comprises 19ha of vineyard across three separate parcels - amongst olive trees, woods and fields. Production here (and 14ha of vineyard) is strongly focused on Brunello, with the remainder largely used for Rosso di Montalcino. Campogiovanni Brunello is amongst the very best in the region.

1990 saw the first production of a Riserva, entitled Il Quercione, made from fruit rigorously selected from the vineyard of the same name and made only in exceptional years.

Production Method

Campogiovanni's 12-hectare vineyards are on the south quadrant of the Montalcino hill, where weather conditions and a particular combination of soils allow optimal ripening of the grapes. Harvesting is in late September. The grapes then undergo a 20-day maceration at 28-30 degrees C, and malolactic fermentation in steel. Maturation is for 36 months in large Slavonian oak botti, followed by a further 12 months in bottle.

Awards

• Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2018 (2013 vintage)
• Gold at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2017 (2012 vintage) 

Specifications