- Aglianico
- Alicante Bouschet
- Brunello
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Catarratto
- Chardonnay
- Corvina
- Durello
- Fiano
- Frappato
- Garganega
- Gewürtztraminer
- Glera
- Grillo
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Molinara
- Nebbiolo
- Negroamaro
- Nosiola
- Passerina
- Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
- Pinot Noir
- Primitivo
- Rondinella
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Teroldego
- Trebbiano
- Verdicchio
- Aglianico
- Alicante Bouschet
- Brunello
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Catarratto
- Chardonnay
- Corvina
- Durello
- Fiano
- Frappato
- Garganega
- Gewürtztraminer
- Glera
- Grillo
- Malvasia Nero
- Merlot
- Molinara
- Nebbiolo
- Negroamaro
- Nosiola
- Passerina
- Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
- Pinot Noir
- Primitivo
- Rondinella
- Sangiovese
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Shiraz / Syrah
- Teroldego
- Trebbiano
- Verdicchio
An 'Aladdin's Cave of Wines await you here!
2022 Mirabello Pinot Grigio Rosé, IGT Provincia di Pavia
Regular price £8.49 Sale price £7.47 Save 12%A fresh and appealing style of Pinot Grigio rosé from the Pavia zone of north-west Italy. The addition of early-harvested Pinot Noir grapes and gentle pressing give a delicate salmon pink colour and subtle red berry fruit.
Tasting Notes
Pale coral pink - strawberry and bramble aromas lead onto a delicate, yet juicy palate with red berry characters. Slight creaminess leads to a crisp dry finish.
Production Method
Produced from grapes grown in the Pavia region of northwest Italy. The ripest grapes were selected from mature hillside vineyards and hand-harvested in early September. The extra ripeness allows the dark-skinned Pinot Grigio grapes to develop a pink tinge which is further enhanced by the addition of a small proportion of Barbera and Pinot Noir grapes from the same vineyards. The grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness together, and the skins left in contact with the juice for 12 hours at low temperature before gentle pressing. After a slow, cool fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks the wine was bottled young to preserve freshness and aromas.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. The aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. They source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom they have long-term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Alan's Tasting Notes
"An enticing summer red with lots of upfront strawberry fruit together with more serious red berry notes from the Barbera and Pinot Nero components. Appealing freshness and acidity initially are tempered by a balancing creaminess in the mid and back palate. An altogether well-composed glass of summer rose with perfect balance and poise - enjoy with friends in the garden - perfectly at ease in its own company but will also stand up well with all garden foods." Tasted September 2021
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Pinot Grigio 85%, Barbera 11%, Pinot Nero 4% |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
12% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Rosé |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Vegetarian, Vegan approved
|
Food Matches | Serve chilled as an aperitif or to accompany salads, cold meats such as salami or smoked chicken, or seafood dishes. |
Origin | Lombardia |
Appellation | IGT Provincia di Pavia |
2022 Mirabello Pinot Grigio
Regular price £8.25 Sale price £7.26 Save 12%A versatile, textured Pinot Grigio sourced from selected vineyards in the Veneto.
Tasting Notes
A fresh dry white with gentle floral and citrus aromas. Crisp and delicate on the palate with orchard fruit and lightly honeyed notes, balanced by lemony acidity and a fresh, dry finish.
Production
Produced from selected Pinot Grigio grapes grown in the Veneto. The grapes were hand-harvested during the first 2 weeks of September. The grapes were crushed and gently pressed and the juice allowed to settle and clarify before cool fermentation at 16 to 18C in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine was bottled young after a period of 3 to 6 months ageing on fine lees in stainless steel tanks.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Alan's Tasting Notes
"Our best-selling wine and easy to see why - dry but not too dry, lovely juicy fruit with good length and refreshing acidity - very moreish and a real crowd-pleaser."
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Grigio |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% abv |
|
9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches |
|
Features |
Vegetarian, Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Venezie |
Appellation |
|
N/V La Jara Prosecco Frizzante (10% abv)
Regular price £13.99 Sale price £12.31 Save 12%Tasting Notes
Colour
Straw yellow with greenish reflections.
Nose
Delicate scents of acacia flowers and golden apple.
Palate
It is fresh, aromatic and sparkles with a light and delicate foam.
Terroir: The Land of Prosecco and of the river Piave
In the heart of north-eastern Italy, at a mere 50 km from Venice, lies the unmistakable terroir of Prosecco.
In this splendid area, stretching from the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene hills to the river Piave, our vineyards are cultivated according to organic principles.
La Jara distinguishes itself through the production of high-quality organic wines, inspired by principles of respect for the vineyard and for its natural fertility cycle. In the flat fields surrounding the winery, the long aligned rows stretch for 50 hectares, as far as the gravelly bed of the river Piave, which has shaped this unique terrain.
Organic – for the Love of this Soil
Dedication, passion, and technical prowess, born of years of experience: this is what you need to cultivate a soil of such unique peculiarities.
Our love and respect for this soil prompt us to work symbiotically with the environment and with all of its components, preserving their balance. Our work in the vineyard scrupulously follows the natural cycle of our vines, respecting the seasonal trend of their growth and fertility. Setting aside haste and personal needs, we devote ourselves to the meticulous care of every single vine; we place ourselves at the service of the soil – just as papa Bruno has been doing since his childhood when grandpa Pietro entrusted him with this enormous responsibility.
Bruno still loves to spend his time among the rows of what he fondly defines as “his first love”: the vineyard. He knows his vineyard plant by plant; he knows how to interpret the signs of nature, to help his vines reach a harmonious balance – the aromas, colours, and sensations that have guided him since a very early age and continue to do so to this very day.
He rigorously supervises every operation in the vineyard, from pruning to harvest, according to traditional peasant methods: the resulting organic wine – with its unique and authentic flavours and aromas – reflects respect for the soil and for the environment.
We like to think that Nature is a perfect mechanism, whom it is our duty to indulge: day-to-day attention to the vineyard renders our grapes – and our wines – truly exceptional.
History
The vineyards here have been passed down through the generations since 1891. The 'Jara' name comes from the gravel that covers the vineyards and provides heat to the vines overnight – as they do in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Awards
- 2020 - Wine Enthusiast Tasting: 89 points – Prosecco DOC Frizzante
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Glera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 10% |
Units of Alcohol | 7.5 units |
Type | Fizz |
Food Matches | Perfect as an aperitif. Excellent with soups, salads, pasta, and pizza. |
Features | Organic, Vegetarian & Vegan Approved |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contain sulphites |
Origin | Treviso |
Appellation | Veneto |
2019 Montresor ‘Urban Park’ Appassimento
Regular price £11.99 Sale price £10.55 Save 12%An appealing appassimento style red from the Veneto - produced from classic Amarone and Valpolicella grapes.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Bright berry and black cherry aromas, and a touch of spice.
Palate
The palate has all of Valpolicella's appealing fresh cherry and ripe bramble fruit, along with added weight and complexity from maturation in oak. Supple tannins lead to a finish of delicate sweetness, offset by fresh acidity.
Producer
The illustrious Montresor family moved from France to Italy at the start of the 19th Century and settled in the Veneto region near Lake Garda. In 1892 Cantina Giacomo Montresor was established in Verona, and remains family-owned to this day.
Giorgio Montresor produces a portfolio of wines which increasingly rival the offerings of the region's more fashionable names - harnessing modern technology to craft the best wines from each site, across their 100ha of vineyard, in Valpolicella and Garda.
Production Method
Produced from Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes harvested from hillside vineyards north of Verona. 'Appassimento' refers to the process by which the grapes are dried for a few months before being pressed and vinified - this technique is more common in the Veneto than elsewhere in Italy. In this instance the grapes are dried for 30 days before vinification, and the wine spends 6 months in oak. The resulting red is rich with some residual sweetness.
A Note on Sustainability
At the end of 2019, Montresor received its organic certification. Some of its wines are already bottled in a lighter weight glass bottle (less than 420g) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during transport, with the added benefit of reducing the amount of glass to be manufactured.
Over the next two years, solar panels will be installed at the winery to provide some of the electricity required in the production process. Alongside this, Montresor is about to install a water purification system to recover and recycle the water used at the winery.
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Corvina, 20% Corvinone & 20% Rondinella |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable |
Food Matches | Perfect with mature hard cheeses and blue cheeses. Also excellent with game and mature beef. |
Origin | Veneto |
Appellation | IGT Veneto |
2022 Miopasso Nero d'Avola Appassimento Sicilia DOC
Regular price £11.59 Sale price £10.20 Save 12%Powerful yet approachable!
Tasting Notes
Nose
The bouquet is very intense, with deep notes of dark cherries, damsons and blackcurrants.
Palate
The palate is powerful, yet approachable, with silky smooth tannins, great depth of flavour and layers of complexity.
Producer
Miopasso offers an outstanding selection of Italian wines made with modern production technologies and local grape varieties. By combining resourceful grape sourcing with precise winemaking, this range has built a reputation as an excellent value-for-money option amongst its core of wine aficionados. Enjoy some of the finest Italian wines that money can buy with Miopasso.
Viticulture
The very best Nero d’Avola grapes are selected from Belice and Agrigento on Sicily’s west coast, which are two of the island’s key areas for growing Nero d’Avola. The grapes are very carefully hand-picked and then left to dry to concentrate the grape flavours before undergoing a gentle vinification process with frequent pumping over to extract the maximum amount of flavour and colour from the grapes.
Vinification
A percentage of the Nero d’Avola grapes are dried for 3 to 4 weeks, after which time they have lost around 30% of their weight. As the water in the grapes evaporates, the sugars concentrate and the alcohol level becomes a little higher. The dried grapes are vinified separately from the other Nero d’Avola grapes, then they are blended together. The resulting wine is distinctive, rich, bold and complex, yet highly approachable.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Nero d'Avola |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches |
Match with rich meat-based pasta sauces, red meats and mature hard cheeses |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Sicilia Doc |
Origin | Sicily |
2021 Miopasso Grillo Appassimento Sicilia Blanco DOC
Regular price £11.59 Sale price £10.20 Save 12%A fabulous white wine sourced from Sicily
Tasting Notes
Colour
Straw yellow with flecks of gold.
Nose
Notes of dried fruits and nuts, with hints of oranges and grapefruit.
Palate
Soft and well-rounded, with touches of honey on the long finish.
Producer
Miopasso offers an outstanding selection of Italian wines made with modern production technologies and local grape varieties. By combining resourceful grape sourcing with precise winemaking, this range has built a reputation as an excellent value-for-money option amongst its core of wine aficionados. Enjoy some of the finest Italian wines that money can buy with Miopasso.
Viticulture
Grillo grapes are grown in the top white grape producing area around Marsala.
The Grillo grapes are hand-picked several times over, some when they have reached the peak of maturity, then others after they have been left on the vines until they have lost the required amount of weight through drying.
Vinification
Following a very gentle de-stemming, they leave the wine to decant for about 24 hours and then fermentation takes place at about 17-18C° for about 12-15 days. The wines then rest on the fine lees for about 3-4 months before bottling.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Amazing! - and a true adventurer's wine. Such a bonus for coming off the well-worn buying paths. Initially, I get saline & honey characters but it’s got so many layers that just keep on giving- nuts, dried fruits, real deep concentration and complexity - a totally unique, complete glass of wine that lingers on your palate. There’s also a real oiliness to it - I suspect from lees ageing. A real "drink less, drink better" example." March 2022
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Grillo |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
|
10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches |
Rich fish dishes or roasted white meats |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Appellation | Sicilia Doc |
Origin | Sicily |
Lunetta Prosecco Spumante Brut N/V (200ml Single Serve)
Regular price £3.79 Sale price £3.34 Save 12%A delightful fizz in a handy pocket-sized bottle - perfect picnic wine!
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of stone fruits, particularly peach, and also hints of apple.
Palate
A crisp, light, and well-balanced wine with creamy mousse and delicate apple and pear characters.
Production Method
The Glera grape variety pre-dates Roman times. The grapes for Lunetta are sourced from the hills above Treviso, a traditional growing area for Prosecco. Hillsides with cool, loose soils are favourable. The grapes are harvested by hand in the second half of September. The must from the first soft pressing of the grapes is used - left for 10-12 hours for any sediment to settle. It then ferments in stainless steel for around 10 days. The second fermentation takes place by the Charmat method.
Producer
Cavit is a leading co-operative in the mountainous Trentino region of northeast Italy. The winery began as a consortium of associated grape growers in 1950, with a dedicated winery at Ravina di Trento built in 1964. Today It unites 11 separate cellars and their combined 4,500 grape growers across 7,000 hectares of vineyard, to produce an impressively broad portfolio from an intriguing palette of indigenous and international grape varieties. Trentino has a much higher proportion of wines produced as DOC than any other region in Italy - an average of 80% of the region's wines have a DOC classification, compared to around 30% elsewhere in the country. Remarkably, Cavit accounts for 60% of this region's wine production and they advise and supervise all aspects of this production from the vineyard to the bottle. Their site at Maso Toresella on the shores of Lake Toblino was the historic residence of the Prince Bishops of Trento, surrounded by 6.5 hectares of vineyard. It is one of the most significant 'masi' (rural estates) in the whole of Trentino. They have worked with the San Michele all’Adige Oenological Institute, since 1988, to develop wines of the highest quality. In 1993 Cantina Altemasi was established, also at Ravina, not far from the region's capital of Trento - for the production and maturation of Classic Trentodoc and Charmat Method sparkling wines. Trento Doc was the first Classical Method sparkling wine DOC to be established anywhere in the world after Champagne, and the first in Italy.
A Note on Sustainability
For more than two decades Cavit has adhered to the “Protocol for the Production of High-Quality Wines in Trentino”, marking its commitment to fully sustainable agriculture. It is also a member of SEDEX and is working towards SNQPI (Sistema di Qualità Nazionale Produzione Integrata) certification for its commitment to sustainable agriculture. In addition to using only green energy, Cavit has made major investments aimed at reducing energy consumption. Specifically, it has built three photovoltaic generators that produce part of its energy requirements from renewable sources (more than 800 Megawatts per year), significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
PICA (Integrated Agricultural and Wine-producing Cartographic Platform), is the result of a five-year research project conducted by Cavit in collaboration with MPA Solutions and leading research centers in Trentino: the Edmund Mach Foundation (FEM) and the Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK).
The PICA platform is a complex system, but it works in a simple way. By networking the 4,500 vine growers of the 11 Cavit wine producers’ co-operatives it collects information and gives advice. The main purpose of this platform is to help the grower to achieve total sustainability. The project comprises of two main areas.
The first defines the choice of the most suitable grape varieties, on the basis of the technical and environmental parameters of the soil; the second involves the creation of an avant-garde system with which agronomists and winemakers can receive specific information concerning each vineyard and the various phases in the cultivation of the vines. In practice, waste is eliminated and the grower has total control. For example, it is possible to regulate the water supply according to the characteristics of the soil and the weather conditions.
Specifications
Year | NV |
Bottle Size | 200ml |
Cultivar | 100% Glera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 11% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 2.2 units |
Type | Fizz |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable |
Food Matches | The perfect aperitif or picnic wine! |
Origin | Veneto, Italy |
Appellation | DOC Veneto |
2018 Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino
Regular price £46.99 Sale price £39.94 Save 15%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
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Brunello |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14%alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Pairs well with rich meats such as game and boar. |
Origin | Toscana |
Appellation | DOCG Brunello Di Montalcino |
Lunetta Prosecco Rosé N/V (200ml Single Serve)
Regular price £3.79 Sale price £3.34 Save 12%Tasting Notes
A beautifully fresh and dry sparkling rosé from the foothills of the Trentino mountains - now in a handy 'single-serve' size too!
A fresh and dry sparkling rosé with persistent mousse, beautifully salmon pink in colour. Red berry characters on the nose and palate leading to a fresh, delicate and incisive finish.
Production Method
The grapes are sourced from the hills of the Adige and Vallagarina valleys in Trentino. Grapes were hand-harvested at the start of September. Chardonnay grapes were soft pressed to yield the best portion of must - after decanting for 10-12 hours this goes into stainless steel tanks for fermentation. The red grapes are harvested early to maintain good acidity levels and are vinified as for rosé wines. After stabilisation and clarification, the wine undergoes a second fermentation (Charmat method).
Producer
Cavit is a leading co-operative in the mountainous Trentino region of northeast Italy. The winery began as a consortium of associated grape growers in 1950, with a dedicated winery at Ravina di Trento built in 1964. Today It unites 11 separate cellars and their combined 4,500 grape growers across 7,000 hectares of vineyard, to produce an impressively broad portfolio from an intriguing palette of indigenous and international grape varieties. Trentino has a much higher proportion of wines produced as DOC than any other region in Italy - an average of 80% of the region's wines have a DOC classification, compared to around 30% elsewhere in the country. Remarkably, Cavit accounts for 60% of this region's wine production and they advise and supervise all aspects of this production from the vineyard to the bottle. Their site at Maso Toresella on the shores of Lake Toblino was the historic residence of the Prince Bishops of Trento, surrounded by 6.5 hectares of vineyard. It is one of the most significant 'masi' (rural estates) in the whole of Trentino. They have worked with the San Michele all’Adige Oenological Institute, since 1988, to develop wines of the highest quality. In 1993 Cantina Altemasi was established, also at Ravina, not far from the region's capital of Trento - for the production and maturation of Classic Trentodoc and Charmat Method sparkling wines. Trento Doc was the first Classical Method sparkling wine DOC to be established anywhere in the world after Champagne, and the first in Italy.
A Note on Sustainability
For more than two decades Cavit has adhered to the “Protocol for the Production of High-Quality Wines in Trentino”, marking its commitment to fully sustainable agriculture. It is also a member of SEDEX and is working towards SNQPI (Sistema di Qualità Nazionale Produzione Integrata) certification for its commitment to sustainable agriculture. In addition to using only green energy, Cavit has made major investments aimed at reducing energy consumption. Specifically, it has built three photovoltaic generators that produce part of its energy requirements from renewable sources (more than 800 Megawatts per year), significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
PICA (Integrated Agricultural and Wine-producing Cartographic Platform), is the result of a five-year research project conducted by Cavit in collaboration with MPA Solutions and leading research centers in Trentino: the Edmund Mach Foundation (FEM) and the Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK).
The PICA platform is a complex system, but it works in a simple way. By networking the 4,500 vine growers of the 11 Cavit wine producers’ co-operatives it collects information and gives advice. The main purpose of this platform is to help the grower to achieve total sustainability. The project comprises of two main areas.
The first defines the choice of the most suitable grape varieties, on the basis of the technical and environmental parameters of the soil; the second involves the creation of an avant-garde system with which agronomists and winemakers can receive specific information concerning each vineyard and the various phases in the cultivation of the vines. In practice, waste is eliminated and the grower has total control. For example, it is possible to regulate the water supply according to the characteristics of the soil and the weather conditions.
Awards
- Bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019
- Siver at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2018
- Bronze at the IWC 2017
- Silver at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2017
- Bronze at the IWSC 2017
- Bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2016
Specifications
Year | NV |
Bottle Size | 200ml |
Cultivar | Chardonnay, Teroldego |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 2.3 units |
Type | Fizz |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Features | Sustainable |
Food Matches | Perfect as an aperitif or with summer salads - just as enjoyable on its own! |
Origin | Trentino |
N/V Le Dolci Colline Prosecco
Regular price £10.29 Sale price £9.06 Save 12%A hugely popular Prosecco.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and gently fruity fizz from northeast Italy (Veneto) with citrus and green apple aromas. Delicate and lively on the palate with ripe, lightly grapey fruit, zesty acidity and a clean, refreshing finish.
Production Method
From selected parcels of Glera grapes grown northeast of Treviso. Hand harvested at optimum ripeness to give the required balance between aromatics and good acidity. Gentle pneumatic pressing followed by slow, cool fermentation in stainless steel. Second fermentation in pressure tanks, lasting 4 weeks.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. The aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. They source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom they have long-term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Glera 100% |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Fizz |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian, Vegan approved |
Food Matches | Serve chilled as an aperitif or with peach juice for the perfect Bellini. |
Origin |
Veneto |
2021 PEMO Pecorino Terre di Chieti IGP
Regular price £9.99 Sale price £8.79 Save 12%A super fresh and zingy wine bursting with lively citrus acidity, notes of tropical fruits and a hint of minerality, which gives the wine a lovely balance.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Fresh citrus nose, vibrantly aromatic with lemon zest and tropical fruits.
Palate
The palate is bright with incisive citrus and stone fruit characters balanced by taut acidity - giving an appealing texture and clean, crisp finish.
It’s got beautiful floral notes such as jasmin, with lovely citrus flavours, intertwined with refreshing minerality.
Production
PEMO Pecorino is normally fermented stored in stainless steel, which heightens the fruity palate of the wine. However, PEMO Pecorino spends four months ageing on its lees. This gives another element to the wine, making it more complex. Complexity in a wine is important, and is a sign of good quality.
Producers
The PEMO range of wines celebrates two grapes from Abruzzo – Pecorino (PE) and Montepulciano (MO). These two grapes have been growing in this region since 200 AD. The Pecorino grapes come from Chieti, the capital of the Abruzzo region and one of Italy’s most ancient cities.
- Pecorino is a native Italian grape variety from Abruzzo (not to be confused with cheese!)
- Eat seafood and white fish with PEMO Pecorino.
- Made in a modern way, while respecting local wine-making traditions.
- Originates from the rugged, mountainous Abruzzo region of central Italy.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pecorino |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
12.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | Perfect with seafood and white fish |
Origin | Abruzzo |
Appellation | Terre di Chieti IGP |
2021 Cortese Nostru Nero d'Avola No added Sulphur
Regular price £12.49 Sale price £10.99 Save 12%The Rooster, a symbol of pride, courage and honesty, watches over the vineyards. The ancient Greeks believed that the Rooster greeted the sun every morning with its cordial song, which symbolized the victory over the night but at the same time also serves as an alarm clock to mark the beginning of the day for both the animals and the winemakers!
In Cortese, early morning is a key time to work in the vineyards thus avoiding the impetuousness of the Sicilian sun.
Tasting Notes
Our NSA Nostru Nero d’Avola is really something quite different. It has a unique mouth-feel, it is soft and well-rounded, with the purest of black fruits flavours coming through.
What is a wine with no added sulphites?
Sulfur dioxide is naturally produced by wine during fermentation. In this case we do not add any further. This is possible because during the winemaking process we carry out all the operations meticulously so that it is not necessary to add sulphites.
Viticulture
The grapes are 100% Nero d’Avola from Azienda Agricola Cortese, our organic estate in Vittoria, south-eastern Sicily. The grapes are very carefully selected by hand in the middle of September, brought to the winery in small containers and processed immediately.
Vinification
The prime aim when producing a NSA wine is to keep everything in the winery meticulously clean in order to avoid any possible microbiological growth, except for yeast for the primary fermentation and bacteria for the malolactic fermentation. Fermentation is done in the usual way and we do the pumping over in the early stages of the process. After fermentation, we keen the wine in contact with the skins for 3-4 days, doing some pumping over in order to keep the cap wet. The wine is racked and then stored, with meticulous care not to allow any contact with oxygen.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nero d'Avola |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Dietary Information | Certified Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Perfect to be served with Mediterranean dishes, roasts of red meat, game, mushrooms and tasty cheeses. |
Origin |
Sicily, Vini DOC |
2022 De Canal Garganega Pinot Grigio DOC Garda
Regular price £7.99 Sale price £7.19 Save 10%DeCanal represents modern, versatile and traditional wines from Veneto region.
Tasting Notes
Aromatic Garganega meets the fruity Pinot Grigio creating a perfect match! A fresh lively white with distinctive notes of lime.
Harvest
Garganega Pinot Grigio is the quintessential Italian white wine and has been a part of the Garda Lake landscape in northeast Italy for centuries. The combined influence of the mountains and Lake Garda gives a perfect micro-climate for grape growing.
The grapes are carefully picked by hand in mid-September. Each vineyard is picked several times over in order to pick each individual bunch of grapes as optimum ripeness.
Vinification
The grapes are de-stemmed and very gently soft pressed in a pneumatic press. The juice is chilled to allow a natural separation of sediment, after which selected yeasts are added to initiate fermentation. Fermentation takes place off the skins in temperature-controlled conditions not exceeding 18°C in stainless steel for approximately 10 days.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Garganega & Pinot Grigio |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches | It is ideal with seafood, salads or light meat dishes. |
Cellaring Potential | 1 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Garda DOC |
Virtuoso Pink Zinfandel N/V
Regular price £8.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Decanal Pink Zinfandel grapes are selected from low-yielding vineyards in the Salento Peninsula to the south of Puglia. Vines are trained with Spalliera method.
Tasting Notes
It has a lovely fresh bouquet of strawberries, with a lively palate awash with ripe summer fruits.
Vinification
Fermentation
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Primitivo |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 10.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 7.88 units |
Type | Rosé |
Food Matches | Ideal on its own or with light meat dishes. |
Cellaring Potential | 1 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Puglia IGT |
2022 Paolo Leo Mora Mora Malvasia Nera
Regular price £12.95 Sale price £11.40 Save 12%Full-bodied and well balanced, with a lively tannin and a pleasantly lingering finish of ripe red fruits.
Malvasia nera is one of the oldest indigenous grape varieties in Puglia and it is likely that it arrived in southern Italy starting from the Dalmatian coasts beyond the Adriatic Sea. The aromatic black grape variety, is distinguished by a high sugar concentration and the almost total absence of tannin in the skins, a characteristic that makes it unique and unexpected especially when sipped even slightly cool in the sunny Salento summers.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Mora Mora is presented in the glass with a beautiful intense ruby red color.
Nose
On the nose, it offers small red fruits such as blackberries and mulberries in full ripeness. Then there are hints of dried plums and sweet spices such as cinnamon and cloves that give an enveloping tertiary perception.
Palate
In the mouth, it is warm, juicy, fresh with a slightly hinted acidity. Final with a very light sweetish aftertaste given by the typical fruit of black malvasia.
Vinification
The harvest is carried out in the second decade of September with a manual harvest of the grapes completed in the early hours of the morning, in the coolest hours of the day. After harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and the crushed grapes ferments in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 22-24 ° C for 8-10 days. The must is subjected to various pumping over and delestage that offer a technological extraction of color and tannins. Subsequently the wine is drawn off in a soft press. After the first racking, again in stainless steel, the malolactic fermentation takes place. Finally, the wine finishes its maturation for 3 months in second and third passage French oak barriques and is already ready to be drunk very young.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Malvasia Nera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14.5% |
Units of Alcohol |
10.9 units
|
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches |
The aromaticity of the Black Malvasia di Moramora combines with slow cooking ragù. The best embers of meat enhance the structure of the wine. Combined with cold cuts and cheeses it becomes a great company guest.
|
Cellaring Potential | 10-15 years |
Allergen Information
|
Contain sulphites |
Region | Puglia |
Appellation | IGP Salento |
2021 Nicosia Frappato Bio
Regular price £11.49 Sale price £10.11 Save 12%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
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Frappato |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable, Organic |
Food Matches | Pairs very well with vegetable tempura, couscous, tabbouleh and Caprese salad. Or enjoy with pasta alla Norma - a classic Sicilian pasta dish with aubergine, ricotta, basil and tomatoes. |
Origin | Sicilia |
Appellation | Terre Siciliane IGT |
Fontessa Prosecco Spumante Brut NV
Regular price £10.99 Sale price £9.67 Save 12%An appealing and very approachable Prosecco, and now with a more stylish and contemporary label!
Prosecco is a sparkling wine found in the northeast of Italy, located in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia wine Regions. The two regions are protected from the northern winds by the Alps and the Dolomites but are also influenced by their proximity to the Adriatic Sea.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and fruity Prosecco with aromas of citrus and green apple. The palate has ripe grapey characters, zesty acidity and a clean, refreshing finish.
Production
From selected parcels of Glera grapes grown northeast of Treviso. Hand harvested at optimum ripeness. Gentle pneumatic pressing followed by slow, cool fermentation in stainless steel. Second fermentation in tank, lasting 4 weeks.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Producer
- Bronze at the 2019 Sommelier Wine Awards (N/V)
Specifications
Year | NV |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Glera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Fizz |
Cellaring Potential | For immediate enjoyment |
Features | Vegetarian & Vegan |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches |
Perfect aperitif wine, or serve with light salads and starters. |
Origin | Veneto, Italy |
Appellation | DOC Veneto |
2017 Amarone della Valpolicella ‘La Colombaia’
Regular price £25.00 Sale price £21.25 Save 15%Tasting Notes
A richly flavoured and approachable Amarone with layers of ripe plum and cherry fruit, mocha and spice.
Nose
Ripe, warm and generous on the nose with abundant plum and cherry aromas, roasted coffee beans and hints of dried fruits.
Palate
Full-bodied and richly flavoured with rich berry and plum fruit, supple tannins and a spicy finish, with the characteristic dry bite of good Amarone. A balanced and very approachable style.
Producer
The illustrious Montresor family moved from France to Italy at the start of the 19th Century and settled in the Veneto region near Lake Garda. In 1892 Cantina Giacomo Montresor was established in Verona, and remains family-owned to this day.
Giorgio Montresor produces a portfolio of wines which increasingly rival the offerings of the region's more fashionable names - harnessing modern technology to craft the best wines from each site, across their 100ha of vineyard, in Valpolicella and Garda.
Production Method
Made from a blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. The grapes are hand-harvested at the end of October. The late harvested grapes are dried for four months (until January following the vintage) and then crushed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel for four months followed by maturation in Slavonian oak casks and small barrels for 2 years.
A Note on Sustainability
At the end of 2019, Montresor received its organic certification. Some of its wines are already bottled in a lighter weight glass bottle (less than 420g) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during transport, with the added benefit of reducing the amount of glass to be manufactured.
Over the next two years, solar panels will be installed at the winery to provide some of the electricity required in the production process. Alongside this, Montresor is about to install a water purification system to recover and recycle the water used at the winery.
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Molinara |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 15% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.2 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable |
Food Matches | Perfect with mature hard cheeses and blue cheeses. Also excellent with game and mature beef. |
Origin | Veneto |
Appellation | DOCG Amarone Della Calpolicella |
2022 La Battistina Gavi
Regular price £11.99 Sale price £10.55 Save 12%Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromatic, zesty nose with notes of apple, lime and white flower.
Palate
The wine has juicy apple and lemon characters, and is textural with attractive minerality. The finish is balanced, with a zesty mouthwatering quality.
Production
The vineyards are south facing and the soil, chalky and mineral, which allows full ripening and excellent drainage. The 35 year old vines are trained Piemonte style on low Guyot trellis, planted with 4,000 - 4,500 vines per hectare and yielding 6600 lt/ha. The whole process of winemaking is undertaken at Araldica's winery, Azienda Agricola La Battistina, in stainless steel tanks. The hand harvested grapes are pressed in a pneumatic press and subjected to a temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel. The wine remains in contact with the lees for 4 months before being fined, filtered and bottled.
Producer
The La Battistina estate consists of 26ha of mature vineyard including 5ha in Gavi del Comune di Gavi. The property was acquired by leading Piemonte producer Araldica in 2002, establishing their reputation as a Gavi specialist, with the largest vineyard holdings in the region. La Battistina (and the neighbouring 20ha estate of La Lancellotta, from which grapes are also sourced) are renowned as among the best sites in Gavi.
The estate consists of eight separate vineyard plots along one prime south-facing slope - the distinct areas producing very different wines. The vineyard has a unique combination of limestone and clay soil which allows full ripening of the local Cortese grape. This, together with vines of average age 35 years, gives complexity and weight to what is one of Italy's most fashionable white wines.
The majority of grapes go to produce the unoaked 'La Battistina', while 'Nuovo Quadro' comes from a small, plot at the foot of the Battistina hill which lies within the Comune di Gavi sub-zone. The 'La Battistina' range is produced by the Araldica winemaking team, overseen by Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese's son Carlo.
Sustainability
Production at La Battistina has obtained the SQNPI trademark - Sistema di Qualità Nazionale di Produzione Integrata (National Quality System of Integrated Crop Management). Wines and vintages that are now fully compatible with this system have a bee symbol on the label, which guarantees that each phase of production has complied with the strict parameters of integrated crop management. In other words, it is sustainable and eco-compatible, certified by an independent third party.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cortese |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches |
Delicious with appetisers and light fish courses. |
Cellaring Potential | 1 year |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Piedmont |
Appellation | Gavi DOCG |
2022 Castel del Lupo Pinot Grigio ‘Della Ginestra’
Regular price £12.99 Sale price £11.43 Save 12%Tasting Notes
Castel del Lupo’s impressive new release was made especially for Boutinot from grapes grown on the south-facing, chalky Ginestra vineyard. Like their Pinot Nero, this PG from the gently hilly Oltrepo Pavese DOC, the ‘Tuscany of Northern Italy’, has subtlety, depth and character. It’s a pure, gently aromatic style, crisp and lightly nutty, with fine citrus and peach fruit characters and savoury, textural finish from 4 months on fine lees.
Nose
A subtle, delicately aromatic and lightly floral nose with citrus and white peach notes.
Palate
The palate has fresh stone fruit and lemony characters leading to a gentle, textured mid-palate and an attractively crisp, saline finish.
Production Method
The Pinot Grigio grapes are organically grown, harvested by hand, and undergo careful selection. Alcoholic fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature (17°C), and the wine is then kept on fine lees for at least four months.
Producer
Castel del Lupo, in the heart of Oltrepò Pavese, dates back centuries - and includes the eighteenth-century Palazzo Pegazzera. In 1974 three entrepreneurs took over this historic estate and began a regeneration process. Giovanni Doglio, whose father and grandfather were both Piemontese winemakers, has over 40 years of experience managing wineries. Recently joined by his daughter Federica, he has worked tirelessly to develop the estate. They have purchased more vineyards (to cover 100ha at around 300m altitude), planted new vines and built a new cellar. The vineyards are now certified organic. The winery's main focus is high quality bottle-fermented sparkling wine, and much of the vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir for this purpose. However, these vines are also the source of fine still red wines.
A Note on Sustainability
A proportion of the cantina’s vineyards are in conversion from sustainable to organic cultivation and will be certified as organic from 2020.
Awards
- Bronze Sommelier Wine Awards 2019 (2018 vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Grigio |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable, Organic |
Food Matches | Ideal as an aperitif, excellent with summery appetizers and fish dishes. |
Origin | Lombardia, Italy |
Appellation | DOC Oltrepo Pavese |
2021 Villa la Pagliaia Chianti Classico (375ml Half Bottle)
Regular price £7.99 Sale price £7.03 Save 12%A fresh, approachable style of Chianti Classico (in a half bottle) with vibrant, juicy red fruit. Villa la Pagliaia lies in the south of the Chianti Classico zone, adjacent to sister property San Felice.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of ripe plum and cherry with spicy, savoury notes. This is a fruit-forward style of Chianti - the palate is bright and sappy, with redcurrant and bramble fruit providing fresh acidity, and supple tannins giving structure.
Production
The grapes come from the estate's own 350-400m altitude vineyards in the Chianti Classico zone, near Castel Berardenga. The vines are on average 25 years old (yielding about 1.5kg of fruit per vine) - 'guyot' trained and planted in rocky clay soil. Fermentation and maceration on the skins last for 8-10 days (at 28-30ºC) followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. Matured in Slavonian oak casks for 10-12 months.
Producer
The Villa La Pagliaia property in Castelnuovo Berardenga, around 15km from Siena, has a long and aristocratic history. The elegant 18th Century villa is amidst a striking landscape of vines, olive groves and cyprus trees. Their vineyards, here in the south of the Chianti Classico region, are at 300-450m altitude, with clay and limestone soils.
Fruit from these, predominantly Sangiovese, low-yielding mature vines (over 25 years old) - combined with traditional vinification methods overseen by neighbouring property (and sister estate) San Felice - ensures consistent production of very classic and quietly impressive wines.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 375ml |
Cultivar | 95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 4.9 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches | A good match for spicy pasta dishes, sausages and red meat. |
Origin | Toscana, Italy |
Appellation | DOCG Chianti Classico |
2019 Cortese Nostru Nerello Mascalese
Regular price £12.75 Sale price £11.22 Save 12%Leathery, resistant, attached to life: the Agave embodies the spirit of the territory that hosts it. Able to survive in all conditions, he never forgets to explode into the sky in a flowery tower.
An extremely versatile wine. Perfect with pasta, either with white meat or tomato-based sauces, but equally with roasted meats, tuna or swordfish cooked on the grill.
Tasting Notes
This lovely midweight red wine is made from Mount Etna's premium red grape.
Colour
Ruby Red in colour which will tend to Garnet with aging, with a modest concentration of color typical of the variety.
Nose
The aroma is fine and varied, prevailing over all the small red berried fruits accompanied by an elegant spicy character. Intense yet delicate it has a silky fine texture with redcurrant and blackcurrant notes.
Palate
In the mouth the Nerello Mascalese excels for its elegance thanks to silky tannins and contrasted by a marked minerality.
Vineyards
The name Nerello Mascalese derives from the small town of Mascali on the slopes of Etna, the area of origin of the vine. It is a variety that in recent years has returned to production not only on Etna but also in other areas of Sicily with different expressions.
Our Nerello Mascalese grows at an altitude of about 400m above sea level, and is harvested entirely by hand in small boxes of 10-15 kg. After harvesting, the grapes are immediately separated from the stalk and vinified with an extremely soft pressing.
Vinification
The must is fermented on the skins with frequent remontage during the early stages of fermentation. Once fermentation is finished,we continue the skin contact for about 15 days with one very soft remontage a day. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally once separated from the skins. The wine is kept on its very fine lees for about 6-8 months before being bottled.
Awards
91 points - Luca Maroni - I MIGLIORI VINI ITALIANI (2019 Vintage)
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nerello Mascalese |
Country | Italy |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Certified Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Try with succulent burgers and grilled flavoursome fish dishes. |
Origin |
Sicily, Vini IGP |
2017 Barolo DOCG Antario
Regular price £22.95 Sale price £19.51 Save 15%Nobody knows with certainty when humans began to grow wines, but we do know that for thousands of years they have looked to the sky and the stars for guidance in making the best choices. Antario takes its name from Antares, the brightest star of the Scorpio constellations, and is a selection of iconic wines coming from the best vineyards in Piedmont.
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby red with a bouquet of violet, spices and pepper. Great depth of character on the palate with classic damson fruit flavours and a good amount of spice.
Vineyard
The grapes are selected from the sunny vineyards located on the Langhe hills.
Harvest
The grapes are carefully picked by hand in the second half of October.
Vinification
After picking the grapes are immediately destemmed and crushed. Fermentation takes place exclusively with indigenous yeasts, naturally reaching around 30˚C. Frequent remontage is carried out during fermentation for optimum extraction of colour and tannins. Malolactic occurs naturally.
Ageing
The wine is aged for 6 months in stainless steel, then for 30 months in traditional large Slavonian oak barrels.
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nebbiolo |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Ideal with roast meats and aged cheeses. |
Cellaring Potential | 2 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Piedmont |
2020 Villa la Pagliaia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Regular price £17.99 Sale price £15.83 Save 12%Villa La Pagliaia is the sister estate of neighbouring San Felice. It produces a similarly full-flavoured and spicy style of Chianti Classico Riserva but in a slightly more traditional style - and offers exceptional value.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Archetypal Chianti with bramble fruit notes as well as cedar and spice aromas.
Palate
The palate is richly-flavoured and complex with black cherry, plum and dried fruit characters, along with notes of spice, leather, pepper and liquorice. Supple tannins and bright acidity lead to a rich, savoury and satisfying finish.
Production
The grapes come from Villa la Pagliaia's 350-400m altitude vineyards around Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the south of the Chianti Classico zone, and are hand-picked. The vines are on average 25 years old - yielding about 1.5kg of fruit per vine - 'guyot' trained and planted in pliocene soil with 25% rocky clay. Fermentation and maceration on the skins is carried out at a controlled temperature of 28 to 30 degrees Centigrade and lasts for 18 to 20 days. This helps to extract the required amount of fruit, colour and tannins. This is followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is matured for 24 months in Slavonian oak barrels.
Producer
The Villa La Pagliaia property in Castelnuovo Berardenga, around 15km from Siena, has a long and aristocratic history. The elegant 18th Century villa is amidst a striking landscape of vines, olive groves and cypress trees. Their vineyards, here in the south of the Chianti Classico region, are at 300-450m altitude, with clay and limestone soils.
Fruit from these, predominantly Sangiovese, low-yielding mature vines (over 25 years old) - combined with traditional vinification methods overseen by neighbouring property (and sister estate) San Felice - ensures consistent production of very classic and quietly impressive wines.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Great with grilled or roast meats and steaks as well as sharp, mature cheeses. |
Origin | Toscana, Italy |
Appellation | DOCG Chianti Classico |
2020 PEMO Montepulciano D'Abruzzo
Regular price £9.49 Sale price £8.35 Save 12%The wine is soft on the palate and goes down very easily.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Aromas of black cherries and violets on the nose.
Palate
A deeply characterful wine, it is really soft and velvety, with red berry fruits, and a smooth, gentle finish. It has noticeable, but subtle and well-integrated tannins which help give this wine a lovely structure and mouthfeel. The wine is soft on the palate and goes down very easily.
Producers
The PEMO range of wines celebrates two grapes from Abruzzo – Pecorino (PE) and Montepulciano (MO). These two grapes have been growing in this region since 200 AD.
- Produced in a modern way, while respecting local wine making traditions.
- Eat anything from barbecued meats to stews to pizza with PEMO Montepulciano.
- Montepulciano is a native Italian grape variety from Abruzzo.
- Originates from the rugged, mountainous Abruzzo region of central Italy.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Medium bodied with red berry/cherry fruits. A bit of spice gives it an extra dimension. Low acidity gives it a real softness and smoothness - a real easy drinker.
No oak characteristics coming through so it’s a fruity, modern, stainless steel style. As montepulciano in this area is pretty prolific these wines were historically used for blending or ended up in the German market. Now production is cut back and wines recognised on their own merits! Got to be one of our best value reds right now!" October 2022
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Montelpulciano |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red |
Food Matches | Ideal with red meats, stews and pizza. |
Cellaring Potential | Up to 2 years |
Dietary Information | Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Abruzzo |
Fedele Catarratto Pinot Grigio IGP
Regular price £8.99 Sale price £7.91 Save 12%Tasting Notes
The bouquet shows tropical fruit with hints of citrus. There is a perfect balance of pure tropical fruit on the palate, with a backbone of acidity. The Fedele is actually a blend of Catarratto, which gives some body, cream and some delicate pear and ripe melon flavours, whilst the Pinot Grigio brings some hints of peach and stoned fruit and an incredible freshness.
Vineyards & Winemaking
Grapes: 60% Catarratto 40% Pinot Grigio. Both grape varieties are grown in organic vineyards in the Trapani area. The two different grape varieties are vinified separately, temperature-controlled fermentations then blended and left on the fine lees until the end of the year.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 60% Catarratto 40% Pinot Grigio |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% abv |
|
9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matching | Enjoy with shellfish, Vegetarian foods, appetizers, and snacks |
Cellaring Potential |
For immediate enjoyment - best served chilled. |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian |
Origin |
Sicily, Italy |
Appelation | Sicily IGP |
2022 La Cantina Pizzolato Pinot Grigio DOC Venezia
Regular price £15.99 Sale price £14.07 Save 12%A juicy, fresh and silky pinot grigio made by the latest of five generations of Pizzolati who have made wine organically since 1991.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Straw Yellow
Nose
Citrusy aromas of citron sorbet, sweet almond, and candied oranges
Palate
A satiny, crisp, dryish light body and smooth, breezy pears and Turkish delight finish with no oak flavor.
Vineyard
The estate is located in the rich and flourishing countryside in the north of Treviso, and the vineyards are situated on the plains and hillsides near Piave river. The Terroir is pebbly with permeable soil which allows for good drainage.
Vinification
The wine is vinified off the skins and fermentation is completed in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures.
History
If you love authentic and organic Italian wines, you have to taste the ones from the brand of La Cantina Pizzolato. Ever since 1991, all the wines crafted here have been certified as 100% organic. Settimo Pizzolato, who currently owns the winery, is not only an expert winemaker but also an enthusiast of organic farming.
Today, at the Pizzolato winery, no sulphates or preservatives are used in the winemaking process, to ensure that the wines are as natural and organic as possible. The winemaking team here is fully aware of the importance of protecting the natural system; therefore, it doesn’t use any pesticides or artificial methods for crafting the wines.
The new winery, set up as part of the Sustainable Winery Project, in Treviso, makes use of green energy and innovative techniques such as organic purifiers and automatic lighting to reduce wastage as much as possible and protect the environment of the winery. Photovoltaic solar panels, organic water purifier, use of Cansiglio beech, water recycling, use of reusable materials and sustainable architecture are some of the methods employed by the Pizzolato family to create world-class organic wines. These efforts haven’t gone unrecognized in the wine world, because the Pizzolato organic winery has been the recipient of many awards in the recent past.
Today, there are only a handful of wine brands that do complete justice to the project of sustainable wine production and La Cantina Pizzolato is one of them. The best part about this brand is that it continues to upgrade its winery and winemaking techniques to make the process more organic than ever. If you are interested in knowing the organic winemaking process, you can book a wine-tasting tour here. All the wines crafted here have been classified as vegan as well. So, if you are a practicing vegan, you don’t have to think twice before trying out the La Cantina Pizzolato wines!
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Pinot Grigio |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12% |
Units of Alcohol | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches | Ideal as an aperitif. Excellent with first and second light dishes, with herb omelettes, vegetable soup, cream-based on chickpeas and courgettes and with vegan sushi and sensational with shellfish. |
Features | Vegan & Vegetarian approved, Organic & Sustainable farming |
Allergen Information | Contain sulphites |
Origin | Treviso |
Appellation | DOC Venezia |
2021 Cortese Nostru Catarratto Lucido Organic
Regular price £12.99 Sale price £11.43 Save 12%Calm expression of an animal capable of enormous effort and equally stubbornness. The donkey represents the soul of working in the fields, a source of life and wealth.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Straw-coloured with flecks of green.
Aroma
The characterful bouquet is a little spicy and reminiscent of jasmine, aromatic herbs and nutmeg, with delicate touches of white peach.
Palate
On the palate, there is a strong mineral backbone, perfectly balanced with lively acidity. The finish is long and complex with delicious almond flavours.
Viticulture
Our Catarratto grapes are cultivated on slopes at around 400 metres above sea level. Grapes are hand-picked in mid-September in small baskets. Picking takes place in the cool early part of the morning in order to keep the grapes as fresh as possible.
Vinification
The vinification of Catarratto Lucido is carried out on the principle of minimum intervention in order to achieve maximum quality in the finished wine. Grapes are de-stemmed and very softly pressed with a pneumatic press. The must is decanted at a low temperature for about 48 hours before starting the fermentation, which takes place at 17-19C° for about 20 days. After the fermentation is finished the wine is racked and kept on fine lees for at least 5 months, with frequent battonages.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Cataratto |
Country | Italy |
|
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Certified Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Serve cold (not chilled) - a very versatile wine that pairs well with fish and seafood, white meats, grilled vegetables and soft goats cheese. |
Origin |
Sicily, Vini IGP |
2022 Caparrone Abruzzo Passerina
Regular price £10.45 Sale price £9.20 Save 12% "Lively, fresh and zingy - the type of wine to awaken your tastebuds and senses on a lazy Sunday afternoon!" Alan's personal notes.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Fresh citrus nose, vibrantly aromatic with lemon zest, sherbert, and grapefruit.
Palate
The palate is bright with incisive citrus and stone fruit characters balanced by taut acidity - giving an appealing texture and clean, crisp finish.
Production
The Passerina grapes are sourced from vines grown on chalky clay soils at Silvi (on the Adriatic coast) and a little inland at Moscufo. The grapes are softly pressed and macerated on skins, at low temperature, for 8 hours. Fermentation is in stainless steel.
Producers
Rocco Pasetti's superbly sited, 30-hectare estate lies in the heart of the Collecorvino district in the hills northwest of Pescara, recognised as one of the best vineyard zones in Abruzzo.
Surrounding the winery, the south-facing slopes of clay-chalk soils, at around 250m altitude, are ideal for the cultivation of Montepulciano, with Pecorino grown on the lower slopes. The cellar was completed in 2004 - carved into the hillside. Rocco's son, Franco Pasetti, is also a winemaker and now works alongside him at the estate.
The Contesa wines are impeccably-made expressions of Abruzzo's local grapes - modern and easy to drink, yet wines of real substance.
Sustainable
Contesa is committed to its sustainability programme and practices an integrated crop management system that is certified under the EU-recognised Sistema Di Qualità Nazionale Di Produzione Integrata (SQNPI) scheme. The Pasetti family is considering a move towards full organic certification.
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Passerina |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Features | Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matches |
Perfect with simply prepared shellfish - marinated scallops perhaps! |
Origin | Abruzzo |
Appellation | Abruzzo DOC |
2022 Da Vero Biologico Nero d’Avola (Organic)
Regular price £8.99 Sale price £7.91 Save 12%Tasting Notes
Production
The Nero d'Avola grapes are sourced from the area around Salemi (Province of Trapani) in the north-west tip of Sicily. The vines are Guyot-trained, and grown at around 250m altitude on a combination of soil types. The vineyards were converted to organic viticulture in 2007. The grapes are macerated on the skins for 8-12 days, then racked and allowed to complete malolactic fermentation.
Producer
Established in 2003, Adria Vini is a winemaking venture jointly owned by Boutinot and Araldica Castelvero, the leading co-operative in the Monferrato hills of Piemonte. Our aim is to produce authentic, well-priced still and sparkling wines from local grape varieties. All aspects of production, from grape selection through to vinification, maturation, blending and bottling are meticulously overseen by Araldica's winemaking team of Claudio Manera and Lella Burdese - assisted by Boutinot's Tony Brown MW. We source from a range of private growers and cooperatives, with whom we have long-term relationships, principally in Veneto, Friuli, Lombardy, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo and Sardinia.
Alan's Personal Tasting Note
"This wee beaut is destined to become one of our best sellers (cellars!) medium bodied with lots of juicy black fruits and a real easy drinking smoothness - absolutely no rough edges - a real crowd pleaser at a crowd-pleasing price. Watch this fly!" January 2024
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nero d'Avola |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% abv |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle
|
10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matching | Pair with starters, seafood and risotto |
Cellaring Potential |
Rich pasta dishes, casseroles and grilled meats |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian, sustainable |
Origin |
Sicily, Italy |
Appellation | Sicilia DOC |
2021 Cantina Di Negrar Valpolicella Ripasso D.O.C. Classico Superiore
Regular price £14.99 Sale price £13.19 Save 12%Cantina di Negrar Valpolicella Ripasso is a serious red at a "not so serious red" price point!
Tasting Notes
Nose
Intense and persistent, with fruity aromas of cherry and plum, floral notes of violets and a touch of spiciness from black pepper.
Palate
Fresh, fruity, with an elegant balance between structure and body, harmonised by the perfect acidity and tannins, warm, medium-bodied, velvety and balanced tannins.
History
With a history of wine-making going back to 1933, Cantina Valpolicella Negrar has been at the forefront of development in the Valpolicella region since its inception. The winery was the first to make the world-renowned Amarone, and soon after, in recognition of this, was awarded the Certificate of Special Mention by the Brussels International Exposition. This firmly put Cantina Valpolicella Negrar on the map and it has continued to look forward ever since.
Awards
- IWSC Italian Winery of the Year 2013
- Bronze Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2018
- Bronze Medal, The International Wine & Spirit Competition 2018
- 92 Points, James Suckling 2017
- Gold Medal, Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada 2017
- Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge 2017
- Silver Medal, WOW! The Italian Wine Competition 2016
- Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge 2016
- Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge 2015
- Gold Medal, Mundus Vini 2012
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Corvina 70%, Rondinella 15%, Corvinone 15% |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Food Matches |
It pairs wonderfully with all types of red meat, both grilled and braised. Excellent with traditional Veronese dishes, such as Pastissada de caval, lesso con Pearà and lasagnette with black truffles from Mount Baldo. |
Allergen Information | Contain sulphites |
Dietary Information | Vegetarian approved |
Origin | Valpolicella Classica - Veneto |
Appellation | Valpolicella Ripasso DOC |
Santa Tresa Il Frappato Spumante Rosé Organic Brut
Regular price £14.99 Sale price £13.19 Save 12%Tasting Notes
Colour
A delicate salmon pink, Il Frappato Spumante Rosé has a fine and consistent perlage.
Nose
Elegant, with fresh fruity notes on the bouquet, reminiscent of wild strawberries, raspberries and pomegranates.
Palate
On the palate, the wine is delicate and harmonious, with lovely fresh fruit flavours, citrussy notes and a pleasant acidity.
Harvest
The Frappato grapes are hand-picked during the first few days of September once the grapes have reached the perfect balance of sugars and acidity needed for making a good spumante. The grapes are put into small containers and are refrigerated for around 48 hours to reduce the temperature to about 8-10°C.
Vinification
After very careful destemming, the grapes are put into a pneumatic press, where they stay for around 2 hours and are very, very gently pressed at 0.2 bar. The must is chilled to facilitate natural sedimentation. The alcoholic fermentation occurs at 18-20°C for around 8-10 days and the base wine is then kept refrigerated.
Secondary Fermentation
The secondary fermentation for Frappato Brut takes place in small autoclaves at a temperature not exceeding 14°C. The special yeast strains added to initiate the second fermentation work very slowly at this low temperature, helping to retain the freshness and typical characteristics of the Frappato.
Specifications
Year | N/V |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Frappato |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol Content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of alcohol per bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Sparkling Wine / Fizz |
Cellaring Potential | 3-5 years |
Food Matches |
The ideal aperitif and the perfect accompaniment to seafood antipasti. Excellent with shellfish. In Ragusa, we pair it with our local mortadella. Serve chilled at 8-10°C. |
Origin |
Sicily, Italy |
2021 Cortese Nostru Carricante Terre Siciliane IGP
Regular price £12.99 Sale price £11.43 Save 12%Tasting Notes
Colour
Our Carricante is a pale straw yellow, with some hints of green.
Aroma
The elegant bouquet is a combination of peach, apple, citrus fruits and blossom.
Palate
The palate has a big structure, with excellent acidity, minerality and sapidity and these characteristics give Carricante a particularly long finish.
Viticulture
Our Carricante is cultivated at about 400 metres above sea level. As it is so prolific, it is essential to focus a lot of attention on training the vines – which we do using the Guillotmethod. Strict pruning is also absolutely key in order to limit production. Grapes are hand-picked in the early part of September.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand towards the beginning of September. A careful destemming is followed by soft pressing of the grapes. The decantation of the must at low temperature lasts about 48 hours before the start of the fermentation carried out at 17-19 ° C for about 20 days. After fermentation, the wine is decanted and kept on fine lees for about 5 months with frequent battonages.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Carricante |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Information | Certified Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian |
Food Matches | Perfect accompaniment to a seafood menu: seafood antipasti, then crab linguine, followed by grilled fish. |
Origin |
Sicily, Vini IGP |
Prosecco Villalta Extra Dry DOC
Regular price £11.99 Sale price £10.55 Save 12%Villalta Prosecco is a sparkling vino spumante - extra dry - made under the Charmat method. It has lovely green apple and pear notes on the palate, dry with delicate and persistent bubbles.
Tasting Notes
Brilliant straw colour with delicate perlage. On the palate, it delivers ripe assorted pear, apple, some citrus and a dash of nutty almond flavouring.
Prosecco is a sparkling wine found in the northeast of Italy, located in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia wine Regions. The two regions are protected from the northern winds by the Alps and the Dolomites but are also influenced by their proximity to the Adriatic Sea.
Specifications
Year | NV |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Glera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 11% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.25 units |
Type | Fizz |
Cellaring Potential | 1 year |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | This wine works like a charm with antipasti, salami and Proscuitto dishes at the start of a meal. Its refreshing flavours work to balance the saltiness of the dishes. it is also refreshing with cheeses and pairs well with shellfish. While you might think that prosecco is only for lighter fare - think again! It's a beautiful match with oven roasted or stewed game, accented with polenta. Native mushrooms such as porcini, and paired with the sweetness of chestnuts, bring out the best in the flavours of the wine. And with a slow-cooked pork belly or roasted chicken it's simply delicious. Serve well chilled. |
Origin | Veneto & Treviso Areas |
Appellation | DOC Veneto |
2019 Isolabella Della Croce Piedmont Sauvignon Blanc
Regular price £18.99 Sale price £16.71 Save 12%A fresh and mineral taste accompanied by an intense bouquet of white and exotic flowers fully express the characteristics of the Sauvignon blanc.
Tasting Notes
Colour
The colour is a pale straw yellow, clean and luminous.
Nose
Its bouquet has scents of white flowers as well as typical aromas of Sauvignon blanc including that of the boxwood tree, notes of exotic fruits, especially pineapple and lychee fruit.
Palate
In the mouth, it’s fresh, mineral, and savoury. The location of the vines on the high hills with a soil light in limestone makes this sauvignon particularly special and enjoyable.
For Sauvignon Blanc, it’s vital to have an optimal maturation not just from a technical aspect but as well from an aromatic aspect. The delicacy of the perfumes and the finding the right balance are easily compromised if the grapes are picked prematurely or harvested too late. Thus each vine is cured very carefully creating an optimal result with great structure and persistence.
Terroir
A fresh and mineral taste accompanied by an intense bouquet of white and exotic flowers fully express the characteristics of the Sauvignon Blanc. The vines are at the highest point of the Vineyard, cultivated at 540 meters above sea level, which renders a stronger thermal range in August and September.
Vineyards
The vineyards of Isolabella are located at an average altitude of 480 to 540m above sea level, thereby ensuring that the vines are exposed to considerable air and light. The cold Alpine sea winds play a big role in ensuring that the grapes grown here have thick skins and concentrated flavours. You will find fine marne, calcareous and sandy soils in most of the places here, which makes it great for cultivating grape varietals such as Moscato, Brachetto and Pinot Nero.
History
Located in the smallest DOC of Italy’s Alta Langa area, Loazzolo, the Isolabella della Croce is a family-owned wine brand, known for its exclusive and rare quality of sweet wines. Moscato grapes, grown exclusively in this region, are used for creating these amazingly sweet wines. The family’s passion for winemaking has resulted in making the brand a well-respected name in the list of organic and biodynamic wine producers in the world today.
Awards
- Decanter World Wine Awards, 2017: Bronze
- International Wine Challenge, 2016: Commended
- Decanter World Wine Awards, 2016: Bronze
- Decanter World Wine Awards, 2015: Bronze
- International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2015: Bronze
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sauvignon Blanc |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol | 10.1 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Matches |
Perfect for something as simple as a savory or salty appetizer or excellent with fish. It also pairs perfectly with any pasta dish with a lighter sauce such as that with vegetables or white meat. Serve at between 16-18C |
Features | Organic & Biodynamic |
Allergen Information | Contain sulphites |
Origin |
Loazzolo, Alta Langa |
Appellation | Piedmont DOC |
2020 Jacopo Biondi Santi Castello di Montepo 'Sassoalloro' Toscana IGT
Regular price £23.99 Sale price £20.39 Save 15%Sassoalloro is pleasant, particularly soft and balanced, with extremely silky tannins.
Tasting Notes
It shows a beautiful compact ruby red color and at the opening it spreads hints of black pepper and fruity notes of blackberry and cherry in alcohol, combined with floral aromas of violet, graphite and earthy hints. The taste is decidedly full and responsive, with great balance.
Jacopo Biondi Santi Castello di Montepò Sassoalloro is a bright, dynamic Sangiovese with an impressive pedigree. The name Sassoalloro (first vintage 1991) references a volcanic boulder on which legends have been built.
Producer
The Biondi Santi family has earned a place in the tradition of Italian wine thanks to the lively and passionate inventiveness that has distinguished it since the very beginning. The roots of this brilliant adventure go back to the 1800s, when Ferruccio Biondi Santi planted the first Montalcino vineyard with vines of a selected clone of Sangiovese, called Sangiovese Grosso or Brunello: it was the first step towards a new way of making wine that would soon in the history of Italian wine. Today it continues to improve under the leadership of Jacopo with the future secure thanks to help from his children, Tancredi, Clemente and Clio.
Biondi Santi is the historic cellar that has its roots in time and has marked the history of Brunello di Montalcino; a brand that has become the owner of several estates in the magical terroir of China, including that of Castello di Montepò near Pancole, where the Sassoalloro grapes are grown, a grandiose version of pure Sangiovese Grosso that oozes territoriality from every drop.
The Wine
A wine, in some ways, new to the tradition of Biondi Santi. Fermented and aged for about 14 months in Tronçais oak barriques, a short period that comes out of the company schemes which provides for long aging. A wine to drink practically immediately, but with a life potential that can reach 15 years.
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Sangiovese Grosso |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 14% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 11.3 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Matches | Pair with red meat dishes such as lamb, pasta in herby tomato sauces or any Tuscan foods. Ideal with aged cheeses too and perfect in combination with finocchiona and excellent with sausages and beans. |
Aging Potential | Now or up to 15 years |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
Maremma, Tuscany |
Appellation | Tuscany |
2020 Rivera Salice Salentino DOC
Regular price £13.99 Sale price £12.31 Save 12%Salice Salentino is made from 90% Negroamaro, an indigenous grape of the region. A wine with body, spiciness, and light oak notes.
Tasting Notes
Dense, purple-tinged ruby red; rich bouquet, with notes of dried plum and cherry; generous and complex in the mouth, with excellent structure, and a finish exhibiting the pleasant, bitterish note typical of the Negroamaro grape
About the Wine
Salice Salentino DOC rosso is the most typical red wine appellation of the Salento, the extreme south of Puglia. It is a blend of the area’s traditional grape varieties, the Negroamaro and a smaller part of Malvasia nera. State-of-the-art vinification and a few months ageing in oak barrels have given it its lively ruby hue, fragrances of dark berry fruit, full body, and lingering finish with a classic bitterish note.
Production
Vineyards trained in the “Salento gobelet” style, in Salento’s typical reddish clay soils; vines average 5,000 per hectare and yield 80-90 q./ha
Grapes are harvested between the first and the second week in September. The must macerates 8-9 days at 28°C in stainless steel; the vinification style is designed to bring out the freshness of the fruit and to highlight its varietal characteristics.
After a brief stay in glass-lined vats, the wine matures 3-4 months in one-year old small oak before being bottled.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"One of our wee crackers - dusty soft tannins with a touch of both smokiness and spice mingling round the plum & cherry fruit. It’s super soft and smooth but with an attractive cherry bitterness on the finish - a hallmark of the dominant Negroamaro grape in Puglia. Great flavours and mouthfeel for a paltry £13.99 - could easily pay a fiver more for this and it would still be great value. Great for everyday/school day drinking!" Tasted 1 January 2024
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar |
90% Negroamaro 10 % Malvasia Nera |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red |
Food Matches | The ultimate pizza and spicy tomato base pasta red wine! |
Cellaring Potential | 3-4 years |
Dietary Information | Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian Approved |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Brindisi and Lecce |
Appellation | Puglia DOC |
2020 Rivera Negroamaro del Salento IGT
Regular price £12.95 Sale price £11.40 Save 12%Negroamaro is Salentos most prevalent grape variety - a real quaffer!
Tasting Notes
Dark ruby red with a garnet core. On the nose, scents of black elderberries, cranberries and a balsamic note. Fresh and juicy on the palate, with a lightness of touch and a slight savory character. medium length.
Vineyards
Negroamaro is the most typical grape variety of Salento on the southernmost part of Apulia region and has drawn great interest thanks to the character of its wines. Rivera’s modern winemaking results a fresh and balanced red wine with bright aromas of dark berries and long aftertaste.
Berries grow on lime-clay soils plots located on the Salento Peninsula. The height of the vineyards above sea level is 50-80 meters. Harvested by hand and by machine in the second week of September. Maceration in steel tanks, during which the wort is often stirred, lasts 7-8 days at a temperature of 25 ° C. Wine is aged in cement vats lined with glass from the inside for 9 months.
Alan's Personal Tasting Notes
"Such a quaffer - ripe and soft bramble fruit with a linear hidden acidity on the back palate which keeps it fresh and you asking for more. Not particularly complex but a delightful soft, quality easy drinking red that delivers and drinks perfectly on its own but will stand up to simple comfort food." July 2023
Specifications
Year | 2020 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Negroamaro |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content | 13.5% alcohol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.1 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Vinification |
Maceration for 7-8 days at 25°C with frequent pumpovers. |
Aging | 9 months in glass-lined cement vats. |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Food Matches | Braised beef, red meat, shank, duck, long seasoned cheese. Serve at between 16-18C |
Aging Potential |
3-4 years |
Origin | Puglia |
2023 Moscato d'Asti Luigi Tacchino DOCG
Regular price £13.99 Sale price £12.31 Save 12%The Moscato d’Asti is light and refreshing with well-balanced sweetness and acidity. Fresh citrus fruit characteristics accompany warm honeyed notes.
Tasting Notes
Light, lemony citrus flavour with a honeyed finish.
Production Method
Whole ripened bunches; the must is kept in steel tanks at a temperature of 0° C. After fermentation at a temperature of 16° C, it is microfiltered and bottled in order to maintain freshness and aromaticity.
Producer
For more than three generations the Tacchino family has produced superb fresh and vibrant wines in Castelletto d'Orba in Monferrato, Piedmont. This is perfect wine country as the hills provide a natural amphitheatre which protects the vineyards from the northerly winds.
Today brother and sister duo Alessio and Romina run the Tacchino estate, blending a respect for tradition with modern winemaking methods and rigorous attention to detail to produce a range of wines of outstanding elegance and purity. Tacchino's vines are spread over 25 hectares, about half of which benefit from a south/southeasterly aspect. Great care is taken to restrict yields. The Araldica winemaking team of Claudio Manera, Lella Burdese and Carlo Manera oversee all production.
Specifications
Year | 2023 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Moscato Bianco |
Country | Italy |
Alcohol content
|
5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 3.75 units |
Type | Fortified and Dessert |
Cellaring Potential | Awaiting info |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
Organic, Vegan & Vegetarian approved
|
Food Matches | Perfect with Lemon Mousse. |
Origin | Castelletto d’Orba in Monferrato, Piedmont |
Appellation | DOCG Moscato D'Asti |
2021 Castel del Lupo Pinot Nero ‘Della Quercia’ Organic
Regular price £12.99 Sale price £11.43 Save 12%Tasting Notes
This spectacular Pinot captures all the vigour and character of the small plot of organically-grown 15 year old vines in the La Quercia vineyard where it is sourced. A correct and pure Pinot Noir with real soul and expression.
Nose
Pronounced, warm, ripe, black-fruited, spicy and complex aromas.
Palate
Lively acidity offsets the ripe wild plum and bramble fruit and the palate combines concentration, delicacy and structure.
Production
The Pinot Noir vines are organically-grown in a combination of chalk, clay and silt soils on the rolling hills of Oltrepo Pavese. They are Guyot-trained at approximately 250m altitude, south / south-east facing. The grapes are harvested by hand and undergo careful selection. The grapes are macerated on skins for 8-10 days, then undergo malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is bottled in spring.
Producer
Castel del Lupo, in the heart of Oltrepò Pavese, dates back centuries - and includes the eighteenth-century Palazzo Pegazzera. In 1974 three entrepreneurs took over this historic estate and began a regeneration process. Giovanni Doglio, whose father and grandfather were both Piemontese winemakers, has over 40 years of experience managing wineries. Recently joined by his daughter Federica, he has worked tirelessly to develop the estate. They have purchased more vineyards (to cover 100ha at around 300m altitude), planted new vines and built a new cellar. The vineyards are now certified organic. The winery's main focus is high-quality bottle-fermented sparkling wine, and much of the vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir for this purpose. However, these vines are also the source of fine still red wines.
A Note on Sustainability
A proportion of the cantina’s vineyards are in conversion from sustainable to organic cultivation and will be certified as organic from 2020.
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Nero |
Country | Italy |
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Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 10.5 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains Sulphites |
Dietary Information |
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Food Matches | A great match with rich pasta dishes and middle aged cheeses. |
Origin | Lombardia, Italy |
Appellation | DOP Pinot Nero Dell'ltrepò Pavese |