Tag Archives: Italy

Piccini, Collezione Oro, Chianti Superiore, 2018, Italy

Posted on by
Reply
Piccini, Collezione Oro, Chianti Superiore, 2018, Italy

Piccini, Collezione Oro, Chianti Superiore, 2018, Italy

It was a while before I got Chianti, over price and over here was my view and luckily I tried others before this Collezione Oro from Piccini.

OK so its a dry, medium bodied and reasonably well balanced red wine. It has aromas of cherry, raspberry with flavours of blackberry and redcurrant and earthy notes in there. Its not bad but its not exciting, its note shouting at me to buy a case. Sure at about £10 its decent value but what if you spent a little more on something else?

 

Jako Wine, Brut, Pinot Noir, Sparkling, Italy.

Posted on by
Reply

From North East Italy this Pinot Noir shows that italy isn’t just about Prosecco.

Its not go a lot of flavour, there are hints of lemon, peach, brioche and dryness that makes it easy drinking but it feels more grown up. Good structure but not Champagne quality.

Its subtle in many ways and it went well with a starter of smoked salmon and with a cheese board. Well worth trying out although may be not worth a case of it.

Jako Wine, Brut, Pinot Noir, Sparkling, Italy

Jako Wine, Brut, Pinot Noir, Sparkling, Italy

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

This Italian sparkling DOCG wine from La Montina is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.Its a very well crafted wine, very small bubbles, its dry and fresh with ripe fruit rather than a heavy dollop yeasty notes that you would get from Champagne.

We had it with Oysters and dressed crab, the acidity and flavour complimented the food and I did prefer it to Champagne. Well worth the £25 a bottle if you want something as good as the french can produce.

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

San Marzano, Vindoro Negroamaro, 2015, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

Italian wine gets a lot of mixed press and this red from San Marzano shows why.

This is a bold, dry red wine which is smooth and fruity. There are aromas of plum, blackcurrant, tobacco and leather with jammy fruit flavours. Its here that the wine for fails for me. The flavours are overtaken by the jamminess and this masks what should be a complex and fine wine. As it is its an OK red for a party in an impressive bottle.

At £20 a bottle its over priced.

San Marzano, Vindoro Negroamaro, 2015, Italy

San Marzano, Vindoro Negroamaro, 2015, Italy

Marks and Spencer, Alta Luna, Gewürztraminer, Italy

Posted on by
Reply
Marks and Spencer do some excellent wine and this Alta Luna, Gewürztraminer from northern Italy was a silver medalist at the Decanter World Wine Awards and I can see why. For £10 a bottle you get a dry white wine which is golden in colour and has aromas of lychee, tropical fruits with grapefruit and hints of floral undertones, a freshness and additional flavours of stone fruits and a little spice. Although dry where is sweetness in the body because of all the fruit flavours coming through.
We had this with an indian meal and its was great, really enjoyed the freshness and fruit. Quite excellent.
Marks and Spencer, Alta Luna, Gewürztraminer, Italy

Marks and Spencer, Alta Luna, Gewürztraminer, Italy

 

Cantine Leonardo da Vinci, Leonardo, Chianti Riserva, 2013, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

Chianti, Chianti, Chianti, the more I drink of it the more I see the point and this one from Cantine Leonardo da Vinci is pretty reasonable. Its a typical dry red with a chuck of tannins and plenty of red fruit flavours, raspberry, strawberry, cherry with vanilla and oak notes that have decent length. The taste is more pronounced that the aromas which I thought let it down a bit but the dryness is more than the fruit which for me, I would prefer the other way round.

Its £11 a bottle and that’s decent value, no outstanding but not bad.

Cantine Leonardo da Vinci, Leonardo, Chianti Riserva, 2013, Italy

Cantine Leonardo da Vinci, Leonardo, Chianti Riserva, 2013, Italy

Lunadoro, Prugnanello, Rosso di Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

made with 100% Sangiovese from Tuscany this red from Lunadoro is a pretty tannic and bold. Reasonable amount of red fruit, redcurrant and cherry and medium in body and finish, its well suited to a BBQ. Its easy drinking and not the big red you might think of from Tuscany.

At £15 a bottle is a bit overpriced. £10 or less is the right price for this, at £15 I would want more on all levels.

gnanello, Rosso di Montepulcian, Tuscany, Italy

Lunadoro, Prugnanello, Rosso di Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy

Mazzei, Poggio Badiola, Toscana, 2015, Tuscany, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

Tuscany chucks out hundreds of different great quality wines and a lot more good wines each year and this Poggio Badiola, Toscana is the latter. Its a blend of 70% Sangiovese, and 30% Merlot and it gives you aromas of black fruit such as blackberries, black cherries with spice and tobacco. These follow into the flavours but there’s also a toasty under tone in there I think. The finish a bit short and not quite as fully flavoured as I would like, even at £14 a bottle. This medium body, dry red is better with food, pizza, meat dishes or hard cheese.

Mazzei, Poggio Badiola, Toscana, 2015, Tuscany, Italy

Mazzei, Poggio Badiola, Toscana, 2015, Tuscany, Italy

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

Piedmont in Italy does some excellent wine and this Montalbera Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, La Tradizione is a great example.

A lively red in colour with a smell of raspberries, violets and blackberries. Tasting this you get a sense of balance between the dryness, tannins and black fruit. This is a long lasting wine with the flavours lasting and you wanting to have a second glass.

At £20 a bottle its a bit pricey but very good.

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

Felsina Berardenga is a great producer and makes amazing Chianti Classico wine. A younger Chianti would be deep ruby in colour with aromas of redberries, cherries and notes of spice. There would be flavours of these with dryness and medium tannins that should be well integrated. 14 years old and these are still here, a little softer maybe and a little less vibrant in colour but so good, wonderful, fabulous and worth every penny.

At £20+ a bottle for the younger versions, a can’t see 2006 available, its worth a few bottles and opening every few years to see the developments that may occur, or dont occur.

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy