Category Archives: Italy

Italy

La Spinetta Barolo Campè, Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy

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La Spinetta Campe Barolo

Denomination – Barolo

Grape variety – 100% nebbiolo

Alcohol content – 14.5% ABV

Awards – 97 pts James Suckling, 94 pts Vinous

Vineyard – Campe vineyard with calcareous soil and vines 52-58 years old

Winemaking – alcoholic fermentation for 7-8 days in temperature-controlled rotofermenters; malolactic fermentation in oak, aged for 24 months in new, medium toast French oak barrels, followed by 9 months in stainless steel vats and 12 months in the bottle.

Unfiltered and unclarified

Tasting notes – Intense, vibrant ruby red with aromas of rose petal, raspberry, mint, and sweet tobacco. Beams of tannin give the wine much of its shape and overall energy, but it is the translucence of the fruit that is the most unique signature. Can age for 25-30 years.

Italy

Avignonesi Desiderio Merlot Toscana IGT 2013, Tuscany- Italy

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Avignonesi Desiderio Merlot Toscana IGT 2013, Tuscany- Italy

About– ‘Desiderio’ refers to a white chianina bull, which appears on the wine bottle’s label, which lived on Avignonesi’s estate in the 19th century. He earned his place in history for being the heaviest bull of his time with a weight of 1,600 kg. The 2013 vintage marks the 25th anniversary of Avignonesi’s Merlot based blend sourced from its best vineyard plots.

Blend/Grape Varietal– 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes– Intense, deep red in colour, Desiderio 2013 reveals inviting notes of sweet cherries and raspberries, rose petals and aromatic herbs, enhanced by subtle hints of menthol, red liquorice and chocolate-dipped coffee beans. The flavour is smooth and fruit-driven, with chewy tannins and a deliciously savoury finish.

Italy

Avignonesi Grifi Toscana IGT 2013, Tuscany- Italy

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Avignonesi Grifi Toscana IGT 2013, Tuscany- Italy

About- The Avignonesi winery is located near Montepulciano in Tuscany. Avignonesi look to make terroir-driven wines to showcase the unique characteristics of their vineyards in their wines. Both organic and biodynamic the winery is considered to be among Tuscany’s flagship producers.

Blend/Grape Varietal– 57% Sangiovese, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes– Bright ruby red colour with aromas of ripe, red berry fruits, sweet cherries and undergrowth with underlying scents of eucalyptus and nutmeg, intertwined with subtle hints of dark chocolate. The flavour is round and full-bodied, with a tightly woven structure and an inviting, fruity core, leading to a long-lingering, balsamic finish. Grifi 2013 is a wine perfect for long ageing in the bottle.

Italy

Avignonesi Grifi Toscana IGT 2012, Tuscany- Italy

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Avignonesi Grifi Toscana IGT 2012, Tuscany- Italy

About- The Avignonesi winery is located near Montepulciano in Tuscany. Avignonesi look to make terroir-driven wines to showcase the unique characteristics of their vineyards in their wines. Both organic and biodynamic the winery is considered to be among Tuscany’s flagship producers.

Blend/Grape Varietal– 50 % Sangiovese, 50 % Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes– The hot and dry 2012 vintage favoured the production of an intensely coloured, full-bodied Grifi. Ripe aromas of red and black berry fruit find depth in scents of sweet spices, toasted wood and Mediterranean undergrowth. The flavour is warm, dense and austere with lots of crunchy tannins, distinctive of a great vintage. The finish is long, warm and savoury, with a light, balsamic touch.