New from Italy
Italian wine is all too often misunderstood. The bewildering array of grape varieties, wine styles, and unpronounceable names has misled many a wine drinker into seeing the often austere and aloof Chianti as representative of Italian wine as a whole.
However, the word “Renaissance” has never been more appropriate for describing the changes that have occurred in Italian wine culture over the last twenty years or so. Gone is the image of the thin, astringent red wine covered in sackcloth. More and more wine drinkers are discovering the veritable cornucopia of vinous delights that are to be had from one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. Every region of Italy has something unique to offer, from Alto-Adige and Piedmont in the North, to the hotter regions of Puglia, Campania, and the always-improving Sicily. Even Tuscany has taken the bull by the horns in recent years and is now producing some stunningly deep, complex wines, in the Chianti region and elsewhere, that can often match many of the very best wines of Bordeaux.
With this in mind, we have decided to give a new lease of life to our Italian range, putting more emphasis on indigenous grape varieties and all things peculiarly Italian. We have spent many an exhausting (honestly) day tasting our way through scores of Italian wines, and have now added several of these to our range. There will be more to follow, but here are a few examples of the wines that will now be gracing our Italian corner :
Tenuta del Buonamico is situated on the south-west side of Montecarlo village (Lucca province) in the heart of the historical cru area of Cercatoja, giving name to the winery’s red reserve wine. The farm was established in 1964 by famous restaurateurs from Turin, who immediately began producing quality wines.
To improve the production of his own wines, Giulio Magnani, a passionate winemaker from Montecarlo went to France for studying the tendrils and the techniques of winemaking used by French people, who had been already produced esteemed wine known beyond their country. He brought from France the vines of typical Bordeaux grapes, as well as passing through the Côtes-du-Rhône he took Syrah with Roussane and collected a few other white varietals on the way.
In 2008, the Buonamico estate was bought by the present owners, who within one year have made considerable investment in restoring the cellars with an aim of improving the quality of the wines produced. New owner Eugenio Fontana pays special attention to new vines: with 6 new hectares being already implanted, and with old tendrils to be replaced soon with new plants.
Alongside the varietal range of these wines we are lucky enough to have the Cercatoja Toscano Rosso, a blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak and spends several more months refining in the bottle before release.
On the nose the wine is clean, with an abundance of dark fruits and intense floral notes, cocoa, vanilla and spices help define it’s complexity. The palate shows remarkable structure, full and dense with evident softening tannins. It is hefty but rounded and balanced. This fabulous glass of wine would be best served with roasted and grilled meats and strong cheeses.
These wines will be arriving in the shop any day now, along with some other great wines from Italy. Why not pop in and sample some of them for yourselves.