Brindisi is a port city within the wine region of Puglia, where Negroamaro is king. The black grape makes up the majority of this full-bodied blend, along with Malvasia Nera and Sangiovese. Dense vanilla, smoked wood, subtle cloves colour the super-ripe black fruit. Thick in the mouth, but easily propped up by supple, sweet tannins. Dark chocolate cherries linger on the spicy and warming finish, even though this is a pleasantly surprising 13% alcohol. This is drinking well now (with rich ragu) but will merge some of the rough edges with additional time in bottle.
Classic Valpolicella cherry, herbal and spicy character with agreeable sour-cherry bite, light tannic grip and appetizing acidity. An always-reliable pairing for tomato and cheese-based Italian dishes.
A Merlot dominant blend with Sangiovese and Cab acting as the backstop. Medium body, with blackberry, cherry, spice, earth and tobacco notes. Fine length and ready to drink.
Generous dark cherry, plum and spicy scents pave the way for good varietal bitter dark-cherry flavours with dry but approachable tannins and appetizing acidity. Barbera as it should be.
Just starting to hit its stride. Shows an evolved colour and classic aromas of cherry, prune, rose, liquorice and spice. Full-bodied with tannins that will ensure another 15 years of life ahead, at least.
Herbal, perfumed woodsy flowers; this biodynamic Frappato is from 50- to 60-year-old vines grown on Sicilian sands and chalk, at 280 m altitude. 70% of the wine is macerated for 2 months on its skins, while the other 30% stayed on its skins for 8 months. It was aged 14 months in large 25 hl Slavonian oak barrels before a 1-month stint in bottle before being bottled unfiltered. A herbal earthy and salty cut lures you into this light-bodied, expressive and beguilingly floral red, one held riveted with fine but ample grippy tannins. Frappato's florals abound: iris, lilac, blue plum, sap and sweet salami lead the textural, rock-dust palate to the salty mushroom boullion on the finish. Even better the 2nd day, this intriguing wine is one for adventurous drinkers to return to again and again.
Starting to hit a sweet spot, this maturing Amarone reveals plum/prune, sweet cherry, leather, spice and cocoa. Brawny with a great finale. Will age gracefully for many more years.