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Italy

Ahhh … Italy! Home of renaissance literature, philosophy, science and some of the most heart warming food in the world. From North to South it would be a fair guess to say the only thing outnumbering churches and Vespa’s are the vast areas of vineyards.

One thing is certain, you’ll never run short of choice!

First Records of Wine Production – Go back millennia!

Founding Figures – The Greek colonisation marked a shift from vine grown in the wild to planned viticulture around 800 BC the Romans dramatically expanded production around 200 BC. The Italians never looked back!

Area Planted – Around 700,000 hectares making around 19% of the world’s wine!

Number of Wineries – Soave alone is made by 3,500 producers. That’s around the same number of wineries as in all of Australia! From gargistes to industrial scale conglomerates every Italian has a winemaker in the family.

Established Regions – Every region in Italy produces wine! The most prestigious region Piedmont is home to the stunning Nebbiolos of Barolo & Barbaresco. The Chianti and Brunello of Tuscany following hot on Piedmont’s heals. These are just a drop in the ocean!

In typical Italian style the classification systems of each region vary and are often skewed by influential persons with much to gain over the quality of the industry. As always we need to rely on our taste buds as the ultimate decider of quality!

Most Common VarietiesIn his book ‘Native Wine Grapes of Italy’ Ian D’Agata documents around 500 Italian grape varieties, by no means the complete set! Around 350 of these have been granted authorized status. There’s plenty to try! We’ve seen a push to save some of the notable, rare varietals like the white Nascetta and Arneis from Piedmont. 

Whilst we have seen an ingress of French Varietals, the most notable being the Cabernet Varietals + Syrah used to make the Super Tuscans, the Italians have, by and large stayed true to their roots.

White – Whites of note: Arneis (Piedmont), Cataratto (Sicily), Fiano (southwest coast), Friulano (Friuli), Gargenaga (Veneto – the Soave grape), Greco di Tufo (southwest coast), Malvasia Bianca (throughout Italy), Moscato Blanc (Piedmont), Pecorino (Abruzzo), Pinot Grigo (Why?), Ribolla Gialla (Friulli), Trebbiano (Abruzzo), Verdicchio (Marche) and Vermentino (Sardinia, Tuscany and Liguria).

Red – Aglianico (Campania), Barbera (Piedmont), Corvina blended with Rondinella to make Amarone, Dolcetto (Piedmont), Malvasia Nera (Puglia), Montepuliciano (Tuscany), Nebbiolo (Piedmont), Negaromaro (Puglia), Nero d’Avola (Sicily), Primitivo (Puglia), Sagrantino (Umbria) and Sangiovese (Tuscany).

Up and Coming Regions – Beyond Barolo and Barbaresco, around the world we have seen Amarone, Chianti, Soave, Prosecco, Verdicchio and the wines of Puglia gain strong recognition. In recent times the increasing cost of Barolo in particular has seen exploration of Nebbiolo from Alto Piedmonte and Valtellina. At the opposite end of the country, in part due to the investment of heavy hitters like ‘Barolo Boy’ Marco di Grazie (Terre Nere) and Andrea Franchetti (Passopisciaro) the Nerello Mascelese (red) and Carricante (white) wines of Etna, Sicily have become world recognised. Nerello Mascelese being described as some as the Barolo of the South or a cross between Nebbiolo and Pinot. I prefer to call it delicious!


A Treasure Hunt for the Lost Whites of Italy!


Timorasso ~ Nascetta ~ Erbaluce

3 Italian Whites Saved from Extinction!

Of the thousands of grape varieties that exist, and even more clones of each variety, few make it into our glass.

Many have been lost. Economic reality making them not viable.

Advances in viticulture, changes in climate and the passion of a few individuals have saved a few!

For that we are thankful!


Timorasso


The Saviours

Walter & Claudio along with their shared cellarmaster ‘Pigi’ are both the saviours & masters of Timorasso! The hold some of the oldest plantings making wine of great complexity, texture. Composed & full of personality.

Walter describes his Derthona as a “Modern Antique”.

Delicious!

Vigneti Massa Timorasso ‘Derthona’ 2019

Timorasso | Colli Tortonesi, Italy

From near extinction the Massa family have saved Timorasso, for that I am truly thankful! Massa's Derthona is the perfect introduction to the variety. It's alway more complete than the 'Picolo Derthona' with a build in richness, more golden colour. Delicious, saline minerality, excellent acid profile, build in phenolics and carry through to a cleansing silvery line of bitterness + apricot kernel. The 2019 is another success from Massa & Piggy. A bolder slightly riper incarnation than the
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Claudio Mariotto ‘Pitasso’ Derthona Timorasso 2018

Timorasso | Piedmont, Colli Tortonesi

Where the Cavallina has overt generosity and power, the fruit depth and length of the Pitasso are more than its equal, with an edge of sophistication that lends to a more restrained feel. The power is all there, showing superb linear fruit and exceptional, fine acid. This lingers forever! Stunning mouthfeel, leveling up on the harmony in comparison to the delicious Cavallina. This is very, very good. Effortless and composed. The flavours start with ripe pear, build and layer as you swallow and c
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The Friends & Lovers

Vietti, Oddero and Roagna are amongst the great names that have recognised just how unique & delicious the wines made from Timorasso are & have put the passion in a glass!

Vietti Derthona Timorasso Colli Tortonesi 2020

Timorasso | Colli Tortonesi, Italy

The latest addition to the Vietti portfolio sees a white from the eastern most border of the Piedmont region. A perfect fit for Vietti with regard to their history of working with varietals of merit that for one reason or another have diminished over time. Timorasso makes beautiful wine the Massa is a cracker. I can't wait to try Vietti's version. With a wonderful array of flavours, textures, and, wonderful acidity the variety is loaded with personality & intrigue. For the 2019: Th
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Roagna Timorasso Derthona Montemarzino 2019

Timorasso | Colli Tortonesi, Italy

A grape variety saved by saved by Massa & on the rise! With Vietti, Roagna and Borgogno adding their names to those making Timorasso, it's clear something special is happening in Derthona (the old name for Tortona). 'The 2019 Timorasso Derthona Montemarzino is bright, transparent and super-expressive. Luca Roagna's Timorasso is one of the most refined versions. I have tasted of Timorasso, which is usually a much more rustic white wine.' Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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Nascetta


The Saviour

Elvio Cogno with his plantings in Novello, Barolo is turning out intoxicating wines from Nascetta. As he says they need a year or 2 in bottle to reveal their full potential. Grab a 2019 to drink now and 2020 next summer!


Erbaluce


The Champion

Erbaluce can make many styles of from sparkling, late harvest & passito wines.

Antoniolo’s is a wonderfully fresh and crunchy dry white style. The 2020 has settled, resolving beautifully over the last 6 months and is in a wonderful place.

Perfect summer drinking.

Filters & Sorting

Showing 563 Delicious Wines!

Cascina Fontana Barolo 2016

Nebbiolo | La Morra, Italy

Undoubtedly the best Fontana Barolo Classico I’ve had! Brooding yet open - perhaps explained by the mix of Castiglione Falletto (brooding) and La Morra (open) fruit. Undoubtedly the best Fontana Barolo Classico I’ve had. A little sappy, resinous (in a nice way)  layer of tannin combines with ripe even line of nutty tannin, fruit comes, building through the mid palate and lingers. This just needs time. It has that Castiglione Falleto youthful brooding nature to it. Give it a couple of yea
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Fèlsina Chianti Classio Riserva DOCG ‘Rancia’ 2017

Sangiovese | Castelnuovo Berardenga, Italy

The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is incredibly polished and sophisticated. Silky tannins give the 2017 its racy, sleek personality. Over the last year, the 2017 has really settled into a gorgeous place. There is plenty of vintage 2017 intensity, but Rancia is distinctly medium in body and restrained. The wilder side of Sangiovese, one of the signatures of Rancia and Fèlsina more broadly, tastes a bit baked out. I can't wait to see how the 2017 develops over the coming years and decades.
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Antoniolo Gattinara Riserva DOCG 2016

Nebbiolo | Italy, Alto Piemonte

Seriously impressive gear. Antoniolo's 2016's have excellent, long linear shape. Galloni's call on power and intensity is spot on. I'd add grace and poise. Nuanced, complex, and layered. The fruit profile is excellent. This is one of the most exciting Nebbiolos I've had in some time. Given our rotating list of over 300 available Nebbiolos that is no small statement. I could wax lyrical about aromas and flavours, let's just say they are entrancing. The mouthfeel has a vitalising grip that sits
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Only 1,000 Bottles!
The Girolamo Russo 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo opens to a hint of salinity or minerality that is specific to this site. Those linear aromas tend to frame a tight core of wild fruit, white cherry, apricot and mountain flowers like blue bonnet or Sicilian ginestra, which grows with yellow blooms on the flanks of the volcano. The wine's interesting saltiness cedes directly to the mouthfeel. The tannins are more prominent in this vintage. You should get very good aging potential from this bottle.
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There is beauty here. Richness and solid red mid-palate. Savoury, bloody, there is precision, and more clarity particularly on the finishes. Saline. A hint of musk. Another year or two in bottle should see this in a special place. Blood orange and a little sourness that will pull into line with that year or 2. Hints of pine forest and earthiness. This feels very complete. This wine is part of the growing collection of excellent single-vineyard contrada sites farmed by the talented Giusepp
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Vietti ‘Perbacco’ Langhe Nebbiolo MAGNUM 2020

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barbaresco

Two of the best value Neb's on the market have to be Vietti's Castiglione Barolo and this wine Vietti's Perbacco! Every year I put away a box of Perbacco Magnums! They make for a wicked party wine! The 2020 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco is another terrific entry-level wine from Vietti. In this vintage, the Perbacco is especially fine. Sweet dried cherry, herbs, mint, crushed flowers, anise and orange peel grace this striking, alluring Nebbiolo. There's tons of depth and sheer pedigree, things
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Stunning!

Figli Luigi Oddero ‘Rombone’ Barbaresco 2017

Nebbiolo | Treiso, Barbaresco

The dream team has been at it again! With Luciano in the vineyards, Francesco and Dante in the both vineyard and winery some sort of crazy wine magic is happening! The dream team has been at it again! With Luciano in the vineyards, Francesco and Dante in the both vineyard and winery some sort of crazy wine magic is happening. The 2017 backs up beautifully from an outstanding 2016. Pure, fine, divine perfume, with excellent mouthfeel. Again, a demonstration of just how good these guys are at b
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Tenuta di Carleone ‘Il Guercio’ 2021

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Named after a Tuscan word for "one-eyed rascal," the Tenuta di Carleone 2021 Il Guercio (in a bottle with a white wax capsule) is all Sangiovese with up to 40% whole cluster and as a much as five months of extended maceration in cement vats only. The wine delivers a very clear and variety-faithful expression with bright plum, wild cherry and iris root. You can taste the artisanal approach of this pretty wine. There are dusty limestone sensations that add to a cooling finish. Fruit comes from
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Vajra Barolo ‘Coste di Rose’ 2015

Nebbiolo | Barolo (sub-region), Italy

Coste di Rose is possibly the most approachable cru of Barolo at this stage, with roses and a floral-dominated nose, combined with marasca cherry and hints of licorice and mint. A very elegant and pleasurable structure that flows gracefully on the palate with a lingering and sapid finish. Nomen omen.  Giuseppe Vaira
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What a way to start DOCG Barolo!

Massolino Barolo DOCG 2016

Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Italy

Stepping up again! Massolino's 2016 Normale is Superb! An excellent Normale from Massolino with 2016 tannins shinning through with line and length on a core of fruit with great density and length. Red cherry with bags of sophistication in the shape of the palate both fruit and tannins. The tannins are bold and of exceptional quality. Very together and energetic, it draws you in on both nose and palate. There is a lot going on here. This will undoubtedly deliver loads more over time.
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Stunning!
With Luciano in the vineyards, Francesco and Dante in both vineyard and winery some sort of crazy wine magic is happening! The dream team has been at it again! The Figli Luigi Oddero 2018 Barbaresco Rombone opens to tart cherry fruit and plum, with some sweet earthy tones or tobacco at the back. The wine feels rich and well concentrated to the palate, with a touch of extra ripeness that comes as a surprise for a vintage that was relatively cool and cloudy overall. If you love the bright prima
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Cappellano Barbera Gabutti 2017

Barbera | Serralunga d'Alba, Italy

The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Gabutti captures all of the natural richness of the vintage in spades. Super-ripe red cherry, kirsch, mint, rose petal, star anise and blood orange are some of the many sensations that develop with some air. Though classically built in terms of structure, the 2017 is decidedly ripe in its expression of fruit. This is a very serious wine. Time in the glass really helps bring things together and tone down some of the most exotic ripeness that is present at the outset. An
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Castell’In Villa Chianti Classico Riserva 2013

Sangiovese | Castelnuovo Berardenga, Italy

A Level Up from the Incredibly Good Chianti Classico! No wonder Walter Speller has it in his Top 5 Chianti Wines! There's a big difference between the mouthfeel of Sangiovese for Montalcino and Chianti. Just like this one Sangio from Chianti tends to have line and length of tannin similar to that of varietals like Cabernet, all the way along your palate. Sangio from Montalcino tends to have broader mouther filling tannins, not necessarily bigger or more tannic, just covering the width of your to
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The Girolamo Russo 2021 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is a very exciting wine with so much energy and verve. It opens to lean-bodied concentration with a brilliant ruby shine. The wine shows a long array of wild fruit and tiny berry aromas backed by crushed white pepper and crushed stone. San Lorenzo is one of the most impressive interpretations of Etna. I highly recommend you try and cellar this wine. Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate 96+ Points 12 ha between 700 and 800m altitude, some 100-y
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A Masterpiece!

Figli Luigi Oddero Barolo 2017

Nebbiolo | Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo

A blend of fruit from 30% La Morra’s Rive, 30% Castiglione Falletto’s Scarrone, & 40% Serralunga’s Baudana & Broglio. Aged in new 75-85HL Gamba botti for 26 months. "Rose, ripe berry, menthol and sunbaked earth aromas come to the forefront. On the full-bodied palate, enveloping, seasoned tannins accompany dried black cherry, star anise and tobacco. Drink 2024–2029." Kerin O'Keefe
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The Playful!

Giovanni Sordo Barolo ‘Ravera’ 2015

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo

Ravera = generosity with crunchy fruit and playful front mid-palate tannin, that Sordo élévage, so much fun! ‘Ravishing red’ as usual, a wave of roses and red cherry. Quite lush, but holds its shape as all that red rolls to the pinpoint, tingling finish. It’s no wonder Ravera has risen so much in people’s estimation over recent years. Serious Barolo of a distinct style.
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