Mamma Mia, here we go again, with four delicious new weekly wines. This time we are traveling to Italy. We start with Le Moss; a cloudy non-Prosecco, then devour a Gavilicious from Castellari Bergaglio. For the reds; we go full experimental with icon Vino Di Anna, and finish with a superb example of Lagrein from Kurtatsch. Salute!
Ca’ Di Rajo ‘Le Moss’ Frizzante Bianco 2019
Have you ever had a traditional ‘col fondo’ sparkling? Unfiltered and cloudy, these are the Pet Nats of Italy. Le Moss, from Veneto, is made using traditional Prosecco grape; Glera, however it cannot be labelled Prosecco due to its different method of production. The wine has beautiful floral (jasmine, acacia flowers) orchard fruits (freshly picked apples and pears), citrus fruits (juicy lemons) aromas and flavours, as well as savoury notes and an intended toasted bread crust touch. Fresh, easy and fun you can share it with both Prosecco cult members and hipster friends.
Castellari Bergaglio Gavi DOCG ‘Fornaci’ 2018
Gavi, like Soave and many others, are both names of villages as opposed to grape varietals. Whilst Soave is usually made out of Garganega, Gavi is made out of Cortese (Learning about Italian wines can be compared to the art of Katana: it takes a lifetime) In Gavi (Southern Piedmont – bordering Liguria), Cortese grows beautifully and produces great white wines, favoured by Genoa’s port to accompany locally caught seafood.
The Castellari Bergaglio ‘Fornaci’ is a stellar example of the DOCG; primary elements of flowers and fruits on the nose – citrus fruits (candied bitter lemon), stone fruits (nectarine, peaches), crunchy green apples. These elements are carried through on to the palate, dry, adding a touch of bitter almond (O so classic to many Italian white wines), some flint, and a crisp lengthy finish. If aged, it will develop some toasted and honeyed characteristics. Time to add seafood to your market shopping list!
Vino di Anna ‘Palmentino’ Rosso 2016
A new and unique (perhaps even a “one of” only) unfined and unfiltered Goodness from underground icon Vino di Anna. You may have tried and loved their Palmento or Jeudi, now time to discover their new wine: The Palmentino 2016. This is a blend of several micro vinifications made during the 2016 harvests, from various vineyards located on the north-facing side of Mount Etna. All these vineyards are old bush vines “trained”, all grown under biodynamic principles and obviously all hand-harvested.
Each component of the blend is roughly composed of 95% Nerello Mascalese, and 5% a field blend of Nerello Cappuccio, Alicante and even a small percentage of white grapes such as Grecanico, Minella and Catarratto. To make things even more interesting and experimental; every part of the blend was vinified differently; 20hl oak cask, Qvevri, mastellone, stainless steel; you name it!
The resultant wine is vibrant crimson in colour, with attractive dark cherry and strawberry aromas. It is medium in body, has dried strawberry, tomato and olive notes, good acidity and fine dusty tannins. In comparison to our other wines it is more vinous and savoury than Palmento Rosso but does not have quite the complexity or depth of Jeudi 15 or our Qvevri wines.
Vino Di Anna – 2020
Kurtatsch Lagrein DOC 2018
Lagrein is Alto Adige’s oldest grape variety; it grows best in the deep, warm soils of Bolzano and in the South Tyrolean Lowlands where Kurtatsch operates. These vineyards’ soils are composed of clay and sand topped up with gravel deposits from rivers and streams, breaking through porphyry, granite, mica schist and limestone (Jancis Robinson).
Basically they are top notch for growing specific varietals.
Kellerei Kurtatsch produces here a powerful, deep, spicy and hearty (meaty) Lagrein. Slightly reductive on the nose (smoke/rubber/ash), it may need some time open to fully unleash all it’s dark and spicy bramble fruits (dark cherry, wild damson, sloe berries, bullaces) and violet notes. With its roundness, cleverly controlled supple dry tannins and alpine freshness; this is a moreish drop that will pair beautifully with Aubergine Parmigiana.
As Nonna would say, raising her glass of bubbly: Mangia bene, ridi spesso, ama molto. (Eat well, laugh often, love much).
And eat you must.
If you wish to grab some of these beautiful drops email us at val@decanters.com.au or pop by the store, happy to discuss the great tunes of Eros Ramazzotti and/or Laura Pausini.
Vorrei una birra? Read Jack’s 4 beers here
Wine regards,
Val
