Italy

Good quality, dense, complex and balanced Recioto. And a good reminder that these are only  mid-strength, at 13% ABV. Mid-deep garnet, with a broad …

Nice to spend some time on a Taurasi Aglianico, rather than just at a tasting. Mid-deep garnet, with quite a broad rim. Complex, savoury …

By contrast, a fairly deep purple colour, blue and blackberry fruit character to the compote fruit. Some violet and liquorice / medicinal notes emerge. …

This pair of Vajra d’Albas definitively helped me nail Q3 of the 1st Year exam, through learning the structural differences between Barbera and Dolcetto. …

Turned out that this exact wine was on 2014 final exams… Deep, but not black garnet, with a medium rim. Pronounced, jammy cherry fruit …

[Owner, Giovanni Manetti signature] This Riserva served beside Fontodi’s regular Chianti Classico. This had more density, length and overt oak. Dense, deep ruby with …

An Easter interlude in extensive tastings, and another of Gianpaolo’s wines. Bright black cherry fruit and a savoury mineral overtone. Crisp acidity, but ripe …

This was the enlightening surprise of the line-up – and very hard to find – but I wasn’t then surprised to see an article …

This vintage was an exam wine, and rightly so. The wine of the sweet line-up. Stunning complexity, power and density. Fully sweet, but enough …

[CIAO from Gianpaolo Paglia. This will bring you luck for the MW exams! Not likely to be one of the wines, unfortunately.] Nice to …