Veneto
Bottega: quality Prosecco and Prosecco Rosé
My first immersion in the wines of Bottega was in the Barbican Centre in 2019, where CEO, Sandro Bottega, introduced a vertical of their …
885. Fabiano, Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, 2010
Apart from the 10X label invasion, this exam example was a textbook Ripasso. Dried cherry and prune fruit. Broad, cedary aromatics. Touch of spice. …
824. Tommasi, Fiorato Recioto della Valpolicella, 2010
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 …
812. Allegrini, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2009
Turned out that this exact wine was on 2014 final exams… Deep, but not black garnet, with a medium rim. Pronounced, jammy cherry fruit …
635. Pieropan, Soave La Rocca, 2008
Pieropan showing, like Inama, what quality Soave can achieve. Pretty rich fruit, but with a seam of minerally acidity underpinning it. The only criticism …
596. Tommaso Bussola, Valpolicella Classico Superiore T.B, 2005
Bussola’s ripasso method Valpolicella, and clearly a ‘serious’ version. But not so serious that it can’t be drunk without meditation. A good balance. Opened …
455. Corte Sant’ Alda, Recioto della Valpolicella, 2004
Distinctly out of order, this one, due to pasting things out of place! One from our second WSET class on Italy, and my first …
407. Tedeschi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2000
I didn’t take a note at the time, and it’s taken a long time to get around to writing this up – mostly because …
375. Bolla, Le Poiane Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso, 2004
So I was debating what should be the last entry in Book 2 – something grand? Something famous? Then I just went for something …
274. Cantina Valpantena, Amarone della Valpolicella Falasco, 2001
Saw this on sale at Selfridges as well, and felt like testing out an Amarone from a generally good Italian year (dunno precisely about …