Saturday 4th March 2023: "Back to Italy" - with Sally & Peter in Rustington

Ten Members and two very welcome guests, Jamie and Caroline, were again entertained by Sally & Peter as they continued their Grand Tour of Italy.

Wine List:

The Whites:

1. 2021 Etna Bianco, Pietradolce; Sicily; Carricante grape; 13% abv; The Wine Society £20.00

Bush-vine carricante grown at 800m on the northern slopes of Etna, on stony, light sandy soils, this is a beautifully elegant volcanic white. Delicately fragrant with lemon verbena, sage and salted pistachios, lifted on the palate by racy acidity and a linear precision.

2. 2020 Soave Classico Calvarino, Pieropan; Garganega graps; 12.5% abv; The Wine Society £22.00

An outstanding Soave made from organically grown grapes, that remains on lees in glass-lined cement tanks for a year, adding complexity and depth to the final wine. Flavours of green apple, almond, blossom and oyster shell are well held on this textured fine wine.

3. 2020 Orvieto Classico Superiore Luigi e Giovanna, Barberani; Umbria; Grechetto; 12% abv; The Wine Society £24.00

A White from Umbria in the heart of Italy which is top-quality by any international standard with almond skin, oyster shell, sage and lemon-rind flavours that last well on the finish.

The Reds:

4. 2019 Barbera d'Alba, Poderi Colla; Piedmont; Barbera; 14% abv; The Wine Society £14.95

The cherry, cranberry and balsamic perfume entices before sappy structure and freshness perfectly balances the ripe red fruit of this barbera from the notable Colla family in Piedmont, northern Italy.

5. 2020 Lagrein Alto Adige, Hofstätter; NE Trento; Lagrein; 13% abv; The Wine Society £14.50

A grape that is local to Alto Adige, this medium-bodied red has an inky violet and black-fruit nose, bright acidity and well-integrated tannins supporting the blackberry and savoury bresaola flavours that develop on the finish.

6. 2014 Chianti Classico, Fontodi; Tuscany; Sangiovese; 13.5% abv; The Wine Society £18.50 (from the SWAS Cellar, purchased in Feb 2018)

Giovanni Manetti's Chiantis have exceptional depth of flavour and quality, the result of meticulous care of the vineyard and cellar of his sun-blessed amphitheatre of vines below Panzano. This vintage is delicious now, and more forward than the 2013.

7. 2019 The Society's Exhibition Langhe Nebbiolo; Piedmont; Nebbiolo; 14% abv; The Wine Society £14.50

"A Wine Champion in 2022, and a ‘benchmark Langhe’ according to buyer Freddy Bulmer, this Italian gem wowed our panel with its haunting, inviting aromas of rose, cherry and menthol, with a delightful structure and lightness of touch on the palate." [WS]

8. 2021 Dogliani, Luigi Einaudi; Piedmont; Dolcetto; 14% abv; The Wine Society £12.50

Dogliani is the Italian home of the dolcetto grape. Its wild strawberry and red-cherry fruit, fresh medium-body and hint of graphite on the finish make it a near-perfect pizza wine and a Wine Champion in 2022.

9. 2013 Aglianico del Vulture, 'Alvolo', Alovini; Basilicata, Italy; Aglianico grape; 14% abv; bought for the SWAS Cellar from The Wine Society in 2018 for £15.50

Aglianico is arguably southern Italy's finest red grape, and this really exemplifies that. Full bodied with damson and black forest flavours, there is a touch of balancing oak spice and leather characters on the finish. A great, accessible fine wine that could age well, and benefits from decanting.

10. 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Corte Giara, Allegrini; Veneto; Corvina; 14% abv; The Wine Society £27.00

Giovanni Allegrini is a legendary figure in the Valpolicella region thanks to his dedication to improving the local wines through strict grape selection and questioning traditional methods of doing things that didn’t always put quality first. The family have been winemakers here for six generations, and today they have some 247 acres spread across seven unique vineyards outside Fumane in the northern part of Valpolicella.

Corte Giara is an exciting collaboration between the Allegrini family and several local grape growers to make delicious and approachable Valpolicella wines in a modern style. This punchy Amarone is a great example of their philosophy, with ample fruit flavours and plenty of power balanced by elegance and freshness.

It’s made primarily from the local Corvina Veronese grape which is traditionally used for Amarone along with some Rondinella, with the grapes left to dry out and become like raisins over the winter. This traditional method removes water from the grapes, intensifying the sweetness and flavours of the fruit which in turn produces a more powerful wine. After vinification the young wine is left to mature in a combination of large Slavonian casks and used barrels for 15 months, adding subtle hints of toast and spice to the luscious dark fruit flavours.

The Supper Menu served by Sally:

Main Course: Tuscan Chicken with Roast Potatoes and Garlic Peas

Dessert: Blueberry Tart & Cream

Cheese: A Selection of European Cheeses