Marfuga Umbria D.O.P. Colli Assisi-Spoleto Italian extra virgin olive oli is extracted from olives harvested by hand in the olive groves between Assisi and Spoleto, in the heart of Umbria, where the conditions are particularly suitable for the cultivation of olive trees.
Emidio Pepe's Trebbiano d'Abruzzo is a small oenological gem that exhibits variety and breadth, qualities that make this wine a unique example of biodynamic viticulture. The land at the foot of the Gran Sasso is something special: the significant temperature range between day and night stresses the grapes enough to make them release intense and unique aromas, and the proximity to the Adriatic Sea brings that mineral and savoury tone making the drinking experience satisfying and memorable. Scents, salinity and freshness are the three main characteristics of Emidio Pepe's Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, who wanted and was able to transfer biodynamic agriculture to his vineyards, combining the experience of the great producer that he is with modern production techniques.
Pepe Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is produced with pure grapes of the homonymous variety, coming from 30 years old vines standing on clayey and medium texture soil. In the vineyard are scrupulously followed the dictates of organic farming integrating them with some biodynamic practices, although the idea of grapes and healthy soil was already rooted in Emidio's mentality.
In the winery, manual destemming of the grapes and spontaneous alcoholic fermentation in vitrified cement tanks followed by bottling and decanting by hand without filtration. The liquid ages 24 months in cement tanks.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Vecchie Vigne by Siro Pacenti, ages for two years in French oak barrique and is completed with a period of aging in glass. It is structured, elegant and complex, and above all it represents the fruit of the absolute respect for the land and nature, which is combined to secular experiences and traditions. Intense garnet red and luminous to the eye. It presents an articulated and complex bouquet, enriched by ripe berries, morello cherries and raspberry jam, then also by tertiary notes of leather, liquorice, spices and a touch of wood. Warm and full in the mouth, it is muscular and powerful in the mouth, supported by a noble and refined tannic texture and marked by a long persistence.
The Brunello di Montalcino Le Potazzine 2012 is a splendid Brunello, a bottle that needs no introduction and no long preamble. Like all the wines from the Le Potazzine winery, it is refined and elegantly recounts one of Italy's most renowned terroirs. It expresses itself elegantly on the nose: it is deep and broad, with romantic nuances of red fruit, accompanied by hints of aromatic herbs and spices. On tasting it reveals its noble character, its austere tannins capable of giving a sensation of very fine harmony and an immense materiality in communicating the splendid hillocks on which the "potazzine" fly gracefully. A great Brunello di Montalcino, aged in large casks for 40 months.
From some of the best vineyards of the Pacenti estate comes the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Pelagrilli. It offers delicate nuances on the one hand and decisive and powerful characters on the other. It rests for two years in French oak barriques and is completed with a period of refinement in the bottle. It is a beautiful intense garnet red colour. Complex on the nose, with hints of ripe cherries, plums and sour cherries, which are enriched by precious tertiary tones, such as liquorice, tobacco and star anise. In the mouth, the tannins are well-chiselled and promise to sustain the wine for many years to come. The length is excellent and the finish is spicy and meaty.
Barolo Sottocastello di Novello Ca' Viola is made from Nebbiolo grapes grown on 2.3 hectares in Novello, in the Sottocastello cru. Here the vines grow at an altitude of 470 metres on calcareous and clayey soil of a sandy matrix and are fed with natural manure and green manure, without synthetic chemical products. In the cellar, spontaneous fermentation takes place for 35 days and the wine is aged in large casks for 36 months. It is an important wine, elegant and austere, with a luminous garnet colour and deep aromas of underbrush and spices. On the palate it is energetic and slender, structured and decisive, with thick and persistent tannins and final aromatic suggestions of tobacco and chocolate. A Barolo with great personality, capable of resting in the cellar for many many years.
Barolo Villero comes from one of the most suitable cru in the Castiglione Falletto area. The Fenocchio family enhances the production of its own vineyards, creating wines with a strong territorial character, as in this case.
Barolo Villero exalts the calcareous and clayey richness of the original soils with an aromatic bouquet of great breadth and an enveloping tannic texture, capable of sustaining very long ageing.
Fontodi's Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is the result of an accurate blend.
Alongside 90% Sangiovese, the absolute protagonist of the Tuscan terroir, we also find 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, an international grape that has amply demonstrated its ability to achieve excellent levels of quality within the regional borders.
The grapes, cultivated on 40 year-old plants in vineyards facing south-west, are harvested and brought to the winemaking facilities, where they ferment spontaneously thanks to the presence of indigenous yeasts in stainless steel containers, macerating at a controlled temperature for 3 weeks. The wine is then aged for 24 months in 50% new Troncais and Allier barriques. Exceptional!
In the Colle del Monaco vineyard, with a full south-west exposure, Falanghina vines grow at an altitude of 400 metres above sea level, on soils rich in limestone and tuff. The Ocone family has always been environmentally aware and thus decided to certify the cultivation as organic.
In the cellar, work involves a short cold maceration of the grapes, followed by their soft pressing and the start of alcoholic fermentation in vertical wooden vats, where malolactic fermentation also takes place. Refinement involves a short 4-month stay in steel.
Jamaica Pappagalli Rum comes from the Monymusk Distillery in Jamaica, one of the island's oldest distilleries, which, with its own sugar cane plantations, distils rums that it sells to third parties, with the exception of some that it sells under its own label.
Distillation takes place in small Still copper pot stills with double distillation, in accordance with Jamaican tradition. Jamaican rums are made from a unique blend of molasses and sugar cane juice, with varying amounts of 'dunders' (sun-dried residues of the distillation process) added. These two customs typical of the area make the aromatic uniqueness of these rums.
The rum is then selected by Moon Import and matured in Scotland in original barrels and bottled locally.
Vigna Francia is a Barbera d'Alba produced by the Giacomo Conterno winery, and comes from a real cru, where the Barbera grapes have the opportunity to grow in optimal conditions, bringing healthy, ripe bunches to harvest.
The nose is dominated by a range of fruity touches, which open to a warm and warming sip, where the alcohol level makes itself felt, despite the fresh imprint that envelops the palate.
A prestigious label, which on the table needs equally high level pairings to make the most of it.
If you have friends who are passionate about Barbera from Piedmont, you will really please them with this bottle.
