Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Rosso Di montalcino 2010 and Brunello 2007




2010 Rosso di Montalcino

 2010 is definitely going to be recognized as a great vintage for Montalcino. The 2010 Rossi bear this out. I believe when available the 2010 brunelli will also be sensational.
2010 was characterized by a cool summer and a late harvest. The 2010 Rossi have great fruit, expressive aromatics and considerable structure. We are already securing many great Rossi  2010 for the Australian market.


2007 Brunello di Montalcino

Vintage 2007 is a great follow-up to 2006. It’s not very often that you get two great vintages together. For most growers, 2007 was a warmer overall year than 2006. Temperatures remained above average for most of year. Cooler temperatures towards the end of the growing season helped the wines maintain acidity and develop their aromatics. Overall, the 2007s are soft, silky wines that are radiant, open and highly expressive.

Many of the best 2007s come from the centre of town, where the higher altitude of the vineyards was a critical factor in achieving balance. This is the area from which our wines come and is the reason why our stocks are growing as we continue to stockpile these wonderful wines.  

In conclusion 2007 is a great follow up from the 2006 vintage. Don't expect the same for 2008, 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Soave



Our portfolio of Italian wines in Australia is blessed with some of the best Italian Red wines. But we were sadly lacking white wines. Our Tuscan region is not over-endowed with great white wines so we decided to go searching outside Tuscany for some.

Our search initially took us to Verona and one of Italy's great wine bars, Antica Bottega del Vino


Bottega del Vino is both a wine bar and restaurant. It is well known as having one of the most extensive (and best wine lists) in Italy.

Wonderful old vintages.



 And happy customers. Alan trying a few rosata's in the wine bar.


Where do we store all our wines?


The wonderful sommelier, Andrea, who took us under his wing and showed us a great collection of wines.


The Cantina of Bottega del Vino.


Okay Alan.....keep your hands in your pockets.


We expalined to Andrea what we were looking for..... a quality white wine from a boutique family run vineyard, typical of the style and tradition. This is one he recommended from the Portinari estate. Made from traditional Garganega we think this winemaker will be a great success in Australia.


They have three labels that we will import. Above is the Soave D.O.C. Santo Stefano 2007


Andrea and Alan discussing the opportunities in the cantina at Bottega del Vino.


Alan with Umberto (owner of Portinari) in their cantina.


The Portinari collection soon to arrive in Australia. 



The Portinari grapes maturing perfectly.

Ciaso a tutti

Carolyna e Alan

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Villa del Cigliano - a classic villa in Chianti

One of the wines we import into Australia is from the estate of Villa del Cigliano, in the northern part of the DOCG zone for Chianti Classico, near the village of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, in the Tuscan countryside, 20 km from the centre of Florence.
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The Villa del Cigliano has been in the Antinori family since 1500. 

The villa was built in the second half of the 1400 on exsting medieval buildings. Alessandro di Niccolò Antinori bought it at the end of that century, and it still belongs to the descendants of Eleonora Antinori, recently deceased in 2001.


The courtyard of the Villa seen above is adorned by two round majolica garlands, attibuted to Giovanni della Robbia, with the coat of arms of the Antinori and the Tornabuoni families, commemorating the wedding between Alessandro Antinori and Giovanna Tornabuoni in 1513.

 Here is Alan discussing the villa with Anna and Roberto. Anna is the daughter of Eleonora Antinori.

The main courtyard is an open loggia with three arches, now closed with the windows.




A well in the centre of the courtyard.





The beautiful lounge sitting area which has a magnificient fireplace.





The Villa has a magnificent garden enclosed by high walls. It was designed around the middle of 1600 and is shaded by a 200 year old cedar. There is also a beautiful raised pond where the stunning reflexions of the baroque facade and the towering intricatly designed Neptune fountain can be seen.



 The statue of Neptune is flanked by a satyr and a dolphin from which water flows, it ends up in the pipes at the edge of the garden. The construction of the statue dates back to the early eighteenth century, at the initiative of Vincenzo Antinori. Among the plants in the walled garden is a large cedar from Lebanon and many flowering plants that date from the late nineteenth century.

 

  

Looking back to the villa from the garden over the pond


Alan, Niccolo' (Roberto and Anna's son), Roberto and Anna enjoying a glass of Rosata in the garden.
Cigliano of course


At night, a full moon over Neptunes fountain

Ciao a tutti

Alan e Carolyna