Le Serre Nuove dell’ Ornellaia 2020 Le Serre Nuove dell’ Ornellaia is sometimes known as LSN. It’s the official “second wine” of the now iconic Ornellaia estate. They say it’s “made with the same passion and attention to detail as Ornellaia; it reflects the estate’s pedigree”.* Does it live up to this billing? Let’s travel together to the Bolgheri region of Tuscany …
Atma White – a Sketch for Summer
Atma White – a Sketch for Summer Thymiopoulos make Atma White in Náoussa, Greece. Their wine growing is biodynamic and sustainable, and one of its red Xinomavro wines features on these pages. Hence you can read about this here. Their Atma White is a remarkable dry white wine with bags of personality, and the brand name Atma means “soul” in …
Le Cupole 2020 – IGT Toscana Rosso by Tenuta di Trinoro
Le Cupole 2020 – IGT Toscana Rosso by Tenuta di Trinoro The late Andrea Franchetti created the Tenuta di Trinoro estate during the 1990s. Returning to Italy (he had been a wine broker in New York), he wanted to make the best Italian wine. For this, he chose a remote site in Tuscany, without any wine history, in the Val d’Orcia. …
San Leonardo 2017 – Trentino’s Flagship Bordeaux Blend
San Leonardo 2017 – Trentino’s Flagship Bordeaux Blend Here is San Leonardo 2017. Gambero Rosso once described this red wine, made by Tenuta San Leonardo, as “one of the fifty wines that changed Italy”. They have awarded their Tre Biccheri to it consistently, and it has become something of a legend in Italy. It’s from Trentino, a less well-known Italian wine region. …
Límite Norte – a stunning white Rioja from Ramōn Bilbao
Límite Norte – a stunning white Rioja from Ramōn Bilbao Finding a wine that leaves you transfixed is a rare event, even more so when it’s unexpected. Then, momentarily, you feel like you’ve found the grail. And so it was with Límite Norte, a Rioja Blanco from the Ramōn Bilbao winery in Haro. It’s worth stressing that I knew nothing …
Badia di Morrona – excellence in Chianti DOCG
Badia di Morrona – excellence in Chianti DOCG This article concerns Badia di Morrona, a wine estate south of Pisa in Tuscany. They make a wide range of wines, including Chianti DOCG, called I Sodi del Paretaio. But before we get to that, it’s worth considering the broader context of Chianti DOCG. Chianti DOCG Chianti is one of the best-known …
Epokale: In the Hall of the Mountain Grill
Epokale: In the Hall of the Mountain Grill Epokale has become an iconic wine with a glowing reputation. Its creator is Cantina Tramin, in the Alto Adige region of Italy, also the Italian spiritual homeland for the Gewürztraminer white grape. Some years ago, the Cantina commenced a long-term project to make a special cuvée representing Gewürztraminer, Alpine terroir, and wine-growing …
Ribolla Gialla and a Dachshund – what’s the link?
Ribolla Gialla and a Dachshund – what’s the link? What links the Ribolla Gialla grape variety with a Dachsund? The answer is the Eugenio Collavini winery in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy. But as for why – you’ll need to read to the end to find out. Friuli Venezia Giulia Friuli Venezia Giulia lies in the northeast corner of …
The Mimesi Project by Tenuta di Ghizzano
The Mimesi Project by Tenuta di Ghizzano Tenuta di Ghizzano has been featured on these pages before, with two superb classically-styled red wine blends called Nambrot and Veneroso. Their new wine project is called Mimesi, where current owner Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini employs ancient natural wine practices in a modern context. As Confucius once said, “study the past if you want to …
Finca Altamira: World Malbec Day and Easter Sunday
Finca Altamira: World Malbec Day and Easter Sunday The Argento winery makes a single-vineyard premium Malbec called Finca Altamira, which is also one of the best value red wines you’ll currently find. Meanwhile, when compiling the list of International Drinks Days, I saw that the annual World Malbec Day is on the 17th of April. And that got me thinking about an …