Bottles & Bottles – My Favourite Italians

Today I encountered the aromatics of Italian wine. Fine Italian wine. Where to begin, and how?..to describe what this country has offered the world – heavenly drops of harvest. No other country on earth can boast a wine culture like that of Italy. There are over 2000 indigenous varieties spread throughout the land. Each of Italy’s 20 regions is home to a unique viticultural industry, from the cool climates in the northeast such as Alto Adige and Friuli to the warm, sunny zones of the south such as Campania, Puglia and Sicily.

Ca'Marcanda "Promis" 2009 Toscana: NIKON D3000 Lens AF-S 1.4G f/2.8; Exposure 1/60sec; ISO-200

Lets begin the lesson with the first wine I sipped: Ca’Marcanda “Promis” 2009, Appellation: Toscana and Region: Tuscany. Splash-down on my tongue! The drop burst with sweet blackberry, black cherry and spice flavours. Not at all overoaked; just offering a strong structure, with firm tannins on the finish and nice length. Made lovingly from merlot, syrah and sangiovese.

Livio Felluga "Sosso": NIKON D3000 Lens AF-S 1.4G f/2.8; Exposure 1/60sec; ISO-200

The year 2000 produced a winner: Soft, well structured and mouth fulling, a glass of Livio Felluga “Sosso” blends the grapes of Merlot and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso to create a certain sweetness; an ideal amalgam of close knit tannins and acidity rendering this wine rich and well structured. This drop has been lovingly aged in oak for 18 months producing an intense ruby red color.

Livio Felluga "Vertigo": NIKON D3000 Lens AF-S 1.4G f/2.8; Exposure 1/60sec; ISO-200

So the next bottle of heaven is popped: black cherry red with intense purple highlights hits my goblet. Livio’s “Vertigo” travels to my nose and here it presents as intense, fruity and herbaceous. Cherries, red pepper, currant, blackberries and blueberries integrate nicely with sweet spices and liquorice. What a drop this Merlot – Cabernet Sauvignon blend is. Oh and our sommelier suggests its best served between 16°C – 18°C.

Masi Costasera "Amarone" 2007: NIKON D3000 Lens AF-S 1.4G f/2.8; Exposure 1/60sec; ISO-200

If you’ve decided on a menu replete with roasted meats, game or strong cheeses, look no further than the decadent 2006 Masi Costasera Amarone from Veneto. Deep purple ruby colour; my nose assaulted (in the most exquisite way!) by its rich, ripe, plummy cherry aromas. A happy tongue tasted spice and earth with shades of chocolate. My head a little sore from the wanton experience of “taste testing” my way through the wine regions of Italy! Oh what the heck! Cin Cin!!