Italian Reds

Question 1

‘Baron’ Ugo’, Monteraponi

Answer 1

Raspberry, cherry, and white pepper.
A silky texture with great tension

Question 2

Chianti Classico ‘Nuovo’, Poggerino 2020

Answer 2

Notes of earth, graphite, tobacco and hints of red fruit. Complex with persistent tannins.

Question 3

Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello di Volpaia

Answer 3

It’s produced with 100% of Sangiovese coming from some of the highest vineyards of the Chianti. The unique microclimate and the soil composition of “macigno Toscano” donate to this Sangiovese some of its outstanding complexity and elegance.

Question 4

Brunello di Montalcino, Argiano

Answer 4

Ripe plum and blackberries. Soft acidity with round, luscious fruit. The tannins are easy. Very approachable

Question 5

Brunello di Montalcino, Sesti

Answer 5

Full bodied but it is by no means heavy.
Vibrant acidity and a mineralitly with grainy tannins

Question 6

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva ‘Phenomena’, Sesti

Answer 6

Scents of orange peel and cardamom.
Smooth, round and plummy. Amazing Depth.

Question 7

Brunello di Montalcino, Collemattoni

Answer 7

Grown in the high altitude (300-400m) the wine is soft and juicy with big fruit and bold structure. Aged for a minimum of 30 months in 3200-liter Slovenian oak, the wine’s fruit is preserved with only slight hints of baking spice. Savory with a classic meatiness, there is a balance of being intricate while still being built to last a decade.

Question 8

Brunello di Montalcino ‘Montosoli’, Altesino

Answer 8

Elegant and soothing, it flows across the palate with a silken wave of ripe red fruits and spices and saline minerals & florals. The 2019 is seamless and harmonious, leaving a coating of edgy tannins to contend with a bump of refreshing acidity as suggestions of tart cranberry and a bitter tinge of clove taper off. This is Montosoli terroir at its very best, and even at this early stage, it’s impossible to resist pouring another glass

Question 9

Barolo, Bruno Giacosa

Answer 9

Roses on the nose with dense tannins on the palate. A robust, rigorously structured Barolo.

Question 10

Barolo ‘Monprivato - Ca d’Morissio’, Giuseppe Mascarello

Answer 10

Only made in the best vintages. This is a delicate and fragile wine that starts with wild berry and tobacco. The quality of the fruit is very ripe,

Question 11

Barolo ‘Marcenasco’, Renato Ratti

Answer 11

Notes of rose petal, small red berries and spice.
Smooth, silky tannins and fresh acidity keep it perfectly balanced.

Question 12

Barolo, Giuseppe Rinaldi

Answer 12

Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, dried cherry,
Powerful and yet gracious, with deep persistence

Question 13

Barolo ‘Vigna Merenda,’ Scarzello 2017

Answer 13

Exciting nose of raspberry and cherry with hints black pepper
Amazing depth of focused fruit, very long and finely balanced

Question 14

Barbaresco Riserva, Crichet paje, Roagna 2004

Answer 14

No more than 1,800 bottles are produced per year

Intensely aromatic with mushrooms, prunes, warm stones

smooth tannins and a refined mass of flavour: salty-savoury balanced by fruit.

Question 15

Lessona, Proprietà Sperino

Answer 15

Perfumed berry, aromatic herbs.
The palate is both juicy and has finesse with firm tannins
Flavors of ripe dark cherry, raspberry, and tobacco.

Question 16

IGT Terre Siciliane ‘Vino di Contrada FL Fossa di Lupo, Arianna Occhipinti

Answer 16

The wine shows aromas of red fruits, including plums and blackberries. Slight hints of exotic spices only emerge after the Frappato has had time to really unpack in the glass. This wine is perhaps the most open of the three. Only 2,700 bottles were produced

Question 17

Brunello di Montalcino, Il Paradiso di Manfredi

Answer 17

“Aromas recalling truffle, game and leather form the nose on this soulful red along with notes recalling almond liqueur. The enveloping palate has an earthy elegance, delivering ripe red berry, salted game and grilled herb alongside velvety tannins and fresh acidity