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More fantastic wines arriving shortly!

What a fabulous country. Nowhere in all my travels have I ever encountered such a love of good food and wine. In my opinion Italy produces some of the best wine in the world. Anyone who has been to Italy knows the Italian attitude to life - rules are there to be broken, and the same is true in their wine industry. The government introduced a classification system loosely based on the French Appellation Controlee. However, many Italian wine makers refused to be restricted and continued to make fantastic wine as they wanted, just labelling it 'vino da tavola' table wine. To the Italians in the know this was no problem, as a bottle of table wine at £20 would have a strong reputation locally. However this is no help to consumers in the Uk. Italy more than any other country is one cauldron of confusion when it comes to selecting wine from looking at the bottle. Always look out on the label for a reputable producer. I'll be adding plenty more Italian wines to the site in due course. In the meantime all these wines are superb quality.

Sanct Valentin Sauvignon St Michael Eppan DOC Alto Adige 2008 75cl

Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri - for a remarkable 16 years in succession!

14%abv. This is the flagship wine from this prestigious estate, regarded as the best Sauvignon Blanc in all Italy. Having tasted it I have to agree, it's something very special. Very pale green in colour so it was quite a suprise to get such a strong concentration of fruit on the nose, almost pear drop like. There's intense fruit flavour on the palate too but with suprising body. In fact I'd describe the wine as 'full bodied' although this is then balanced beautifully by crisp acidity which cleanses the palate. Add to this an incredible 30 second plus finish, and you can see why it's consistently won Italy's most respected wine award. Superb wine.

St Michael Eppan Website

Price: £22.45 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	Gambero
John's Rating	93 Points

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Sanct Valentin Sauvignon St Michael Eppan DOC Alto Adige 2008 75cl

Frescobaldi Pomino Bianco DOC Riserva 2006 75cl

This wine is currently on sale at Harrods for £29.50

13.5%abv. This is a single vineyard Chardonnay, widely regarded as the best white wine to come from Tuscany. Deep clear gold in colour with a rich and complex nose. Full in the mouth with rich fruit flavours. It's a delicious full flavoured wine but also has lively acidity making it ideal with food. I paired it with a massaman curry and it was wonderful but you may prefer to enjoy it with something more traditional such as hard cheese or creamy pasta dishes. The only other websites with this wine are selling it for upward of £25 per bottle! It appears to be on the Christopher Piper Wines website at £26.23 although they don't mention the word 'Riserva'!

Frescobaldi Website

Price: £20.39 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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John's Rating

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Frescobaldi Pomino Bianco DOC Riserva 2006 75cl

Cordero di Montezemolo Elioro Langhe Chardonnay 2006 75cl

Gambero Rosso Un Bicchieri with the 2005 being awarded Due Bicchieri.

Cordero di Montezemolo are one of Piedmont's most prestigious producers. The grapes for this wine all come from twenty year old vines in their own vineyards. They're hand picked, fermented in stainless steel to retain freshness, then subsequently transferred into barrels to continue fermenting for another two to three weeks. This imparts body and a full, rich luscious mouthfeel. The wine's big and powerful with tropical flavours and noticeable oak. It's very very good indeed.

Cordero di Montezemolo Website

Price: £20.39 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	GR
John's Rating	89 Points

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Cordero di Montezemolo Elioro Langhe Chardonnay 2006 75cl

Illuminati Ciafre 2005 75cl

13.5%abv. Controguerra Bianco Doc. A single vineyard wine consisting of 60% Trebbiano, 15% Passerina, 10% Reisling, 10% Garganega and 5% Malvasia. This vineyard is amongst the last to be harvested on the Illuminati estate in October. The wine is full flavoured and intense with medium body and a rich and creamy mouth feel. Very good length too. This wine's secret is in the blending of the grapes providing excellent balance. Lovely and smooth to enjoy on it's own, although once paired with food the acidity becomes more apparent as it cleanses the palate. A lovely bottle of wine.

Illuminati Website

Price: £10.21 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Tenuta Rapitala Grand Cru IGT Sicilia 2006 75cl

14% abv. Truly superb wine with stunning presentation. 100% Chardonnay from selected parcels of vines in their Tenuta Rapitala vineyard at 450m above sea level. After cold maceration in stainless steel, a proportion of the grapes were matured on their lees in French oak barriques for a year, resulting in more body with more rounded flavours. This is the flagship wine of this quality family estate. Soft, round and full flavoured, full bodied with a long lingering finish. Delicious.

Rapitala website

Price: £14.25 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Tenuta Rapitala Grand Cru IGT Sicilia 2006 75cl

Tenuta Rapitala Piano Maltese IGT Sicilia 2007 75cl

13% abv. This wine is lovely. Catarratto (native Sicilian) and Chardonnay grapes from selected parcels of the Tenuta Rapitala vineyard, at approximately 400 metres above sea level. The grapes are picked and vinified separately as the Catarratto is a relatively late ripening variety. The must is instantly cooled, then undergoes fermentation under temperature control. The wine is left on it's lees for five months until bottling to retain freshness. Sicily gets tremendous sunshine, which combined with the best 'terroir' and modern vinification techniques, produces some stunning wines. This wine is fresh, packed with Mediteranean flavours, full in the mouth, with great length. Delicious and highly recommended!

Rapitala website

Price: £8.67 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Tenuta Rapitala Piano Maltese IGT Sicilia 2007 75cl

Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita DOC Valdadige 2008 75cl

12% abv. This is a top class Pinot Grigio, a market leader in Italy with the vast majority shipped to the USA where it's a big hit with the cruise liners and big hotels. It has an intense aroma with strong fruit on the palate, good body and an almost creamy texture. Delicious just to drink but also well suited to a variety of foods including fish dishes.

Santa Margherita Website

Price: £10.21 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita DOC Valdadige 2008 75cl

Angimbe IGT Sicilia Cusumano 2008 75cl

Commended - International Wine Challenge 2009, with the 2007 winning Due Bicchieri and Commended IWC, 2006 winning Due Bicchieri too!

14% abv. A blend of 70% native Inzolia with 30% Chardonnay, all hand picked. The grape must undergoes cold maceration on the skins for 12 hours before fermentation in stainless steel to retain freshness. The wine is then left on the lees for four months prior to bottling. The result is a delicious wine with tropical floral aromas on the nose. Bags of fruit, with a full, rich texture in the mouth and good length. This is a very good bottle of wine. Rather than a cork closure it's sealed with a novel glass stopper and would make an excellent gift.

Cusumano Website

Price: £11.75 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Awards:	IWC
John's Rating

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Jale IGT Sicilia Cusumano 2007 75cl

Due Bicchieri Gambero Rosso

14.5% abv. 100% Chardonnay, from 10 year old vines. Fermented in oak barriques for 6 months. It's a big, full wine with rich tropical fruit flavours. It's very good indeed.

Cusumano Website

Price: £17.63 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	IWC
John's Rating	88 Points

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Gavi del Commune di Gavi DOCG Granee Beni di Batasiolo 2008 75cl

12.5% abv. Standard Gavi is produced in a fairly wide area stretching about 100km from Novi Ligure to the Ligurian Appennines in Piedmont and is a fairly reasonable wine. However 'Gavi del Commune di Gavi' is only produced in the village of Gavi and is far superior quality and naturally more expensive. This is the Gavi to look out for. The Cortese grapes are soft pressed then fermented under temperature control. The wine is crisp and refreshing, full flavoured and well balanced with a dry finish. Great as an aperitif or to accompany seafood. This is a genuine Gavi del Commune di Gavi and is great value at this price.

Price: £10.16 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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John's Rating

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Gavi del Commune di Gavi DOCG Granee Beni di Batasiolo 2008 75cl

I Frari DOC Bianco di Custoza 2005 Santi 75cl

12.5% abv. An unusual wine from Veneto where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Made predominantly from Trebbiano, Garganega and Cortese grapes with small amounts of Tocai, Reisling and Pinot Bianco. The grape must is separated with 50% vinified on the skins, all under temperature control, then stored in stainless steel tanks for six months prior to bottling to retain freshness. Fragrant nose with good fruit on the palate and a long dry finish. Leave this wine to breathe for ten minutes as it opens up significantly - unusual for a white wine - but it makes a big difference to the flavours and feel of the wine.

Price: £9.40 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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I Frari DOC Bianco di Custoza 2005 Santi 75cl

Chardonnay delle Venezie Mitico IGT Cesari 2003 75cl

12.5% abv. Gerardo Cesari was IWSC Italian Wine Maker of the Year in 2004 & 2006. Full, rich, buttery nose more reminiscent of a New World Chardonnay than Old World. Strong fruit flavours, full bodied and a long, dry finish. This wine is lovely, seeming to blend new world fruit with Italian finesse.

Cesari Website

Price: £10.21 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Chardonnay delle Venezie Mitico IGT Cesari 2003 75cl

Gewurztraminer DOC San Michele Appiano 75cl

IWC - Bronze 2007. 100% Gewurztraminer from the Appiano cooperative in the Alto Adige region. In 2000 the winery was voted Gambero Rosso 'Winery of the Year' and the winemaker, Hans Terzer, was voted one of the 'Top Ten Master Winemakers in the World' . This is a good example of aromatic and floral Gewurztraminer with strong fruit flavours.

Price: £10.21 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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John's Rating

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Gewurztraminer DOC San Michele Appiano 75cl

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Passito 2005 'Tordiruta' 50cl

12.5% abv. IWC 2007 - Silver Best in Class, Gambero Rosso 'Due Biccheri' IWC Silver What a fantastic wine. This is one of the most beautiful dessert wines I have ever tasted. Late harvested grapes from 30 year old vines are dried for 10 weeks prior to fermentation, then refined for 12 months in barriques and aged in bottle for a further 12 months. Truly beautiful wine with fantastic length.

Moncaro Website

Price: £25.49 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	IWC
John's Rating	92 Points

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Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Passito 2005 'Tordiruta' 50cl

Angialis IGT Isola dei Nuraghi 2005 50cl

14.5% abv. Vendage Tardive. Gambero Rosso 'Due Bicchieri' with previous vintages winning Gambero Rosso 'Due Bicchieri' IWC - Silver for 2003! 'Tre Bicchieri' 2001, 'Due Bicchieri' 2002, Decanter World Wine Awards -Silver 2001, Concours Bruxelles - Silver 2001/02, and a host of other awards. A Truly stunning dessert wine from the Argiolas Estate in Sardinia. Read about it from the producers at

Argiolas Website

Price: £18.80 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	IWC
John's Rating	92 Points

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Angialis IGT Isola dei Nuraghi 2005 50cl

Trebbiano Moncaro 2008 75cl

11.5% abv. IWC - Bronze.The grapes for this wine are selected from the best vineyards on the hillsides of Italy's Marche region. They are gently pressed and fermented under temperature control. 15% Verdicchio grapes are added to the Trebbiano grapes to soften the sharpness and give more body. The wine is fresh and packed with fruit, with a floral bouquet. Great value.

Moncaro Website

Price: £5.10 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Awards:	IWC
John's Rating

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Lugana San Benedeto DOC, Zenato 2007 75cl

13% abv. A consistent award winner with previous vintages winning Gambero Rosso 'Due Biccheri' 2004 & 2005, Winespectator 88 points 2003, IWC Bronze Medal, Seal of Approval 2002 & 2005, Decanter World Wine Awards - Commended 2004. 100% Trebbiano grapes, hand picked, lightly pressed and fermented under temperature control. The wine is full flavoured but soft with good length. Good to drink on it's own, even better with food.

Zenato.com

Price: £9.69 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Awards:	G ROSSO
John's Rating

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Lugana San Benedeto DOC, Zenato 2007 75cl

Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato 2006 75cl

Gambero Rosso Due Bicchieri, IWC Silver Medal, Wine Spectator - 90 Points, with the 2005 winning IWSC Silver Medal & IWC Silver Medal.

13.5% abv. 100% Trebbiano di Lugana grapes, from 20 year old very low yielding vines from their Podere Massoni vineyard. Fermented in barriques for three weeks, then aged in new oak barriques for four months with further ageing in bottle prior to release. The wine has plenty of body and viscosity with noticeable oak. The fruit is tempered by the oak producing an elegant, balanced wine with a really long finish. Highly recommended.

Zenato.com

Price: £20.39 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	G ROSSO
John's Rating	88 Points

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Soave Classico 'Colombara' Zenato DOC 2008 75cl

12.5% abv. A blend of Chardonnay and Garganega from a single vineyard, hand picked, soft pressed and fermented under temperature control. Another lovely full flavoured wine from the Zenato family. Recommended.

Zenato.com

Price: £7.65 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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John's Rating

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Soave Classico 'Colombara' Zenato DOC 2008 75cl

Moncaro Bianco Marche Region 75cl

11.5% abv. Plenty of fruit upfront, dry on the finish. A nice bottle of wine for quaffing, especially with food. Great value for money for everyday drinking.

Moncaro Website

Price: £4.70 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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John's Rating

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Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT Ardesia 2008 75cl

12% abv. Packed with fruit, this Pinot is delicious. Ideal for drinking on it's own or pair with seafood, chicken or salads.

Price: £6.12 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT Ardesia 2008 75cl

Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT Sentito 2008 75cl

12% abv. A decent Pinot Grigio at this price. Ideal for summer barbeques. Jane can drink this one with no ill effects, but if you are sensitive to sulphites I'd recommend going for the Ardesia Pinot Grigio to be on the safe side.

Price: £6.12 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Pinot Grigio delle Venezie IGT Sentito 2008 75cl

Barocco Chardonnay del Salento IGT 2006 75cl

12.5% abv. Pale straw in colour with a clean, crisp nose. This wine has bags of flavour - we all likened it to pear drops! It's well balanced with good length. A great choice if you want a nice wine to enjoy on it's own, sat in the garden on a sunny day.

Price: £5.82 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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John's Rating

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Barocco Chardonnay del Salento IGT 2006 75cl

Moscato D'Asti DOCg Batasiolo 2007 75cl

5.5% abv. This is a delicious dessert wine, in a lighter style. Don't be put off by associations with the name. I actually tasted this wine out at Batasiolo's winery in Alba, straight from the tank. They use temperature control to stop fermentation at the optimum time, to maximise the true flavours of the grapes. This explains why it's only fermented to 5.5% abv.(Sadly our Chancellor has changed the rules so this wine still attracts a whopping £1.58 duty, plus vat, the same as a full strength wine). The wine has lovely sweet flavours but is quite light and slightly frizzante (sparkling), unlike the more traditonal viscous dessert wines. I love it at the end of a meal and, as I'm usually a little tipsy from too much Amarone, it's low enough in alcohol that I can keep drinking it without moving onto coffee. I highly recommend it!

Price: £8.23 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

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Chiaramonte Ansonica IGT Sicilia 2005/7 75cl

13% abv. Lovely wine, description to follow.

Price: £10.21 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

John's Rating

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Chiaramonte Ansonica IGT Sicilia 2005/7 75cl

Altavilla Delle Corte Grillo IGT Sicilia 2007 75cl

13.5% abv. Lovely wine, description to follow.

Price: £10.21 (Inc. VAT at 17.5% )

John's Rating

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Altavilla Delle Corte Grillo IGT Sicilia 2007 75cl