Hide All Details
Monte del Fra,
Drink now,
This Corvina-based blend comes from vineyards located in Sommacampagna, southeast of Lake Garda. Vivid yet delicate cherry-blossom pink in colour, it has a clean nose of red berry fruits, wild flowers and green apples, along with some subtle spicy notes. On the palate, the juicy sensation of fresh berries is fully revealed. The uplifting, youthful acidity makes it the perfect match for your aperitivo and can be drunk on its own or accompanied with summery Italian classics: prosciutto and melon, caprese salad or bruschette.
Monte del Fra,
Drink now,
This Corvina-based blend comes from vineyards located in Sommacampagna, southeast of Lake Garda. Vivid yet delicate cherry-blossom pink in colour, it has a clean nose of red berry fruit, wild flowers and green apples, along with some subtle spicy notes. On the palate, the juicy sensation of fresh berries is fully revealed. The uplifting, youthful acidity makes it the perfect aperitivo and can be drunk on its own or accompanied by summery Italian classics: prosciutto and melon, caprese salad or bruschette. Drink now to 2021.
Matt Smith, Buyer (July 2019)
Matt Smith, Buyer (July 2019)
Monte del Fra,
Drink now,
A blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, this wine is made from hand-harvested grapes from the south-eastern slopes around breezy Lake Garda. The berries are gently crushed for minimal extraction, undergoing a long, delicate fermentation, resulting in a fresh, easy-drinking red. The wine has an intensely floral nose, with notes of cherries and wild herbs. Lightly spicy, with fragrant acidity; try this with cold cuts, poultry or even fish dishes. Drink now to 2022.
Stefania Masin, Buying Assistant (May 2019)
Stefania Masin, Buying Assistant (May 2019)
Trevisiol L. e Figli,
Drink now,
A blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Glera, this fizz has an attractive red-fruit perfume of strawberries and redcurrants. While not technically a Prosecco, due to the use of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this is a fresh and clean rosé which would make the perfect sparkling apéritif for a summer’s day.
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (winter 2019)
Fiona Hayes, Buyer (winter 2019)
Masottina, Veneto,
Drink now,
Located in Prosecco’s Conegliano region of the Veneto lie the 60 hectares of Masottina’s vineyards. Owned by the Dal Bianco family since 1946, they switched from being a négociant to vineyard owner in the 1960s. They produce a classic expression of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco.
With fine, persistent bubbles, this is pale straw yellow with greenish highlights. The nose is intense, fruity with the rich scent of apple, lemon and grapefruit. It has a pronounced aroma of wisteria in bloom and acacia flowers. The palate has a pleasant acidity and fresh flavour. Full-bodied, and lingering, a soft finish rounds off this crowd-pleasing Prosecco.
With fine, persistent bubbles, this is pale straw yellow with greenish highlights. The nose is intense, fruity with the rich scent of apple, lemon and grapefruit. It has a pronounced aroma of wisteria in bloom and acacia flowers. The palate has a pleasant acidity and fresh flavour. Full-bodied, and lingering, a soft finish rounds off this crowd-pleasing Prosecco.
Trevisiol L. e Figli,
Drink now,
This wine is made for us by Paolo Trevisiol and his two sons in the heart of the Valdobbiadene cru. Paolo uses only his 40-year-old vines for our wine, grown at altitudes of up to 400 metres, they yield arguably the most flavoursome Prosecco in the region. Inviting and fresh on the nose, it is brimming with yellow plums, orange blossom and green apples. The palate is foaming, full and fruity, with a fresh alpine acidity typical of the best examples of Prosecco. Enjoy well-chilled.
Davy Zyw, Wine Buyer
Davy Zyw, Wine Buyer
Trevisiol L. e Figli,
Drink now,
Based in the heart of the historic Prosecco region of Valdobbiadene, the Trevisiol family has been producing sparkling wines from the native Glera grape since 1898. This is a classic, Extra Dry style using fruit from 50-year-old vines grown on steep slopes in Valdobbiadene. A short fermentation time and minimal aging allow the fruit quality to shine through, delivering a wonderfully lively and vibrant wine full of fresh pear and blossoms. It’s a brilliantly moreish apéritif for any occasion.
Matt Smith, Senior Buyer (winter 2019)
Matt Smith, Senior Buyer (winter 2019)
Drink now,
Family-run Monte del Frà translates as “Hill of Monks” and is located in the heart of the Bianco di Custoza DOC, just to the south of Lake Garda. It has over 205 hectares of vineyards, and is now run by Maria, Eligio and Claudio Bonomo. The Ca’ del Magro, their flagship white, is the jewel in the winery’s range, made from a single vineyard in the heart of Custoza.
The soil is poor and thin here, resulting in a wine of great concentration and terroir transparency. The grape varieties are vinified separately and rest on their lees for several months, gaining in both texture and complexity. In the glass, the wine is golden with an enveloping bouquet of grilled nuts and yellow peach characters. The white stone-fruit character is lifted by mineral notes. Drink now to 2025.
The soil is poor and thin here, resulting in a wine of great concentration and terroir transparency. The grape varieties are vinified separately and rest on their lees for several months, gaining in both texture and complexity. In the glass, the wine is golden with an enveloping bouquet of grilled nuts and yellow peach characters. The white stone-fruit character is lifted by mineral notes. Drink now to 2025.
Masottina, Veneto,
Drink now,
The pinnacle of Masottina’s production, Le Rive refers to the best vineyard in the town of Ogliano in the Valdobbiadene region of Prosecco. Here the soil is formed from remnants of an ancient glacial flow and is full of minerals. This is the very finest expression of Glera, the variety used in Prosecco: a bright, fresh and elegant wine with additional savoury notes from extended lees ageing. Fresh pear fruit, great concentration and very fine bubbles show really how good quality Prosecco can be. Ready to drink now.
Matt Smith, Buyer (spring 2019)
Matt Smith, Buyer (spring 2019)
Trevisiol L. e Figli,
Drink now,
This finely crafted wine comes from Paolo’s vineyards in the iconic hamlet of Ogliano in Conegliano. Like the classic Valdobbiadene style, it is Extra Dry in style (between 12 and 17 g/l residual sugar), but the fermentation for this cuvée is longer, followed by three months’ aging developing more complex flavours. The nose is finely tuned with notes of green apple, flowers and perfume. The palate is robust and complex with peach, nectarine and a hint of fresh hazelnuts. Always a beautiful apéritif, it is also a fantastic partner for sushi and sashimi.
Matt Smith, Senior Buyer (winter 2019)
Matt Smith, Senior Buyer (winter 2019)
Drink now,
This is a classic Amarone, coming from Monte Del Frà’s Lena di Mezzo estate on the hilly clay and limestone soils of Fumane. It is a blend of Corvina and Rondinella, which were harvested in the middle of October. The nose is rich, earthy and luxurious with aromas of plum, liquorice and clove. The palate is full and dark with kirsch cherry fruit, cinnamon, leather and tobacco.
Marion,
Ready, but will keep,
Made using mostly guyot-trellised fruit that’s been partially dried until the first week of December 2010, Marion’s Amarone is comprised of fresh dark brambly fruit, plus plenty of oak and coffee notes. Slender, fleshy, sapid and yet at the same time round red fruit (residual sugar level: 7), this dry wine is very one for main dishes.
David Berry Green
David Berry Green
Giuseppe Quintarelli,
Ready, but will keep,
The 2006 Valpolicella Classico is a an attractive wine to drink now and over the next few years, as the flavors offer gorgeous complexity and nuance. Cedar, tobacco, smoke, worn-in leather and dried cherries are all laced together in the glass in a powerful Valpolicella loaded with class and personality. Firm tannins convey a decidedly old-school sense of structure. Drink 2015-2021 91/100
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, July 2015
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, July 2015
Monte del Fra,
Drink now,
Vague, blossomy cloud of a nose, pear drops. A gentle, soft wine that tastes of white flowers, and fruit-flavoured candy. Without strong character but easy to drink and it provides a useful canvas for a meal in which you want the food to play the leading role, and also surprisingly good with white asparagus.
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com. 19th May 2017.
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com. 19th May 2017.
Corte Sant'Alda, Veneto,
Ready, but will keep,
From this terrific vintage, Marinella's Amarone combines brilliant biodynamic pace and crunchy (certified) organic black, licorice fruit purity, all seamlessly woven together. Thanks to her breezily high vineyards and chalky soils, Marinella's wines are renowned for their minerally elegance. A blend of Corvina Veronese (40%), Corvina Grosso (30%) and Rondinella (30%), fermented and aged in large 40hl oak barrels, this excellent wine would benefit from further ageing till 2014 but would be great even now, with decanting, along with a haunch of venison.
(David Berry Green )
(David Berry Green )
Marion,
Ready, but will keep,
Weighing in at 15.5% alcohol, 41 grams of dry extract (a lot) and with 7.6 grams/litre of residual sugar (offsetting the impact of the alcohol percentage), refreshed by the chalky white stony soils of the Marcellise valley, to the north-east of Verona, this benchmark Amarone blend of Corvinone (45%), Corvina Veronese (25%), Rondinella (20%) and Croatina/Bonarda (10%) captures the nature of this classic, well-structured vintage.
Aromas of sour cherry ('amarena'), balsam oil, dates and bramble pepper the nose, while rich, super suave, black pepper, cinnamon, spice and liquorice flavours dominant the opulent mouth feel. A big wine that's beginning to 'spread its wings', so no hurry even if it is seductive now; pair with stinky cheese, as a port alternative perhaps.
David Berry Green
Giuseppe Quintarelli,
Ready, but will keep,
Quintarelli, the Genius from the Veneto makes Vapolicella Amarone of artisanal, and internationally acclaimed status, legendary for its richness, complexity, vigour and longevity. Produced in very limited quantities, it oozes with fruit purity, and aromas of licorice, truffles and cured meat. Fabulously concentrated, showing layers of spiced fruits and cedar flavours, this is a powerful wine, from a great vintage that it is still infant in terms of its hugely-promising development potential.
Romano Dal Forno,
Ready, but will keep,
I'm not sure how anyone can resist a wine like the 2009 Amarone della Valpolicellla Monte Lodoletta. It would be impossible to exaggerate the enormity of this wine. Romano Dal Forno has his critics, of course: Some people find his wines exaggerated and too big to drink. They have a point, but you cannot doubt the sheer quality of winemaking that goes behind this monumental wine. Dal Forno's Amarone is a message of optimism that speaks to the infinite possibilities that can be achieved with a simple fruit like the grape. The decadent and layered bouquet offers slow pulses of black fruit, tar, teriyaki, mesquite and prune. The wine wraps like a thick blanket over the palate. This beautiful bottle should be aged ten more years.
Monica Larner - eRobertParker.com #216 - Dec 2014
Monica Larner - eRobertParker.com #216 - Dec 2014
Corte Sant'Alda, Veneto,
Ready, but will keep,
Marinella's finest wine, drawn predominantly from the single 'Macie' vineyard, fermented in large oak and aged for three years in 1500 litre french oak, the stunning 2004 shows both richness as well as precision. The nose evokes a rich brew of rum and raisin chocolate, and of herbs, while the palate is stunningly pure as well as decadent, seductively textured, finely wrapped for another 10 years ageing, so best drunk from 2010 till 2020. Try with goose.
(David Berry Green)
A beguiling nose of baked brioche and dried fruits (freshly made rum babas come to mind.) An impressive, rich palate follows brimming with notes of fennel, liquorice, prunes and bitter chocolate. A simply delightful, lingering finish dominated by smoky morello cherry and sweet cinnamon spice. Try it with a rare venison steak at dinner and you’ll sleep very well.
(Nicola Gilbert - London Shop Sales - 25 Jan 2010)
(David Berry Green)
A beguiling nose of baked brioche and dried fruits (freshly made rum babas come to mind.) An impressive, rich palate follows brimming with notes of fennel, liquorice, prunes and bitter chocolate. A simply delightful, lingering finish dominated by smoky morello cherry and sweet cinnamon spice. Try it with a rare venison steak at dinner and you’ll sleep very well.
(Nicola Gilbert - London Shop Sales - 25 Jan 2010)
Owned and run by brothers Eligio and Claudio Bonomo in the heart of Custoza, the Monte del Frà estate believes that work in the vineyard is the key to producing great wine. Modern winemaking techniques and exceptional attention to detail preserve the grapes’ character, making for fresh, fruit-driven wines.
Made from 100% Garganega, this has classic aromas of camomile and herbs. Fresh and light in the body, it has a clean and elegant mouth-feel. The acidity is enhanced by the minerality and finely textured palate. Drink now.