A weekly appointment to discover excellent Italian wine: Luca Gardini selects the most interesting bottles among reds, whites, and rosés, with a focus on natural wines.
RED
PICCINI 1882
Chianti DOCG Orange 2022
A reliable Chianti Classico from Sangiovese with Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo, a product of great freshness, excellent drinkability, and great suppleness. Red cherry on the nose, with touches of rosehip and white pepper. On the mouth, it is juicy and sapid, with a fruity-floral aftertaste and beautiful flavor persistence.
LEONARDO BUSSOLETTI
Narni IGT Ciliegiolo Grifo di Narnia 2018
From a selection of the estate's best grapes, a very rare, brilliant pure Ciliegiolo, aged for 30 months in French oak barrels. Fresh, multifaceted nose, notes of red currant, touches of bay leaf, rosehip, and rhubarb, with touches of nutmeg; on the palate, it is juicy with a fruity aftertaste.
TENUTA DI FIORANO
VINO ROSSO FIORANO ROSSO 2018
The culmination of a vigorous project of surprising quality, testimony to a terroir of absolute vocation. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from spontaneous fermentation in oak. On the nose, it has jammy blueberry notes, with hints of bay leaf and underbrush. A full-bodied wine on the mouth, with sapid tannins and great persistence.
WHITE
TENUTA DI TAVIGNANO
Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Riserva DOCG Classico Misco 2020
This wine is a sumptuous Riserva from a winery of proven reliability, to which the 12 months in steel on its lees give temperament, character, and great tension. On the nose, it has notes of yellow plum, touches of bay leaf, nuances of white pepper and toasted nuts. Crisp-sapid palate, with a fruity aftertaste that has some spicy notes.
CANTINA DE BIASE
Grottino di Roccanova DOC Bianco Ursolei 2022
Blend of Malvasia di Basilicata and Sauvignon Blanc that pricelessly enhances the Roccanova terroir. It has fresh and floral notes on the nose, along with yellow plum, elderflower, hints of wild rosemary and white pepper. On the palate, it is briny-savory with a floral-fruity aftertaste and great persistence. Closes with marked herbal touches.
ROSÉ
TENUTA DEL CONTE
Cirò DOC Rosato Mani Contadine 2022
Mariangela Parilla's Gaglioppo rosé is one of the inescapable names of Cirò's nouvelle vague. Aged in stainless steel tanks for 12 months, it is enjoyably tannic, with underbrush notes. Red raspberry notes on the nose, with touches of jasmine and a wild mint finish. It is juicy-sapid on the mouth, with a fruity, minty aftertaste and underbrush sensations.
SPARKLING
Franciacorta DOCG Satèn Club Cuvée 2017
A Satèn of great taste pleasantness, with very low residual sugar and bright citrus tones. Lemon zest on the nose, with hints of sage and touches of white pepper. It is intense on the palate, with a savory and herbal aftertaste and great persistence.
VILLA CRESPIA
Franciacorta DOCG Riserva Brut Millè 2012
One of the benchmark bottles for understanding the aging potential of Franciacorta. It is made with exclusively with Chardonnay grapes and has more than 100 months of aging. On the nose, it has notes of yellow plum, mango, and marjoram. It is crisp, taut, with beautiful flavor notes and closed by a fruity aftertaste.
SWEET
COFFELE
Recioto di Soave Classico DOCG Le Sponde 2021
Reference label for this type of wine, a pure Garganega with grapes that are aged for 7 months in traditional fruit drying cellars, then 12 months in oak. It has a nose of a beautiful complexity, with notes of candied apricot, almonds, hints of chamomile and eucalyptus. Fruity-balsamic on the mouth, with a balsamic-floral aftertaste.
NATURAL
DI CATO
Vino Rosso Nonno Mariano
Fermented in vats, aged in both steel and oak barrels, this wine is a pure Montepulciano that tells a layered varietal story. Notes of sour cherries on the nose, with touches of licorice powder and bay leaves, followed by hints of wild iris. Crisp-dense on the mouth, with a spicy aftertaste.
