Summer is ending, but our desire for fine wine isn't! Here are the most intriguing bottles of September, exclusively selected by wine expert Luca Gardini.
RED
DAMILANO
BAROLO DOCG BRUNATE 2019
A cornerstone winery in the denomination, historically unafraid to venture into territories of absolute excellence. From the homonymous subzone in the municipality of La Morra, with soil rich in limestone and sand, an excellent Barolo with remarkable tension and flavor. Black raspberry on the nose, with hints of wild rosemary, underbrush, and rhubarb. Lovely salinity, with a fruity and herbal finish.
CANTINA PIZZOLATO
MALANOTTE DEL PIAVE DOCG IL BARBAROSSA 2019
Villorba, in the province of Treviso, the story of Father Gino and son Settimo, and the desire, since the early '80s, to create a concept that expresses not only a territory but above all, a philosophy of closeness to nature. Captivating and complex, this traditional Raboso, with 20% of dried grapes, then aged in casks and barriques, presents blueberry jam on the nose, with hints of marjoram and rhubarb, on the palate however notes of iodine-salty, with a fruity return.
CANTINA SAN ZENONE
TINTILIA DEL MOLISE DOC 2020
A fresh interpretation of Tintilia, this one from Cantina San Zenone, a cooperative in Montenero di Bisaccia, in the province of Campobasso, a fertile hill located in the equally pleasant Trigno Valley. The nose offers notes of sour cherry, minty nuances, and hints of black pepper leaf, with eucalyptus undertones. The taste is salty and savory, with a fruity-spicy and balsamic finish, with a nice persistence.
WHITE
CLARA MARCELLI
MARCHE IGT MARKE 2020
A truly unique 100% Pecorino, part of a rare project by the Colletta brothers, located in Castorano, on the hills of Piceno, where refined use of wood imparts unexpected nuances. Yellow nectarine, hints of broom, sage, and white pepper. Very persistent on the palate, with a fruity-spicy return, with hnts of herbal-floral in the finish.
CAPUTO
ASPRINIO DI AVERSA DOC FESCINE 2022
A winery that has become legendary, a masterful pure Asprinio from its chosen territory, the Agro Aversano, vinified in stainless steel only. Freshness and herbal touch, the nose has notes of lime, hints of citron thyme, and white pepper, on the palate we find salinity, with a citrus-herbal return and spicy notes.
ROSÉ
SU’ENTU
ISOLA DEI NURAGHI IGT ROSATO NINA 2022
Bovale, with a touch of local white grapes, for a wine that, like the project it originates from, unmistakably tastes of the sea and the wind. The nose carries notes of red currant, fresh thyme, black peppercorns, and lemon zest. It tastes salty, with a fruity-citrus return, spicy notes, and a finish with balsamic nuances.
SPARKLING
MIRABELLA
FRANCIACORTA DOCG BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT EDEA
A convincing Brut made from Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco by the Saiano winery, which has been searching for consistency and quality in an original, courageous project focused on rediscovering the Pinot Bianco in Franciacorta. The nose reveals pineapple, Granny Smith apple, and lemongrass, with hints of barley candy, and it tastes briny, with a fruity-herbal return and persistence.
BISOL 1542
VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE DI CARTIZZE DOCG CARTIZZE DRY
A monument of the style and the Unesco heritage area, here in a refined version of pure Glera, enriched with all the saltiness of the Cartizze area. The nose opens with notes of Abate pear and medlar, then lemon zest, elderflower, and lemongrass. The taste is briny-iodized, with floral-citrus notes and a persistent finish, with herbal touches.
SWEET
LIVIO FELLUGA
COLLI ORIENTALI DEL FRIULI PICOLIT DOCG 2017
All the mastery of the Livio Felluga winery in an equally masterful and emblematic wine, made from late-harvest Picolit, the 'noblest wine of Friuli'. The nose features notes of orange zest, apricot puree, acacia honey, and hints of cinnamon. It drinks dense and compact, with a fruity-spicy return and remarkable persistence.
NATURAL
ANNESANTI
UMBRIA IGT BIANCO ACQUA DELLA SERPA 2021
The quintessential vin de garage by Francesco, an emblematic label and at the same time, a 'memory elixir', born from a legendary mixed-row vineyard, with Grechetto, Malvasia, Pecorino, and mostly Trebbiano, vinified and aged in terracotta amphorae for 10 months. Nectarine, whiffs of eucalyptus, touches of wild mint. It tastes fruity-balsamic, with an exceptionally long finish
