Once again Phil and Joanie outdid themselves! The Italian themed evening had an interactive do-it-yourself pizza-making component which yielded some fantastic results. Here’s what we drank while nibbling on each others’ creations:
1.Canella Prosecco NV Piedmont
Prosecco from northeast Italy with the combination of green apples, lemon rind and a hint of nectarine and crisp, refreshing dryness
2.Umani Ronchi Villa Bianchi Verdicchio 2008 Marches
Light citrus and apple aromatics alongside some nuts. The palate is lively and fresh and without food is a nice vibrant summer drink. Throw in some seafood and this wine really comes alive with more fruit and a good phenolic cleansing quality to finish.
3.Bollini Pinot Grigio 2008 Trentino
Intense varietal aromas, with an especially fragrant, perfumed bouquet, elegant, delicately focused white fruit flavors and a slightly flinty quality on the palate. The texture is crisp and clean in the mouth, with superb acid balance and a subtle nuttiness on the finish. The fresh, refined style is ideal for frequent, casual consumption.
4.Corte Giara Pinot Grigio 2008 Veneto
Bright straw yellow in colour. The bouquet expresses green notes of the vine, sweetened by acacia flowers. The taste is dry and fresh, franc and decisive, harmonious. Elegant and persistent, it leaves the palate with a wide, full taste.
5.Pieropan Soave 2008 Veneto
Delicate aromas of pear and apple are matched on the palate along with typical mid-palate texture and weight before the wine finishes with a nice almond bitter twist. It’s the perfect accompaniment to seafood.
6.Braccesca Rosso De Montipulciano Sabazio 2008 Toscana
Made from 85% Prugnolo Gentile and 15% Merlot with other varietals, and given 4 months in oak. Lightish ruby-garnet red in colour, this had a light bouquet of soft red fruits with hints of tobacco and earth. The palate was modest in expression, possessing some cherryish flavours, with a slight drying austerity on fine firm tannins.
7.Poggerino Chianti Classico 2007 Toscana
100% Sangiovese. Focused yet so pure and balanced with its dark, black, fruits alongside earthy touches of spice and cedary oak. Gorgeous, round yet fine tannins drive this medium-bodied wine before a long finish with refreshing acidity
8.Monte Antico Toscana IGT 2006 Toscana
The blend is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. Aged for 1 year in oak Bright plum, dried cherry and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and refined berry and cherry flavors.
9.Cantina Santadi ‘Grotta Rossa’ Carignano 2007 Sardinia
The name means ‘red grotto’. The wine is a marvellous entry-level Carignano varietal. The nose is intense and fruity, with a licorice note on the finish. Elegant, silky-textured, round, with good body and earthy, peppery notes.
10.A.Mano Puglia Primitivo 2007
The flavour of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and plums are al carried by a subtle, sweet, toasted oak flavour. The finish is soft and long with graceful tannins.
11.Poderi Colla Barbera d’Alba Costa Brune 2006 Piedmont
This Barbera sees a good lashing of new French oak maturation. In saying that, it doesn’t overwhelm the fruit but rather buttressed the dark plum and cherry flavours with good cedar nuance while tannins add structure.
The What What Wine Club 