Italian Red Wine of Stunning Value

01 May 2018

Northern Crunch & Snap...

Way back in the mists of the Bowes Wine timeline we offered an Italian red wine of riveting quality: a wine that offered bags of character and one that went on getting better and better in bottle until my own supply ran out. At that point it was a simply stunning bottle, especially considering its modest ticket.

Yes, Italy can produce big, rich, high-intensity reds from its many diverse vineyards. Yet it can also offer fresh, elegant, lip-smacking wines from its many fascinating grape varieties. And wines of stunning value.

So it is here. This is a blend of Refosco and Schioppettino: denizens of Friuli, that north-eastern region most celebrated for producing some of Italy's most beautiful white wines.

N.B. Refosco is one of a closely-related family of northern Italian red grape varieties that include Teroldego, Lagrein, Marzemino and those Valpolicella stalwarts Corvina and Rondinella, all of which are known to have massive, more-or-less realised potential for producing extremely high-quality wines in a broadly similar style i.e. cool, light- to medium weight wines of excellent freshness.

THE WINE

2014 Sacrisassi Rosso, Le Due Terre - £150 in bond per 6 (Drink 2019-26)

Not overtly scented, but offering delicious aromas of black, lightly biscuity plum fruit. There are notes of dark chocolate and dried herbs to be found here also. The palate is dense and delightfully dry, with cool and sustained grip. And there's a fresh, dense push to the long, long finish. There's mineral cut and thrust at its vastly long ending.

This is a wine of real style and elegance. It is also extremely good to drink.

"Wonderful succulence and length...17.5/20." Walter Speller

Email caspar[at]boweswine.co.uk to order this wine.