Wine with Leslie: Italian wines for a sizzling summer
Pic: iStock
Italy is the world’s largest wine producer these days having taken the crown from France who are now in third place below Spain.
In terms of diversity, however, Italy is miles ahead with a bewildering number of grapes and wine regions to explore.
I adore Italian wines but I know a few people that are less keen, such as Oz Clarke and an MW or two.
Yes, Italy’s wines are sometimes a little less polished but I love the diversity and bitter cherry flavours I so often find - unlike most consumers however I’m less enamoured by high sugar Appassimento wines with 10g of sugar - they are everywhere, beware!
But back to diversity, as I have said before it is rare to go to a large wine tasting and not discover a new Italian region or grape.
At the recent Soif tasting there were a couple of instances thanks to the diverse range of wines available from some of my favourite independent importers.
Namely: Brian’s Wines, Grape Circus, Vinostito, Fruit Seller and Veraison - look to specialist shops like Sheridans, Liath, Loose Canon, Green Man, 64 Wines and MacCurtain Wine Cellar to find their wines.
Probably my favourite wine of the show features below - Balma Bioti from Bramaterra DOC in Piedmont, completely new to me.
There are a few DOC in Piedmont and Lombardy specialising in Nebbiolo (e.g. Ghemme, Gattinara and Valtellina) and I wish importers would bring them in given the price of Barolo.
Bramaterra is in the cool foothills of the Western Alps so producers soften Nebbiolo’s austerity with Croatina, Vespolina and Uvarare (all three are used in the Balma Bioti).
SuperValu have an Italian food and wine sale on right now (finishing on June 12th) so this is a great opportunity to explore some lesser seen varieties and regions.
It was a toss up between featuring this Grillo and the dry raspberry scented Sensuale Rosato also from Sicily (also €10).
The Grillo grape has had a significant revival in recent years and is always worth trying.
This is typical - floral and white peach aromas, textured and fruity with a tang of lemon verbena on the finish. Try with shellfish or light pasta.
I’d love to see more Franciacorta in Ireland (LeCaveau and L’Attitude also have a good one called 1701).
This small region is like a mini Champagne (using the same grapes and methods), and this organic wine is a solid example.
Dried lemon and bread dough aromas, fruity, citrus and elegant on the palate, taut and dry with lingering lime and apple. Bargain.
From a family run estate in cool upper Piedmont, NW of Turin specialising in Nebbiolo.
Dried figs, herbs and red fruit aromas with a touch of ink, lively, elegant and hugely complex with layers and layers of fruit and mineral flavours - half the price of a Barolo of similar quality. Treat yourself.
Bushmills is on a roll these days thanks to the creative dynamo that is Master Blender Alex Thomas (aided and abetted by Master Distiller Colum Egan) - e.g. the Causeway Collection editions.
This 14 year old Single Malt is brand new to the Bushmills’ core range and is finished in (Muscat) Malaga casks.
It fits nicely between the 10 and 16 year olds but is noticeably fruitier. Honey on the nose and attack, tropical fruits and cinnamon notes, lithe, lively and delicious.
