Top Blends of Italian Wines

Aldegheri, Le Pietre , Veneto 2004                      

Types of grapes: Corvina, Cabernet and Rondinella.

Geographical position: The vineyards are all situated to the north of Verona in the classic Valpolicella zone and surrounding areas.

Country: Italy.

Characteristics of the vineyards: A fine red wine, produced from hillside vineyards characterized by dry rocky soil, conditions which make the Corvina and Cabernet grapes unique.

Wine-making: After the grapes have been crushed and de-stemmed, the controlled fermentation process starts with maceration for 15 days.

Advices: The complexity of the bouquet, slightly herbaceous with hints of dried juniper, makes the first pleasant impression. Due to the range of its bouquet, this wine is ideal with white or black truffle or red meat roasted, grilled or cooked in sauce. Excellent with hard cheeses which are not too piquant.

CIECK ROSSO Canavese DOC ,  Piemonte  2003                  

 The Cieck Rosso, a medium-bodied red wine, proposes the traditional blending of the typical Canavese red wines. The traditional Canavese red grapes vineyards were rarely mono - varietal. On the contrary, many different varieties were cultivated on a single vineyard. A peculiar varietal mix was selected by the local winemakers over the years with the aim of obtaining a balanced, harmonic wine.                                                                      The harvesting of the different grape varieties of Cieck Rosso wine is almost contemporaneous.
The clusters are destemmed and the grapes are set to macerate. The wine is made according to the traditional method called "a cappello emerso" (submerged cap).
After that, the wine matures in oak barrels for a 12 month period.

Varietal content: 60% Barbera, 15% Nebbiolo, 20% Neretto di San Giorgio, 5% Freisa                           Aroma: Intense, fruity, with a hint of plum and wild berries, fragrant with an intense vanilla aroma and a non-invasive toasted oak tincture                                                                                                                   Taste: Warm, dry, with good acidic structure, good persistence on the tongue, where the sweetness of the wood and the light spicy innuendos are enlivened by the suggestions of caramel and licorice

Farnese Edizione Cinque Autoctoni 2006 Marche                                                                    Grapes: Montepulciano (40%), Sangiovese (20%), Primitivo (25%), Negroamaro (10%), Malvasia Rossa (5%)

This wine shows an intense ruby red color and nuances of ruby red, little transparency. The nose reveals good personality with intense, clean, pleasing, refined and elegant aromas which start with hints of black cherry jam and plum jam followed by aromas of blackberry, cinchona, blueberry, toasted wood, tobacco, licorice, violet, vanilla and hints of nutmeg and menthol. In the mouth has very good correspondence to the nose, a slightly tannic attack and however well balanced by alcohol, full body, intense flavors, good tannins, agreeable. The finish is persistent with good flavors of plum, black cherry and blackberry. A well made wine. Edizione Cinque Autoctoni ages in barrique for 12 months and for 6 months in bottle.

Accordini Passo 2005 Veneto                                         
Corvina  Veronese 60% Rondinella 15% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Merlot 10%             

This wine is the product of a precise grape-producing and wine-making project, whose aim has been the full exploitation of the climate and technical potentialities.
We wanted to keep the structure of Amarone through Corvina Gentile, that gives the wine power and sobriety; a small addition of Cabernet Sauvignon grants the wine persistence, whereas a small percentage of Merlot makes this wine complete in its softness.
The grapes are collected into 15-20 kg. boxes and then left wilting in dry and airy rooms until late November. During this period the grapes start the same process of dehydratation and impollination taking place during the production of Amarone.

Loredan Gasparini  Capo di Stato - Colli Trevigiani, Veneto 2004

Tasting Notes: This Bordeaux blend is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Cabernet Franc (20%), Merlot (10%) and Malbech (5%) and comes from the grapes of the historic vineyard of the farm of Venegazzù (the so-called "Cento piante", with vines that are 50 years old) and partly of the vineyard "Falconera". It is worth mentioning that it was created by Count Loredan Gasparini for the official events of the city of Venice and dedicated to former President of the French Republic Charles De Gaulle. The label portraying a youth was created in 1967 by the artist Tono Zancanaro to express his admiration for the wine.                                 Profile: The Capo di Stato is the pride of the Azienda Agricola Conte Loredan Gasparini in the province of Treviso. The 80-hectar vineyard lies in Venegazzù di Volpago del Montello, at the foot of the hills bearing the same name, at the heart of the Marca Trevigiana. The area has a clayey soil very rich in iron and mineral components . The farm was founded in the 1950's by Count Piero Loredan, a direct heir of the Doge of Venice Leonardo Loredan (who chose the territory of "Vignigazzu" to take up residence in a gorgeous Palladian Villa). In 1973 the farm became property of its present owner and director Mr Giancarlo Palla. Since the beginning the founder decided to grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbech in the farm to produce high quality wines. His philosophy was (and still is at the basis of the company's activity) the respect for and the enhancement of the tie between the vine variety and territory