Meeting 2: 1st November
Wines of Italy: The Definition Series
Soave Classico DOC 14.5%
Italy’s most famous still white wine hails from the northeast of Italy, where hilly landscapes and volcanic-limestone soils create ideal conditions for the local Garganega grape to thrive. The ‘Classico’ label on this bottle means it’s been made from a small traditional vineyard zone within the Soave DOC, where wines have the great complexity and character. Crafted by family-run Guerrieri Rizzardi – a sustainably minded producer that uses solar panels and gravity-led systems to save energy – it is lively and refreshing. Expect notes of white flowers, lime, green apple, herbs and flinty minerality. A very versatile pour with everything from light salads to creamy pasta dishes.
The soils are cool & with the altitude, slows ripening so the grapes are fully ripe but with high acidity. Classico means grapes come from the foothills in the north of the region. DOC is
Garganega grape, fresh & elegant in style.
From the Veneto region.
£14.99
Gavi di Gavi DOCG 12.5%
Known for its crisp, fresh and pure profile, Gavi di Gavi is one of Italy’s most celebrated white wines – so we had to include one in our Definition range. Araldica, the forward-thinking cooperative that crafts it, was brought together by the village priest in 1954. Today they work to strict sustainability standards, both in their own vineyards and those of partner growers. Araldica produce this white in the pretty La Battistina winery – set between Novi Ligure and the town of Gavi – keeping the wine in tank until bottling to maintain freshness. With clean apple and pear aromas and a citrussy, herbaceous flavour profile, it’s a great pick for seafood, shellfish or pasta with pesto.
Vines are grown in the foothills where altitude & sea breeze give long, slow ripening so high acidity & floral character. ‘Gavi di Gavi’ means Gavi wine from the town of Gavi itself rather than the slightly wider region & DOCG means they have to be bottled in the area of production & subject to rules around how they are produced & grape varieties and also subject to a Ministry of Agriculture tasting.
Cortese grape, fresh & elegant style.
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 13.5% (collaboration with Tenute Piccini) £14.99
The Definition range brings the world’s greatest wine styles to Majestic customers. Amid the rolling hills of Chianti Classico in Tuscany, Angiolo Piccini founded his small winery in 1882. More than a century later Piccini Wines have grown substantially and carved out a prestigious place in the Italian vinous scene. Their first-class Chianti Classico Riserva was a natural addition to our Definition collection – it shows off all that’s great about the typical Tuscan red wine. An intense ruby hue opens to elegant expressions of blackberry and raspberry fruit in both aroma and flavour. Ripe and balanced, with a velvety tannic structure and a blend of savoury and spicy notes, it’s an ideal match for grilled or roasted meats.
Chianti region is in foothills of Apennines. The vineyards for Chianti Classico DOCG are at higher altitudes that Chianti DOCG which slows ripening giving more acidity & herbal aromas. Most Classicos are aged for 12 months but this Riserva must have 24 months ageing.
This Chianti Classico has mainly Sangiovese but with some Cabernet Sauvignon.
£14.99
Valpolicella Ripasso 13.5% (collaboration with Tommasi) £16.99
Equal parts fruity and complex, Valpolicella Ripasso is an eternal Italian favourite that has been made by pouring freshly crushed grape must over dried grape skins used in another wine (Amarone della Valpolicella). The grape skins give more colour, tannin and flavour to the resulting wine. Experts in the style Tommasi Viticoltori have been making wines this way for decades, so we turned to them to craft our Definition bottling. Four generations after Giacomo Tommasi founded the brand, current winemaker Giancarlo Tommasi has created this sensational Valpolicella Ripasso with distinct cherry and plum character (stewed?). Full-bodied, well-balanced and with soft tannins, the savoury wine is an excellent pick for white and red meats or mature cheeses.
Grape variety: Corvina (thin skinned, native to the region, moderate in colour and high acidity).
Veneto: North East, region runs from Lake Garda to Venice, warm, moderate rainfall,
Ripe & Fruity
£16.99
Barolo DOCG 14.5% (collaboration with Roberto Sarotto) £24.99
Barolo is one of Italy’s most iconic wines. To some, it is the very best. To capture the very best elements of it, we went to a family-run company who are considered local pioneers in the region. They didn’t take the task lightly. This is aged for at least 24 months (some time in oak bringing vanilla) before release. As a result, it’s intense and wonderfully aromatic, with notes of red fruits and creamy oak and silk-smooth tannins. Try it with game birds or a roast dinner.
Nebbiolo grape but only a DOCG is 100% Nebbiolo (and also has 3 years aging). The better quality DOCG also have the villages name if all the grapes come from that one village so this bottle is likely made from grapes sourced from different villages. The long, slow ripening of this black grape which has high levels of acidity & tannin but not much colour leads to perfumed aromas of sour cherries, & herbs.
Savoury & full bodied, strawberries, coconut, vanilla
Piedmont region
£24.99
