Highlights from our recent trip to Vinitaly The worlds biggest tasting held in Verona every year

White wine

Bianco Critone IGT, Librandi, CALABRIA, ITALY (13%abv) £24.50 Gewurztraminer Alto Adige DOC, Colterenzio, TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE, ITALY (13.5%abv) £29.95 Soave Edition, Bertani, VENETO, ITALY (12.5%abv) £31.95 red wine san Lorenzo, Rosso Conero, Umani Ronchi, MARCHE, ITALY (13.5%abv) £24.50 Papale Oro Primitivo di Manduria, Varvaglione, PUGLIA, ITALY (14%abv) £33.50 Cabernet Sauvignon “Philip”, Toscana Rosso, Mazzei, TUSCANY, ITALY (14%abv) £55.00

Wines by the glass

Sparkling

Prosecco Brut Quartese DOC (VSQPRD), Ruggeri 2 125ML £4.65 VENETO, ITALY (11%ABV)

White wine

Arpeggio Catarratto, Settesoli 1 175ML £3.50 SICILY, ITALY (12.5%ABV)

Chardonnay Unoaked, Mandrarossa 2 175ML £4.55 SICILY, ITALY (13.5%ABV)

Pinot Grigio Puiattino, Giovanni Puiatti 2 175ML £4.70 FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, ITALY (12.5%ABV)

Sauvignon Blanc, Urra di Mare IGT, Mandrarossa 1 175ML £5.85 SICILY, ITALY (12.5%ABV)

Red wine

Arpeggio Nerello Mascalese, Settesoli c 175ML £3.50 SICILY, ITALY (12.5%ABV)

Merlot, MandraRossa b 175ML £4.55 SICILY, ITALY (13.5%ABV)

Plumbago, Planeta d 175ML £5.75 SICILY, ITALY (13.5%ABV)

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Ser Lapo, Fonterutoli d 175ML £6.85 TUSCANY, ITALY (13.5%ABV)

Rosé wine

BertaRose Chiaretto IGT, Bertani 2 175ML £4.55 VENETO, ITALY (12.5%ABV) dessert wine

Passito di Noto, Planeta 5 50ML £4.45 SICILY, ITALY (11.5%ABV)

Taste guide dry 1 — 5 sweetest light bodied a — e full bodied White wines by the bottle 1. Catarratto Arpeggio, Settesoli £13.75 SICILY, ITALY (12.5%ABV) Catarratto • Lightly aromatic and floral with delicate flavours of white blossom and peaches, balanced by refreshing acidity. 1

2. Malvasia delle Venezie Villa Mura, Sartori £14.70 VENETO, ITALY (12%ABV) Malvasia • It is a white wine with elegant and slightly aromatic character with scents of candy fruits. 2 3. Verdicchio Classico, Villa Bianchi, Umani Ronchi £15.75 MARCHE, ITALY (12%ABV) Verdicchio, Trebbiano Toscano • A fine and intense bouquet with fruity and floral aromas. The palate has pleasant, vibrant and fresh notes and a typically almond aftertaste. 1

4. Frascati Premium Crio 10, San Marco £17.65 LAZIO, ITALY (13%ABV) Malvasia, Trebbiano • Grapey fruity notes on the nose and a smooth, medium- bodied palate with a slight almond twist on the finish. 1

5. di Sardegna, Villa Solais, Santadi £18.75 SARDINIA, ITALY (13.5%ABV) Vermentino, Nuragus • Sardinia’s best known white, this golden coloured, dry wine is herbal and aromatic, displaying light almond flavours and a fresh, well balanced finish. 2

6. Pinot Grigio Puiattino, Giovanni Puiatti £18.85 FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, ITALY (12.5%ABV) Pinot Grigio • Fresh and steely with a touch of honeyed richness, making it a wonderful aperitif. 2 7. Unoaked, Mandrarossa £18.80 SICILY, ITALY (13.5%ABV) Chardonnay • Rich, ripe, green apple aromas, with a soft and fruity palate leading to a long, rounded finish. 2 8. Soave DOC Sereole, Bertani £19.95 VENETO, ITALY (13%ABV) Garganega • Sweet floral scents of elder trees and pear trees followed by apricots, pineapple and melon. The mouth is deep, mellow and very harmonious. 1

9. Gavi di Gavi, Ascheri £24.50 PIEMONTE, ITALY (13%ABV) Cortese • The fragrant fresh nose displays notes of a floral, green fruit character. The palate is fresh and delicate approach. 2

10. Sauvignon Blanc, Urra di Mare IGT, Mandrarossa £24.95 SICILY, ITALY (12.5%ABV) Sauvignon Blanc • A flowery bouquet with notes of peach and passion fruit with spices: balanced on the palate, fresh and aromatic. 1

11. Alastro, Planeta £26.95 SICILY, ITALY (12.5%ABV) Grecanico • Bright straw yellow with hints of green. Peachy nose, with hints of vanilla, jasmine and green tea. 2 12. Lugana ‘Le Creete’, Ottella £28.95 LOMBARDIA, ITALY (13%ABV) trebbiano di Lugana • This wine offers considerable body and beautiful mineral characteristics with a crisp and long, dry finish. 1

Taste guide dry 1 — 5 sweetest light bodied a — e full bodied red wines by the bottle 13. Nerello Mascalese, Arpeggio Settesoli £13.75 SICILY, ITALY (12.5%ABV) Nerello Mascalese • Medium bodied red with ripe fruit character, soft well-rounded tannins and a concentrated finish. c

14. Marzemino delle Venezie Villa Mura, Sartori £14.70 VENETO, ITALY (12%ABV) Marzemino • Bright red in colour with an intense bouquet reminiscent of violets and strawberry, it is smooth and mellow on the palate. c

15. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Organic, Colline Teramane, Montipagano £17.95 ABRUZZO, ITALY (13%ABV) Montepulciano • Ruby red in colour with with purple hues. The wine shows an intense bouquet of fresh red fruit and strawberries; on the palate it is a medium bodied wine, with an intense lingering finish. d

16. Primitivo del Salento, Francesco Candido £18.95 PUGLIA, ITALY (14%ABV) Primitivo • Medium bodied and packed with jammy, baked red and black fruit flavours, soft, well integrated structure and a rounded, dry finish. c

17. Cabernet Sauvignon £18.95 VENETO, ITALY (12%ABV) Cabernet Sauvignon • Displays a lovely clean and leafy blackcurranty nose. The palate is medium bodied, soft and juicy with those blackcurrants again and has a crunchy, clean finish. c

18. Merlot, MandraRossa £18.80 SICILY, ITALY (13.5%ABV) Merlot • A soft but structured wine with lively raspberry and stone- fruit flavours balanced by clean acidity and supple tannins. b

19. Valpolicella Classico Novare, Bertani £21.25 VENETO, ITALY (12.5%ABV) Corvina Veronese, Rondinella • Dry and well rounded with flavours of red berries and an appealing hint of almond in the finish. b

20. Plumbago, Planeta £24.95 SICILY, ITALY (13.5%ABV) Nero D'Avola • Abundance of red fruits like plum aromas, ripe blackberry typical of western Sicily Nero d’Avola blended with scents of cocoa, and almost Sacher cake. Soft tannins and roundness characterize the wine. d

21. Inferno, Mazer Valtellina Superiore, Nino Negri £26.95 LOMBARDIA, ITALY (13.5%ABV) nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) • Dry, savoury, tannic flavour with an elegant, lingering aftertaste of toasted hazelnuts.. c

22. Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Ser Lapo, Fonterutoli £28.95 TUSCANY, ITALY (13.5%ABV) Sangiovese • Textbook Chianti Classico, with bitter Morello cherry notes, nicely taut structure and food friendly finish. d

23. Barbera d’Alba DOC Raimonda, Fontanafredda £25.50 PIEMONTE, ITALY (13.5%ABV) Barbera • A subtle nose of red berry fruit. Soft and elegant on the palate with fine ripe tannin and a complex finish. c

Taste guide dry 1 — 5 sweetest light bodied a — e full bodied red wines by the bottle 24. Valpolicella Ripasso ‘CLASSICO SUPERIORE’ , Bertani £28.45 VENETO, ITALY (13.5%ABV) Corvina, Rondinella • Intense notes of black currant red plums, raspberry, black cherry and spice. Good fresh attack on the palate followed by good balance between acidity, sweetness and body. d

25. Carignano del Sulcis Riserva, Rocca Rubia, Santadi £33.95 SARDINIA, ITALY (14%ABV) carignan • Rich, ripe nose, almost perfumed wine with a delicious creamy character on the palate and bags of soft ripe blackcurrant fruit. The acidity is all there, balanced against soft, full tannins and there is great structure and mouthfeel. Succulent, round and complex. D

26. Pinot Nero, Red Angel IGT, Vinnaioli Jermann £38.95 FRIULI, ITALY (13%ABV) pinot nero • Elegant, round and velvety Pinot Noir with cherry undertones filling out the medium bodied, succulent palate. b

27. Santa Cecilia, Planeta £41.95 SICILY, ITALY (14%ABV) Nero D’Avola • An intense nose of spice, chocolate and plums. On the palate the wine is well balanced with ripe, spicy fruit and a savoury character. The finish is long and elegant. c

28. Barolo DOCG Pisapola, Ascheri £46.95 PIEMONTE, ITALY (14%ABV) Nebbiolo • Full bodied, soft and velvety with an intense bouquet, reminiscent of violets and ripe fruit. d 29. Amarone della Valpolicella, Le Vigne £46.95 VENETO, ITALY (14.5%ABV) Corvina, Molinara, Rondinella • Aromas of morello cherries with layers of oak and spice. Rich and powerful with strong tannins and considerable texture and complexity. e

30. Brunello di Montalcino, Fattoria dei Barbi £65.00 TUSCANY, ITALY (14%ABV) Sangiovese • Powerfully structured, this is an austere, warm, amply flavoured and complex wine with a deep ruby to brick-red colour. e

Taste guide dry 1 — 5 sweetest light bodied a — e full bodied Rosé Wines by the bottle 31. BertaRose Chiaretto IGT, Bertani £19.95 VENETO, ITALY (12%ABV) Merlot, Molinara • Fresh on the nose with cherry and almond blossom, a hint of dog rose and notes of red fruits. In the mouth it has a tight attack and good weight which is kept lively with savoury structure and lifted acidity. Good length. 2

Dessert Wines by the bottle 32. Passito di Noto, Planeta £31.75 SICILY, ITALY (11.5%ABV) 50ML £4.45 Moscato • Medium bodied, sweet and sensuous with fine flavours of ripe apricot, honey and melon with good balancing acidity and a crisp, mouthfilling finish. 5

33. Vin Santo DOC, Barbi £23.25 TUSCANY, ITALY (16%ABV) Malvasia, Sangiovese, Trebbiano • The perfume is intensely aromatic with hints of raisins and nuts; on the palate it is round and very persistent. 4

34. Moscato d’asti “Moncucco”, Fontanafredda £17.25 PIEMONTE, ITALY (5.5%ABV) Moscato • Aromatic nose of white petals, ripe peaches and lightly spiced pears. Medium bodied with honeyed richness, fruit flavours and a cleansing acidity. 4

Taste guide dry 1 — 5 sweetest light bodied a — e full bodied Sparkling Wines • Metodo Tradizione by the bottle 35. Maximum Brut, Ferrari NV £42.95 ALTO ADIGE, ITALY (12.5%ABV) Chardonnay • Notes of ripe fruit accompanied by hints of crusty bread, hazelnuts and variegated floral aromas.Dry, elegant and well-balanced. 1

36. Brut Premier, Louis Roederer NV £60.00 CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE (12%ABV) Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir • Pale gold, with fine bubbles, hawthorn blossom, toast and almonds on the nose. Great attack, with a creamy body which marries youthful and developed components in a balanced, complex whole. 2

37. Cristal Champagne, Louis Roederer 2005 £310.00 CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE (12%ABV) Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir • Cristal bursts from the glass with fresh hazelnut and apple scents. Elegant, deep, and silky-textured, this medium to full-bodied beauty is immensely concentrated, pure, packed with apple flavours, and astoundingly long in the finish. 1

Sparkling Wines by the glass by the bottle 38. Asti DOCG, Fontanafredda NV £19.95 PIEMONTE, ITALY (7%ABV) Moscato • An aromatic, with notes of musk, sage and honey on the nose and a taste of just picked grapes. 5

39. Lambrusco di Sorbara (RosÉ), Vecchia Modena, Cleto Chiarli £25.95 EMILIA, ITALY (11%ABV) lambrusco, pinot noir •Dry red wine with perfume of strawberries and wild berries.Fresh and elegant with a great lingering fruity character. 2

40. Prosecco Brut Quartese DOC, Ruggeri NV 125ML £4.65 £26.45 VENETO, ITALY (11%ABV) Prosecco, Perera, Verdiso • Streaked with minute bubbles followed by an appley bouquet on a floral background and a pleasantly fruity finish. 2

Taste guide dry 1 — 5 sweetest light bodied a — e full bodied