Italy 2.0
Happy sunny Friday Club Members!
Today is the day! The day when after a hectic week, everything starts looking up again. Wonder why? Well, the long-awaited London Decanter Italy tasting is approaching on Saturday (way too excited!) and then a trip to Dublin. A busy day ahead today with lots of planning and packing but I thought to send you a quick email so you can start your weekend with some gorgeous Italian wines, just like we will do.
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Prepping for Italy
This London trip has been planned for ages! Signed up for early release tickets, sorted our train journey and Friend has managed to take the whole weekend off too! Since that upsetting moment when we realised our November Decanter visit would be a no-go ( due to some rather frustrating circumstances that now are suddenly funny), we have been talking about this event every week. And realised, we must have some preparation before we headed to the city.
As always, there were a couple of clear favourites amongst us and I really wanted to share those with you.
Azienda Agricola Il Botolo Le Coccole Vino Spumante Brut Rose
If you never had Spumante before, this should be the one to start with. A big step up from your average Prosecco and a great choice instead of champagne, this one will not disappoint!
Beautiful cherry rose colour in the glass with fine, persistent bubbles. On the nose it’s fresh and lively with floral and fruity notes of cherry, berries and rose. The palate is elegant and balanced with softness, creaminess and perfect harmony. A gorgeous sparkling wine to be enjoyed on all occasions.
Name: Azienda Agricola Il Botolo Le Coccole Vino Spumante Brut Rose
Origin: Piemonte, Italy
Grape: Barbera
ABV: 12%
Notes: Cherry rose colour in the glass, floral and fruity notes, cherry, berries and rose on the nose. The palate is fresh, elegant and well-balanced with great harmony in the glass. Soft and creamy finish
Price: £16.65
Where: York Wines - Le Coccole
Alcesti Zibibbo 2020
A true Mediterranean white made from 100% Zibibbo grapes! A relative to Muscat but with a totally different take.
A striking straw yellow colour in the glass with light green hues. Very welcoming on the nose with zingy citrus aromas and a hint of orange. The palate is fruity, very well rounded and juicy. With notes of lime zest, pink grapefruit and white flowers, it’s fresh and rich with a nice, long finish. A great choice if you are looking for an alternative to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Name: Alcesti Zibibbo 2020
Origin: Sicily
Grape: 100% Zibibbo
ABV: 13%
Notes: Straw yellow colour in the glass, crisp citrus and a hint of orange on the nose. Fruity and juicy on the palate with notes of lime zest, pink grapefruit and white flowers, such as honeysuckle. Rich with a long, mineral finish
Price: £12.05
Where: York Wines - Zibibbo
Two newsletters a week? I think that time is fast approaching. I have so many things I want to share with you and with my weekly letters getting longer by a minute, I think I have to carve some more time out to write to you all!
I have been rather busy in the last few weeks but fear not, it will be all revealed and shared with you shortly. So what’s on the horizon?
-Pruning on your own in a cold and with no entertainment from Friend = very hard work!
-Vineyard talk and workshop by an awesome winemaker and trying some delicious English wines ( yes, I know, but trust me, they were really good )
-Study time began: finally teaching Friend on a weekly basis and prepping him for his exam. Blind tastings, maps, little tests; I think sometimes I am having way more fun than he is, but well, he asked for it!
-1st Lesson: Burgundy, what a way to start!
But until then, Valpolicella, Sangiovese, Franciacorta, here we come, see you all on Saturday!
Next time…
Wines, wines and wines
Have a grape weekend!
The 4pm Club