Italian Red Wines
The complexity of Italy is remarkable: so many different grapes, most autochthonous (i.e. native to Italy) and many only grown regionally.
The two key quality red grapes are: Sangiovese, grown all over Tuscany and beyond, and best known for Chianti, and reds made at Montepulciano and Montalcino; and Nebbiolo, the top red of Piedmont, best known for the wines of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Beyond that there are splendid red grapes which can thrive in southern Italy’s heat, from Nero d’Avola and Negroamaro to Aglianico and Primitivo; and the lighter reds of Italy’s north, from Dolcetto to the west; and east of Milan Corvina and Rondinella, the grapes for Valpolicella and Amarone.
The success in the 1970s of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grown on the Tuscan coast at Bolgheri persuaded many in Tuscany and further afield to plant these varieties, plus Syrah; but more recently growers seem to be pulling back from producing these so-called "Super Tuscans".
Italian wine production is marked by two strong and mutually supportive initiatives: the Slow Food movement, which started in Italy, and which celebrates small-scale, artisanal cellars; and a widespread adoption of organic cultivation. Several of our growers, including Di Filippo, Il Palagione and Fiorano farm organically.
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I Fabbri, Chianti Classico, Terra di Lamole, 2021
Medium bodied
90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, about half in cement and half in French oak. Light and soft hue....
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeIFA221
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Save £15.62
100% Sangiovese grown on sandstone and clay, given two years in oak; about a third in French...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV14.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeTAK221
GrapeSangiovese & Merlot
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Save £9.02
Talosa, Chianti Colli Senesi, 2024
Medium bodied
This wine comes in part from the younger vines in Montepulciano vineyards near the hill town;...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV13%
Bottle75cl
CodeTAK324
GrapeSangiovese
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Save £53.40
The previous 2022 vintage was scored at 17/20 and described as “baby Brunello” by Jancis...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeCDL123
GrapeSangiovese
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Save £19.80
Le Lupinaie, Morellino di Scansano, 2022
Medium-Bodied
It's not just English people who long to live on a farm in Tuscany - in 1991 Aldo...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeLUP122
GrapeSangiovese
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I Fabbri, Chianti Classico Riserva, 2021
Medium Bodied
100% old vine Sangiovese Grosso: a selection from the first-picked grapes given a year in 500l....
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeIFA321
GrapeSangiovese
I Fabbri, Chianti Classico, Lamole, 2022
Medium Bodied
"From the high-elevation vineyards of Lamole. 100% Sangiovese from some of Susanna...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV13.5%
Bottle75cl
CodeIFA122
GrapeSangiovese
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Save £156.00
2019 was another stellar vintage in Montalcino and “produced wines with amazing balance,...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeCDL419
GrapeSangiovese
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Save £96.00
The 2021 Brunello vintage has recently been released to critical acclaim with Eric Guido of...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeCDL321
GrapeSangiovese
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Save £55.80
Col di Lamo, Brunello di Montalcino, 2019
Full Bodied
From two organically farmed plots on sandstone and clay, with some of the alberese, the...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeCDL319
GrapeSangiovese
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Save £10.50
Talosa, Rosso di Montepulciano, 2022
Medium Bodied
85% Sangiovese, with 15% shared between Merlot and Canaiolo, given eight months in old...
OriginItaly
RegionTuscany
ColourRed
ABV14%
Bottle75cl
CodeTAK122
GrapeSangiovese, Merlot & Canaiolo
