Allegrini LA GROLA IGT Veneto

This is a very good wine at this price, made using Valpolicella grapes grown on one of the best, south-east facing slopes in the Classico district, but bearing no resemblance to the light, juicy red stuff usually associated with that wine name. Full-bodied and spicy, La Grola is well worth laying down for five years or more, especially in this magnum format, to reap the full reward of its opulent fruit. (6 x 1.5 Litres)

The La Poja is a full-bodied, intense and elegant red wine made from one of the most prestigious vineyards in Valpolicella Classico. Made solely from Corvina, it has tremendous elegance, with fruit, tannin and acidity all perfectly integrated, with the great length characteristic of a really high quality wine. The Allegrini family estate encompasses 70 hectares of vineyard situated in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The Allegrini family has been growing grapes in Valpolicella for several generations and the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. Franco, Giovanni’s son, now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker. (6 x 75 cl)

The La Poja is a full-bodied, intense and elegant red wine made from one of the most prestigious vineyards in Valpolicella Classico. Made solely from Corvina, it has tremendous elegance, with fruit, tannin and acidity all perfectly integrated, with the great length characteristic of a really high quality wine. The Allegrini family estate encompasses 70 hectares of vineyard situated in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The Allegrini family has been growing grapes in Valpolicella for several generations and the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. Franco, Giovanni's son, now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker. Available in 1.5 Litre Magnum bottles. (6 x 1.5 Litres)

Made solely from late harvested Corvina grapes grown on the remarkable plateau that sits on the summit of La Grola, has wonderful intensity, personality, balance and persistence. It is one of Italy's most outstanding wines. Available in 1.5 Litre Magnum Bottle. The Allegrini family estate encompasses 70 hectares of vineyard situated in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The Allegrini family has been growing grapes in Valpolicella for several generations and the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. Franco, Giovanni's son, now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker. Available in 3 Litre Jeroboam bottle. (1 x 3 Litres)

Made solely from late harvested Corvina grapes grown on the remarkable plateau that sits on the summit of La Grola, has wonderful intensity, personality, balance and persistence. It is one of Italy's most outstanding wines. The Allegrini family estate encompasses 70 hectares of vineyard situated in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The Allegrini family has been growing grapes in Valpolicella for several generations and the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. Franco, Giovanni’s son, now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker. Available in 1.5 Litre Magnum Bottle. (6 x 1.5 Litres)

This wine, made from grapes dried for about a month longer than those for Amarone, is one of Allegrini's flagship wines. The Giovanni Allegrini Recioto Classico is ruby red in colour, with aromas of dried cherries and a touch of spice. On the palate the wine is sweet with good intensity of dark, fruit cake flavours and has a remarkable power. It has excellent length, with notes of spiced, dried cherries on the finish. The Allegrini family estate encompasses 70 hectares of vineyard situated in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The Allegrini family has been growing grapes in Valpolicella for several generations and the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. Franco, Giovanni’s son, now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker. (6 x 50 cl)

A blend of 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese, the Palazzo della Torre is a full-bodied, supple wine, made in an innovative ripasso style. The young wine is refermented with just-crushed dried grapes, rather than the leeched skins of Amarone, as was traditional. The dried grape character makes it a baby Amarone in style. Palazzo della Torre, a single vineyard wine, fled the safety of DOC to become IGT from the 1997 vintage. The Allegrinis were fed up with the failure of the law to catch up with the quality demands of the modern consumer. They had long ceased putting Molinara in the blend, yet the law had failed to change. Similarly, they had increased the level of Corvina beyond the permitted maximum in search of better depth in the wine. The quality of all the wines Allegrini produce from their 70 hectares of vineyard is impeccable. They have fruit, balance, intensity, length, elegance, tipicity and, above all, drinkability. In short, they are among the elite of the world’s best producers of red wines. (6 x 75 cl)

The Palazzo della Torre is the more muscular and supple Valpolicella. (6 x 1.5 Litres)

The quality of this Valpolicella Classico shows just how rare producers like Allegrini are, as to produce this sort of quality consistently and at such a reasonable price is a remarkable feat. Made primarily from Corvina and Rondinella, the wine has superb colour, an attractive perfume of black cherries and a liveliness of fruit that is seldom evident in these wines. This is easily the best Valpolicella that Franco Allegrini has made in several years, thanks in part to the quality of fruit obtained in this vintage, but also to an intentional move back on Franco’s part to a wine with a bit more acidity on the finish, something that gives it a freshness and aromatic lift. (12 x 37.5 cl)