Grola

La Grola, a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Syrah and Sangiovese, shows the continuing progress that Allegrini has made since the 1997 vintage. It is elegant and velvety, now displaying many more layers of flavour and complexity than in the earlier vintages. This is a sure sign that the La Grola vineyard, after almost 20 years, is now producing the quality of fruit that make it one of Valpolicella's most fabled crus. La Grola, 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 wines. (6 x 75 cl)

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)

Grola from Italy by Allegrini Fine Wine (12 x 75cl)

Giovanni Allegrini Recioto Classico is a blend of 75% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. It has good depth of ruby red colour, with perfumes of dried cherries and a touch of spice from the oak ageing. On the palate the wine is sweet, but crucially not cloying, with good intensity of dark, almost fruit cake flavours and remarkable power. The wine has excellent length, with perfumes of spiced, dried cherries on the finish. The southeast facing vineyards are situated in the hills of the Valpolicella Classico region and are 240m above sea level where the soils are mostly calcareous and cretaceous. The average age of the vines is 26 years old. The grapes were hand-harvested and then dried naturally for 5 months at the ‘Terre di Fumane’ drying centre that was conceived and built by Franco Allegrini. During the drying period, 50% of the original weight of the grapes was lost. The Allegrini family estate encompasses 70 hectares of vineyard situated in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The Allegrini family have been growing grapes in Valpolicella for several generations, though the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. When he died in 1983, the estate passed to his three children who ran it together until Walter’s death in July 2003. Franco now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker, and Marilisa is director of marketing. (6 x 50 cl)

Allegrini’s Valpolicella has superb colour that gives way to a fresh black cherry character on the nose and a depth of fruit on the palate that belies its modest price tag. For years we have been trying to convince Franco Allegrini to bottle his wine under stelvin in order to preserve the purity and vibrancy of the fruit. However, this has not been possible due to the law in Valpolicella Classico. This year, Allegrini has had enough of waiting and has decided to take the plunge and declassify the wine to Valpolicella. As a result Allegrini Valpolicella will be sealed under screwcap. This is a brave move by Allegrini, but is made in the face of official ignorance and intransigence. We hope their bravery, and the success that will follow, will give others the courage to continue to push for changes in the law. (6 x 75 cl)

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)

This wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Syrah, has a deep colour, a ripe berryish fruit on the nose, good richness on the mid palate and soft tannins. The wine is aged in new French oak for 18 months prior to bottling. The structure of the Cabernet is softened by the Merlot, with the blend of these two being given an attractive spiciness by the Syrah. (6 x 75 cl)

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico represents modern winemaking at its best and embodies Franco Allegrini’s long-expressed goal of combining purity with balance and the traditional power and intensity of Amarone. The wine is a wonderful fusion of concentrated dried cherry fruit and fine, spicy, toasty oak. It has great structure, complexity and elegance yet remains intense and powerful through to the end, with a hint of spiced sour cherries on the finish. Grapes for the Amarone are hand harvested during the second half of September and are allowed to dry naturally for about 100 days at ‘Terre di Fumane’, a state of the art drying centre where both temperature and humidity are controlled. By drying the grapes under these conditions, the development of botrytis is avoided, and the integrity of the fruit is preserved. During the drying period the grapes lose 45% of their original weight. Allegrini’s modern approach ensures that the volatility which often characterises lesser Amarone is never found in his. 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. The price of grapes for Amarone has shot up dramatically in the past few years due to demand far outstripping supply. As a result, we're now beginning to see these grape prices being reflected by higher prices for Amarone. We feel though that Allegrini’s Amarone still remains excellent value for a truly world class wine. (6 x 75 cl)

Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico represents modern winemaking at its best and embodies Franco Allegrini’s long-expressed goal of combining purity with balance and the traditional power and intensity of Amarone. The wine is a wonderful fusion of concentrated dried cherry fruit and fine, spicy, toasty oak. It has great structure, complexity and elegance yet remains intense and powerful through to the end, with a hint of spiced sour cherries on the finish. Grapes for the Amarone are hand harvested during the second half of September and are allowed to dry naturally for about 100 days at ‘Terre di Fumane’, a state of the art drying centre where both temperature and humidity are controlled. By drying the grapes under these conditions, the development of botrytis is avoided, and the integrity of the fruit is preserved. During the drying period the grapes lose 45% of their original weight. Allegrini’s modern approach ensures that the volatility which often characterises lesser Amarone is never found in his. 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. The price of grapes for Amarone has shot up dramatically in the past few years due to demand far outstripping supply. As a result, we're now beginning to see these grape prices being reflected by higher prices for Amarone. We feel though that Allegrini’s Amarone still remains excellent value for a truly world class wine. (12 x 37.5 cl)