Ca' del Matt Cortese Piemonte

The Tere Caude is a stunner. Only a small quantity was produced using only fruit from a single 70 year old vineyard. The wine is aged in barrique for 12 months has wonderful intensity, depth and length of plummy chocolatey fruit and shows just how good Barbera can be in Asti. (6 x 75 cl)

Fresh and fruity white well-suited to light fish dishes

Very intense, deep ruby red, with the purple reflections typical of young Dolcetto; the bouquet surprises with exceptional elegance and ideal interplay of Nebbiolo and Dolcetto : a chorus where Nebbiolo gives the peak performance and Dolcetto the background. Spicy and/or vinous notes characteristic of the two varieties, mellowed by aging. Very rich but non-aggressive, an all-around food wine for special occasions and complex, structured dishes. Blends famously include some of the world's most prestigious wines: our Bricco may well be the most historic and authentically Italian interpretation. Serve at 17/19º C., in an ample glass. Bricco del Drago was first released in 1969 and was the first ''Super Vino da Tavola'' in the Piedmont, possibly the first in Italy. Thanks to this long-standing reputation, Bricco del Drago may soon be recognized as an individual, specific DOC, ''Bricco del Drago''. Since 1995 vintage it is a Langhe Rosso DOC. The reason behind this wine is the incredible complexity and structure with which this soil endows Dolcetto, rendering it far from the forward wine it usually is. This particular Dolcetto, with the addition of a small percentage of Nebbiolo bestowing greater finesse and elegance, and after a judiciously timed sojourn in wood, is a complex, pleasing wine of superb breed and extraordinary longevity. Beacause of these distinguishing traits, Dr. Degiacomi, who created the wine, wisely choose to employ cru name rather than varietal name to identify it. IN THE VINEYARD Varieties : 85% Dolcetto (6 x 75 cl)

The Araldica group of companies is a major force in wine growing, production and distribution based in the Piemonte region of northwest Italy. The Araldica cooperative now comprises 300 members who tend to around 900 hectares of vines. As well as traditional and native varietals such as Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Cortese, Arneis and Moscato they also grow the less common Brachetto and Freisa alongside more cosmopolitan, renowned grapes as Merlot, Cabernet and Chardonnay. This wine comes from the Monferrato hills in the south of the province of Asti, Piemonte. The Limestone and clay soil vineyard has a South West aspect at altitudes between 250 and 400m. This wine is a pale colour with green hints and an aroma of grapefruit and minerals. The palate is light-bodied, while this cortese is fresh, crisp showing citrus flavours and vitalising acidity. (12 x 75 cl)

Fresh, primary fruit aromas of ripe grapefruit with citrus notes; zingy, juicy and crisp with lemon flavours and mineral touches, it finishes with gently zesty acidity. Araldica successfully combine a well-run, productive co-operative, at the same time offering that small, family run company feeling. They now have 300 members tending to 900 hectares of vineyards. Their Asti production, Araldica and Alasia range are produced at the companies headquarters at Castelvero, home of the old cellars and a new winery, operating since September 2000. This facility is complimented by the winery and cellars on the hill at Il Cacsinone, restored to its former glory in 2004. Most of the grapes for the Poderi Alasia range come from the surrounding superbly-sited, steep-sloping vineyards. Araldica's Managing Director, eonologist Claudio Manera, is adamant that investment in the vineyards, as much as in other areas of the business, is vital to maintain the quality of the product. He believes that effective management can preserve that most important concern for the customer (12 x 75 cl)

Costers del Segre is a lesser-known wine-producing area in the provinces of Lerida and Tarragona and this wine is a blend of Tempranillo Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. After 10 months in American oak the wine has a deep red colour and intense blackcurrant fruit nose. The palate is showing some vanilla oak along with rich, black fruit and hints of spice on the finish. (12 x 75 cl)

Castell del Remei ODA Blanc Costers del Segre DO from Spain, Catalonia, Costers del Segre by Castell del Remei (6 x 75 cl)

Castell del Remei BLANC PLANEL Costers del Segre DO from Spain, Catalonia, Costers del Segre by Castell del Remei (6 x 75 cl)

Costers del Segre is a lesser-known wine-producing area in the provinces of Lerida and Tarragona and this wine is a blend of Tempranillo Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. After 10 months in American oak the wine has a dark cherry in hue. A lively, vigorous, aromatic red with vivid red cherry fruit and attractive, spicy and slightly resinous overtones, it is well balanced and smooth -a reflection of its high proportion of Tempranillo-,while the high acidity gives way to a satisfying, lingeringly peppery finish. (6 x 75 cl)