Castello Di Tassarolo VIGNETO ALBORINA Gavi DOCG

Tasting Notes Straw coloured with a slight greenish tinge. A complex and intense nose with a bouquet of almonds. The gentle touch of oak gives the wine a greater roundness and elegance and contributes to an ageing profile that lasts for 5 years. Maturation and Vinification All grapes are hand picked and lightly pressed. They are vinified under temperature and sterile controls. 10% of the wine is aged briefly in barrique bringing a new dimension to the indigenous Cortese grape. The Castello Di Tassarolo estate is owned by the Spinolas who are one of Europe's oldest families, their origins dating back to the 900s. The castle was built in the 12th century and was once its own State, boasting a mint and its own economy, which even then was dominated by viticulture. Situated in the valley between Novi and Gavi, the castle was the symbol of the Spinola family's influence over an area extending from Piedmont to Liguria. Today the estate comprises 54 acres the majority of which is given to the production of Gavi. The Tassarolo wines are styled by Agostino Berruti who is one of Piedmont's finest wine makers. (6 x 75 cl)

La Giustiniana VIGNETI MONTESSORA Gavi di Gavi Piemonte from Italy, Piemonte, Gavi by La Giustiniana Rovereto di Gavi (24 x 37.5 cl)

The wine is pale yellow with a slight sparkle at the rim; the bouquet is delicate and quite elegant with a pleasing floral scent mingled with honeydew melon. On the palate it's direct and moderately round, nice body and an intriguing balance between acidity and the ripe fruit while the finish is long, clean and persistent. (12 x 75 cl)

Woody chesnut nose, vanilla and ripe black fruit. Light and refreshing. Pleasant character. Leather notes (6 x 37.5 cl)

Woody, chesnut nose vanilla and ripe berry fruit. Light and refreshing. Pleasant character. Leather notes. VINEYARD CHARACTERISTICS The estate operates 90 hectares of specialized vineyards at altitudes ranging from the 390 of Vigneto Bertinga to the 530 meters of Vigneto Bellavista. The soil is clayey-calcareous and rich in crumbled stone. Fifty-five hectares are entered on the Chianti Classico DOCG register. The vineyard, with a plant density of 3,000 vines per hectare, was planted between 1964 and 1978. The main training systems are Guyot, used on 56 hectares, and the so-called ''Lira Aperta'' , present on the remaining 25 hectares. The grown grape varieties, which are all grafted on to 420 A and Kober 5BB, are: Sangiovese 80%, Canaiolo 8%, Malvasia Nera and Merlot 12%. VINIFICATION The 190 tons of grapes were harvested between the 9th and the 15th of October. The grapes, carefully selected, were crushed and destemmed. Fermentation proceeded regularly in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks between 30º and 33ºC . Frequent delicate pumpings-over during the entire fermentation process and extended maceration of 25 days. After the primary fermentation, 800 hectolitres of wine were drawn off mainly in French oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation. AGEING The wine was blended and then aged in French oak barrels, of which 30% were new and the rest one to three years old. The wine was then bottled during the month of April as follows: 13,300 halves-bottles, 97,600 standard bottles, 1,000 magnums, 100 double magnums. (6 x 75 cl)

Located in Tassarolo Bergaglio's vineyard comprises five hectares of which only one is currently in production. Cortese, the native grape variety of Alessandria in Piedmont, tends to perform best in the hills between Novi and Tortona in Piedmont. The grape has been so successful in Gavi that it is known locally as Cortese di Gavi. The wine is really fresh and floral, clean with a pleasant aftertaste of toasted almond and hints of apple and sage. (12 x 75 cl)

The meeting between the world of wine and the Cecchi family dates back to 1893. It was Luigi Cecchi, skills as a wine taster, who established the dynasty which is still well-known and respected today for the production of Tuscan wines. The company is still run by the Cecchi family, which has been dealing with the production of its own wines for 4 generations. Its president is Luigi Cecchi, who has been working in the company since 1953. The vineyards are on steep gradient hills and the favourable exposition makes the area particularly suitable for the production of prized white wines. This has been reflected in the selection process when planting new vines. Vernaccia is charachterised by a light straw colour which tends to become golden with ageing. Its fine persistent aroma has a fresh and harmonious balance with a light aftertaste reminiscent of bitter almonds, it is ample and well structured. (6 x 75 cl)

Villa Lanata CASTELLO TOLEDANA Late Harvest Gavi di Gavi Piemonte from Italy, Piemonte, Gavi by Villa Lanata Botrytis-Affected Whites (6 x 75 cl)

Produced in the best estate parcel for the Sangiovese (12 x 75 cl)