£9.20 13% abv WineCellarClub.co.uk Confession: I wrote this in September, and just didn't get around to editing and publishing. Some of you know that I'm doing wine writing and digital marketing on contract at the moment, and somehow turning your hobby into your living means that the hobby part gets neglected. Anyway... Forgive the lateness of the post. And perhaps share your views on the wine.
It was a strange wine week at Purple Teeth HQ. A migraine, a vodka fuelled dance weekend, a meal of sushi all kept me away from my favourite red potion.
And it was a dry and warm September, so I stayed on white longer than I'd expected. But after a crisp evening walk, crunching through fallen leaves, nothing but a glass of red would do.
Full disclosure - I received this bottle free from WineCellarClub.co.uk (it's normally £9.20)
Italian wine has always been a mystery to me. Lots of cherry flavours that don't satisfy my craving for dark, smoky wine. A multitude of grape varieties and geographies that nearly make sense. And one or two hidden gems such as white Fiano and red Aglianico. There's a lot of great Italian wine out there. I'm sure of it. I just haven't found many that float my particular boat just yet.
But I'm thinking about whether to invest in my next level wine qualification - the dreaded diploma. Just thinking about that, I realise I need to drink more wine from one of the top 2 producing nations in Europe. There's still a lot to learn, regardless, and it's always nice to try something different.
I popped a few Italian wines in my basket and my friends at Wine Cellar Club added this one for my education.
It was a strange wine week at Purple Teeth HQ. A migraine, a vodka fuelled dance weekend, a meal of sushi all kept me away from my favourite red potion.
And it was a dry and warm September, so I stayed on white longer than I'd expected. But after a crisp evening walk, crunching through fallen leaves, nothing but a glass of red would do.
Full disclosure - I received this bottle free from WineCellarClub.co.uk (it's normally £9.20)
Italian wine has always been a mystery to me. Lots of cherry flavours that don't satisfy my craving for dark, smoky wine. A multitude of grape varieties and geographies that nearly make sense. And one or two hidden gems such as white Fiano and red Aglianico. There's a lot of great Italian wine out there. I'm sure of it. I just haven't found many that float my particular boat just yet.
But I'm thinking about whether to invest in my next level wine qualification - the dreaded diploma. Just thinking about that, I realise I need to drink more wine from one of the top 2 producing nations in Europe. There's still a lot to learn, regardless, and it's always nice to try something different.
I popped a few Italian wines in my basket and my friends at Wine Cellar Club added this one for my education.
It's a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo which recently won a gold medal at Germany's biggest wine contest, Mundus Vini.
It's a dark purple wine in colour and flavour - smoky and reminiscent of bonfires or sneaky autumnal barbecues. It cries out for chargrilled meat. I'd already eaten but nibbled a little vintage cheddar and it worked a treat.
It's a cuddle up with a warm fire, kind of wine, or in today's centrally heated worldwide, pop on your onesie and relax with a glass.
Medium bodied, medium tannin, and a pleasant medium acidity, it's a well balanced wine which goes down smoothly with or without food, and there's not a tart red cherry flavour in sight, although, yes, there is black cherry. I found Blackberry, smoke, spice and a hint of liquorice adding up to an Italian wine I might spend money on exploring further.
Bored of Shiraz but not ready to go as light as Pinot Noir? This could be your grape.
It's a dark purple wine in colour and flavour - smoky and reminiscent of bonfires or sneaky autumnal barbecues. It cries out for chargrilled meat. I'd already eaten but nibbled a little vintage cheddar and it worked a treat.
It's a cuddle up with a warm fire, kind of wine, or in today's centrally heated worldwide, pop on your onesie and relax with a glass.
Medium bodied, medium tannin, and a pleasant medium acidity, it's a well balanced wine which goes down smoothly with or without food, and there's not a tart red cherry flavour in sight, although, yes, there is black cherry. I found Blackberry, smoke, spice and a hint of liquorice adding up to an Italian wine I might spend money on exploring further.
Bored of Shiraz but not ready to go as light as Pinot Noir? This could be your grape.
Mr Purple Teeth found more raspberry and red fruit than I did. He enjoyed it declaring it drinkable and very pleasant, surprising for an Italian. We've got our work cut out turning our household into Italian fans, but the signs are promising. I've got another Montepulciano on the shelf to explore soon, so if you want to pop a bottle in your basket, we can arrange a "drink along" online tasting. And in my next Montepulciano blog, I'll talk more about the geography of the Abruzzi where these wines come from. Meanwhile, enjoy your autumnal wines, and tell me about your favourites.
Cheers!
Cheers!
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