September 2023. Italian WInes by Jessica Summer, Mouse&Grape

September 2023. Italian Wines presented by Jessica Summer of Mouse and Grape. 

Www.mouseandgrape.com Jessica is a local girl, from Pinner no less. Like many her career got badly messed up by Covid so took the brave step of setting up on her own, specialising in Wine & Cheese matching. Tonight, we skipped the cheese and got a presentation of well priced Italian wines. She’s also a Wine Educator, WSET qualified. 

 Whites: 

When in Rome, Organic Grillo 2021. Sicily. 12.5% Box Wine £26/3bottles. 

Waitrose Box Wine! Absolutely fine. Some sweetness on the palate, similar grapey nose to a Moscato, but actually dry. The idea of box wines is that you don’t have to finish the bottle, and it keeps. I’m not sure this one would last long. Very drinkable. 

Soave, Gianni Tessarii, Garganega 2021. Veneto. 12.5%. £13.50. Mouse & Grape

 Soave suffers from overproduction – I can remember when it was everywhere. That leads to lower quality. I’m afraid this wasn’t one for me. 

Waitrose Blueprint Gavi, Cortese 2022. Piedmont. 12.5%. £9.49. Waitrose. 

Gavi – the Cortese grape is known for being very high yield, so it needs good management to make good wine. This is a good one. Best served very cold. 

Rose: 

Bardolino Chiaretto Rose, Corvina, Molinara, Rondinella. 2021, Veneto. 12%. £9.50. M&S.  

A decent alternative to French Rose. 

Reds: 

Barbera D’Asti. Luca Bosio, Barbera 2021. Piedmont. 13.5%. £11.95. Mouse&Grape.  

Comes out rather like a Pinot Noir. Aged in barrel, with a touch of tannin. 

Santodeno Sangiovese Appassimento, Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. 2022 Emilia Romagna. 14%. £11. Sainsburys. 

The wine of the night. Powerful, well balanced. Smooth.. 

Terre di Faiano , Organic Primitivo, 2021. Salento. 14%. £9.99. Waitrose.  

This was specially selected to be under a tenner, and a decent wine BUT it is one of those wines that flatters to deceive. First mouthful is good, but it quickly becomes all a bit too much – Jammy & overpowering. Might be a good food wine. 

Canti Asti, Fratelli Martini Secondo Luigi. Moscato. Asti. 8%. £9. Sainsburys. 

This is a light, sweet wine from the Muscat grape. Refreshing chilled.