Rare grapes from Italy

There are so many rare grapes in Italy and it will take a very long time to try them all. But two rare grapes that I have tasted are Minutolo and Erbaluce from northern Italy.

First are the producer I Pastini with the wine Rampone made from 100% Minutolo grapes. I Pastine are situated in Puglia and Minutolo are a rare grape variety from Puglia. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV 12,5%. How is the taste? This wine has an aromatic and tropical taste. I can feel tropical fruits with some citrus. Almost feels like a southerns Gewürztraminer. A very good wine.

Next up is the wine Erbavoglio from producer Torracia Del Piantavigna in Piemonte. It uses the grape Erbaluce but they are not allowed to write the grape name on the label due to certain Italian rules regarding the DOC Colline Novaresi. The vintage is 2017 and the ABV 13,5%. The taste is quite strong with grassy notes with minerals, pears and some citrus. An interesting wine from a rare grape.

Vermentino Nero from Terenzuola

Vermentino Nero is a rare Italian grape that is mostly grown in the north-western parts of Tuscany. It almost became extinct at one time but has received some renaissance in later time. Terenzuola is a producer in Tuscany that makes a wine made from Vermentino Nero. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 12,5%. In the taste I get raspberries and some blackberries with some softer tannins and spices, There is some acidity in this wine. A very good softer style of red. I quite like the wines that I have tasted from Vermentino Nero so far.

Sparkling red wine from Piemonte, Duchessa Lia

It is not often that I drink sparkling red wine. Once in Bologna a couple of years ago and once yet again in Bassano del Grappa this year. Once good experience and one neutral experience.

So now what is this red sparling wine. It is called Duchessa Lia and it is a Barbera del Monferato from Piemonte. The grape is 100% Barbera. The ABV is 12,5% and the vintage is 2012. It is not heavily sparkling but a lightly sparkling red wine. So it should be like the lightly sparkling red wine I had earlier this year in Bassano del Grappa. The taste is of red fruits and a hint of black peppar and
then some bubbles in the back. Interesting and quite nice table wine.

Etna Rosso and Valpolicella Ripasso

From the south to the north. I start in Sicily with a red wine from Etna. It is an Etna Rosso from Tornatore of the vintage 2016. The ABV is 13,5%. The grapes used are 95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio. Due to the height of the volcano Etna and how the lava streams has flowed there are several interesting areas on Etna where grapes are grown. For this wine I get strawberries, cherries and some acidity in the taste. A bit lighter than I thought it would be but a very good wine.

Next up is a Ripasso from Valpolicella. It is from producer Ca' Vendri and of the vintage 2015. The ABV is 13,5%. This wine has a hint of sweetness with some dry tannins, dark cherries and plums. Yet another good Ripasso.

Cremant du Jura and Prosecco

Soon it is time for new year so let us try some sparkling wine. First up is is a Cremant du Jura from Jura in France. The name is Tissot-Maire Cuvee Lapiaz. It is an extra brut sparkling wine with and ABV of 12%. It is a non vintage wine. The taste is of citrus and some bready tones with a very little fruit. Not a long aftertaste. Simple but nice.

Next up is a Valdobbiadene Prosecco superiore, which is a higher quality Prosecco. The producer i Ca'Val and it is a brut of vintage 2017. It is a light procecco with some bready tones with pears, citrus and some minerals. Very nice.