Italian Import Wines
Italian Imports have landed! We tasted hundreds of wines earlier this year, at the massive German Trade wine fair Prowein, as Vinitaly and in Italy itself.
We tasted the wines at least twice overseas and then the shortlist of best wines back in Australia, eventually choosing just the 17 wines which are now in stock, everyone of which we can very confidently recommend to you.
CA’ DE LION are a boutique producer who have been based in the Piedmont since 1655, making booze for the last 148 years. We’ve chosen to start with two of their brilliant Barberas both from Asti. These are exceptional examples of Barbera and we are delighted to be able to share them with you.
CA’ BOTTA is based in the Valpolicella DOC region about half an hour from Verona and makes wine exclusively ...
- Alberto Bartali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018$150.00Brunello di Montalcino (brown one of Montalcino), is made from 100% Sangiovese from the Brunello di Montalcino region, which along with Barolo, was the equal first Italian wine region awarded DOCG status, the highest available. It is considered one of the greatest wines on earth. Made from a local clone of Sangiovese, called Prugnolo Gentile, which is thicker skinned, more tannic and acidic than the sangio clones of Chianti and elsewhere in Italy, Brunello is prized for its intensity and depth of flavour and ageability. The Bartali is a full bodied and sense enveloping wine, packed with cherries, tobacco, herbs, spice, espresso, leather and more. Powerful, long, persistent and finished with robust but fine tannins. This is already exceptional and will age magnificently. Learn More
- Alberto Bartali Chianti DOCG 2021$40.00A blend of Sangiovese with a portion of Canaiolo Nero, this is classic, medium bodied, aromatic and complex Chianti, finished with fine, sandy tannins. There’s bay leaf and sage, sour cherries, tobacco, minerality and savoury aspects here. A joy to drink by itself or with pizza or substantial, meaty dishes. Learn More
- Alberto Bartali Morellino di Scansano DOCG 2021$65.00Morellino di Scansano, means Sangiovese from Scansano, Scansano being a hilly coastal reqion of Maremma in Tuscany which is renowned for its dry climate, volcanic soil and maritime climate. This is a 'first selection' Scansano, with exceptional fruit fermented and aged in oak. There's Cherry, tobacco, tomato and leather here, with excellent fruit concentration and finish which is replete with chalky tannins. Learn More
- Alberto Bartali Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2022$65.00Rosso di Montalcino is Sangiovese from Montalcino, often declassified Brunello. With its fruit intensity and 12 months ageing in oak, this is very much in the baby Brunello mould. It’s a big brooding wine with black and sour cherries, spice and excellent intensity and length. Drink anytime over the next decade. Learn More
- Ca 'Botta Alta Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2018Special Price $45.00 Regular Price $65.00A stunning Valpolicella made using the Ripasso method, or 'repass'. Highest quality, high altitude Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone are fermented on the pressed skins of an Amarone ferment, giving higher alcohols, colour and a good degree more complexity. Rich, dark and savoury, this beast offers cherries, chocolate, graphite, minerals, plum, blackberries and blueberries here, along with white pepper and cedar. A stunning red wine that pairs majestically with roast meat and ragu. Learn More
- Ca 'Botta Alta Valpolicella Superiore DOC 2019$60.00Remarkably intense for a superiore, with dense fruits and excellent acidity tempered by French oak. The bouquet offers cherries, plums, sage and red flowers along with chocolate, smoke, minerality and olive tapenade. The palate is packed with ripe cherries, blackberries, blackberries along with white pepper. Soft and elegant tannins and balanced acidity leave your palate fresh. The second glass beckons. Learn More
- Ca 'Botta Torcinato Valpolicella Superiore 2018Special Price $89.00 Regular Price $99.00Our 3rd vintage of the Torcinato, and absolutely the finest to date. This is a big and exceptionally well-structured and refined wine which requires at an hour in a decanter before drinking. It is powerful yet silky smooth, with intense red and blue fruits, cola, tobacco, blackberries, cherries and fresh thyme. Fruit is air dried prior to fermentation for 45 days meaning that 1.6 kg of fruit are required to make each bottle! Learn More
- Ca'Botta Rubicondo 2019$55.00Black, rich, concentrated and savoury, this wine is made from 14-day air dried, traditional regional grapes Corvina and Rondinella softened by Merlot. It offers black fruits, spice and cedar. The fruit sweetness is excellent and well balanced by savory touches. An absolute bargain. Learn More
- Ca’ de Lion Barbera d'Asti L'Altera DOCG 2022Special Price $50.00 Regular Price $60.00Expressive and fruit driven, this Barbera from Asti in Piedmont is deep, juicy and intense, stopping just short of being rich, though that will come with age. Fruit comes from estate vines grown in the Piedmont sub region of Asti, perhaps the best place in the world to grow Barbera. Specifically, the vines are on the slopes of the San Marzano hills. This wine is made in tiny quantities and is of exceptional quality. After a quick decant wonderful red fruits, violets, cherries, florals, earth, coffee and other goodies emerge. Wonderful now (though needs decanting, and will age beautifully. Learn More
- Ca’ de Lion Monteluna Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 2021$65.00Produced in Piedmont, specifically in the famed Langhe Hills, this beautifully structured Nebbiolo is aged for 12 months in a combination of large format French oak and stainless steel. This is more approachable than an equivalent Nebb from Barolo, the tannins, whilst noticeable and an important part of the wines structure, being less strident than you'll find in most wines from nearby Barolo or Barbaresco. Lots going on here from violet and red fruit aromatics, fresh straw, vanilla, liquorice and spice through truffles, which will continue to develop as the wine ages, plus tobacco and dark chocolate. A stunner after decanting and will cellar magnificently. Learn More
- Ca’Botta Cajo Amarone DOCG 2016$180.00Ca’ Botta’s highest quality fruit is air dried for 100 days prior to fermentation meaning that 2.2 kgs of fruit are required to make each bottle! This is incredibly, long, concentrated and complex… savour this over a few hours and you may well see black tea, spices, blackberries, cherries, rosemary, dark chocolate, prunes, green peppercorns, and coffee. Stunning. Learn More
- Ca’Botta Cerviero Rosso Veneto 2016Special Price $79.00 Regular Price $89.00In theory this is an entry level wine for Ca’ Botta, carrying the IGT designation rather than the more favoured DOC or DOCG status. Why? Because this is a wine made using Amarone methods using primarily Amarone varieties with the inclusion of Cabernet which is not allowed in Amarone production… They add Cabernet to build freshness and change the tannin profile … to make something as good but a little different to a traditional Amarone. 2.2 kilos of fruit are needed to make just one bottle. We found herbs, black fruits, cherries, spice and pepper here on a pallet which is both concentrated and ethereal. A cracking wine and an absolute bargain. Learn More