Drink now through to 2030. Decant 2 hours before serving.

Named “Orma” after the Italian word for “footprint”, this graceful wine is the rich reward of former fashion moghul Antonio Moretti’s search for prime wine-growing areas in coastal Bolgheri in the province of Livorno. The land here has long held a reputation for producing stunning red wines thanks to a favourable combination of deep pebbly soils, cooling Mediterranean breezes and hot summers ideal for ripening grapes.

Representing Antonio Moretti’s bold new venture in this relatively young wine region, Orma is a Bordeaux-style blend is a careful composition of 50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. After careful hand-harvesting and selection, the grapes are macerated and fermented for a period of 18 days to gently extract optimum tannins and flavours. The wine is then left to rest in French oak barrels for 12 months and spends a further 12 months in the bottle before it is deemed ready for release.

On the nose Orma exudes classic hints of intense dark berries, sweet spices and tobacco which complement the deep blackberry, cassis and bitter licorice flavours on the palate. Like many Bordeaux-style blends from the region, the firm structure of the wine and vibrant acidity promises great ageability with a cellaring potential of at least a decade. If you do decide to enjoy it now, consider serving it alongside hard cheeses, roasted meat or even game dishes to accentuate the ripe fruit character and soften the tannins.

Ideally drink until 2024.

 

Decanting time: 1 hour.

 

Produced from one vineyard, this “beast” in name references the arduous cultivation of the varietals of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot in the steep, difficult slopes tucked away in Tuscany. The Fattoria di Magliano cellar was constructed in 2001, and although it is a relatively young winery for the region, its offerings have quickly risen to international acclaim.

 

Dark, opaque ruby in color with a red brick glow along the rim. An alluring, medium to full-bodied Bordeaux blend with bold, bursting aromas of dark red fruits, licorice, vanilla, incense and spice, hinting at smoke and graphite, which remain consistent with the strong dark berry and dusty cedar palate. The elegance of the palate is distinct and shows good lift, following a soft-textured line delivering ripe, luscious expressions, firmly sweet tannins and a round mouthfeel.

 

Exquisitely warm and well-structured with austere, lingering nuances of berry, white pepper and vanilla. Its surprisingly muted acidity, relative to wines of the region, enhances the mouthfeel and lends to a certain elegance that results in a very palatable wine.

 

Aged in new, medium-toasted French oak barrels for 14-18 months. A young vintage can reveal an overwhelming oak and the hypnotic intensity of the wine benefits from a few years in the cellar. Easily keeps for ten years past its vintage. Pairs well with game, bbq and spicy dishes.

Drink now through to 2024. No need to decant before serving.

The Ornello takes its name from the distinctive long stick that is traditionally used for driving cattle in Tuscany’s coastal Maremma region. Just like the “butteri”, or the local cowboys who have worked on these lands for centuries, this striking wine is the unique product of this terrain and offers an effortless combination of power and elegance that is sure to captivate the drinker.

A vibrant cherry red hue and hints of crushed berries, ground coffee, and undergrowth are immediately apparent as you pour the first glass, followed by enticing flavours of kirsch, dried herbs and dark chocolate on the palate. The Ornello has a firm structure and well-defined tannins thanks to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah components of the blend, along with balancing acidity and a rounded mouthfeel due to the influence of the Sangiovese and Merlot.

Following the harvest and vinification process, the Ornello is aged in oak barrels for 6 months and then aged in the bottle for a further 5 months until it is deemed ready for release. This adds distinctive notes of sweet spices and vanilla to the wine and makes the Ornello an ideal partner for a generous platter of charcuterie or cheeses.

Drink now through to 2028. Decant 1 hour before serving.

The Donna Olimpia estate is located in the storied Bolgheri wine region close to the Tuscan coastline. The property takes its name from the wife of Gherardo della Gherardesca who decided in 1898 to change the estate’s moniker in honour of the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary. In recent years the estate has gained a solid reputation for producing world class Super Tuscan wines using Bordeaux varietals.

Millepassi means “one thousand steps” in Italian and acts as a reminder of the ancient Roman road that crosses the Donna Olimpia estate. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot grapes used for this wine are carefully selected from amongst the estate’s finest and are harvested at optimum ripeness. The grapes are then fermented in stainless steel tanks and matured in French oak barrels for a total of 24 months prior to bottling. Before they are deemed ready for release, the bottles are aged for another 6 months.

The inky garnet hue immediately catches the eye, while rich aromas of blueberry, blackberry and sweet cinnamon spice seduce the nose. The first sip reveals a full body, smooth tannins and ripe dark berry flavours accented by hints of tobacco and clove which linger long on the tongue. This is an ideal wine to enjoy by the fireside or alongside classic Italian dishes like fresh pasta served with a Bolognese sauce or even bitter dark chocolate.

Drink now through to 2024. No need to decant before serving.

A deep ruby hue and enticing aromas of dark berries, cedar and baking spice characterise this lively red wine which hails from the young appellation of Bolgheri in the coastal Maremma region of Tuscany. The palate offers ripe black cherry flavours, a firm structure, full body and well-rounded tannins which make this a pleasure to drink with hearty pasta dishes served with a bolognese sauce or a rich beef stew.

This easy-going red is composed of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grapes which are sourced from the Donna Olimpia estate’s 40 hectares of vines. The property takes its name from the wife of Gherardo della Gherardesca who decided in 1898 to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary by renaming the estate after her. In recent years the winery has been re-energised by Guido Folonari who set out to raise the quality of the Donna Olimpia wines to world class standards using Bordeaux varietals.

The grapes for this wine are harvested at optimum ripeness and fermented in stainless steel tanks with an extended maceration period to extract plenty of colour, tannins and aromatic character. The wine is then aged for up to 14 months in French oak barrels followed by 6 months of maturation in the bottle.

Drink now through to 2031. Decant 1 hour before serving.

This gorgeous Tuscan red is the fruit of a highly successful collaboration between the world famous Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) brand and the renowned Castellare di Castellina winery in Tuscany. Recognising the immense winemaking potential of the coastal Maremma region of Tuscany, the two producers set out on a joint venture to cultivate both classic Bordeaux varietals and the popular local Sangiovese grape.

This handsome bottling is Rocca di Frassinello’s flagship wine and represents the pinnacle of this French-Italian alliance with its blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Just as with great Bordeaux reds, the Cabernet gives a firm structure and longevity, while the Merlot adds a soft and supple character. The dominant grape in the trio is the Sangiovese which brings elegance and a certain freshness on the palate, making this a very versatile gastronomic wine for red meat dishes and hard cheeses.

The Rocca di Frassinello opens with ripe cherry and dark berry aromas and subtle sweet spice hints from the 14 months of ageing in oak barrels. The first sip reveals a dark and intense character with powerful dark fruit flavours nuanced with undertones of mocha, sage leaves and lavender flowers. Fresh acidity from the Sangiovese perfectly balances the full body and firm tannins, ensuring that this stunning wine is ideal to drink now or to hold for at least another decade.