In July and August 2024, when press tastings were sparse, I decided to host a few wine tastings at home. For this third tasting of the Summer, I invited PR agencies, importers and retailers to submit Italian wines. I also included a few wines recommended by participants from previous tastings, as well as a blind tasting to challenge expectations. Nine family members and friends, all sharing my enthusiasm for wine, joined me in tasting eleven different wines.
The wines were paired with delicious Italian pizza and pasta from Squisito Italian, complemented by fresh salads and homemade tiramisu, allowing us to see how well they matched with each course. Squisito’s food was excellent, though the pasta portions were smaller than times past, a reflection of the challenging economic times facing the food service industry. Nonetheless, everything was delivered exactly on time, planned to arrive just as we were about to start tasting the reds.
At this tasting, I didn’t reveal the prices of the wines, allowing everyone to guess, which helped us assess the value of each wine. The feedback below captures the collective opinions of the group, providing a more balanced critique.
We began with Kylie Prosecco 2023, a 10.5% wine I had previously reviewed. I was curious to see if others would enjoy it. This Prosecco was described by the group as soft and dry with a hint of sweetness, featuring notes of apple, melon and a touch of sherbet. The majority liked it, although two people, who generally don’t enjoy Prosecco, were less enthusiastic. Prosecco can be polarising, especially when used to and compared with Champagne. The group’s average estimated price was £12.00 but it’s available from various retailers with an RRP of £11.00. Recently, it was on offer at Morrisons for £7.00, and with a 25% discount, it came to just £5.25, a real bargain.
Next, we tasted the Irresistible Gavi Broglia 2023 from the Co-op, with a 13% ABV and a commendation from the International Wine Challenge. The vineyards for this wine date back to AD 972, located in Piedmont, north of Genoa, and the wine is made from the Cortese grape. It was light yet fruity, with notes of white apple. Two people named it one of the best wines of the tasting and a Gavi connoisseur among us commented that it was better than most Gavis he had tried in the past. The average guessed price was £7.50, while it retails for £9.50 at Co-op.
Following that was the Lugana 2022 from Asda, made from the native Turbiana grape and boasting a 13% ABV. This wine comes from vineyards around Lake Garda and has won multiple silver medals in 2024 from the International Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine & Spirit Competition. It had a grassy, gooseberry aroma, somewhat reminiscent of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and had more body than the Gavi. The taste evolved, starting with fresh acidity and becoming sweeter and fruitier as it warmed up in the mouth. It paired well with creamy pasta and was a favourite for one of the tasters. The average guessed price was about £10.00, while its RRP is £11.00 at Asda, with discounts bringing it down to £8.25 during 25% off periods.
For a bit of a challenge, we included a blind tasting of Castellore Pinot Grigio Blush with an 11.5% ABV. This was the least liked wine, though one person who regularly buys it was very fond of it. In hindsight, it might have been overshadowed by the stronger tasting wines that preceded it. Most people struggled to detect much flavour, though some noted hints of red fruit and strawberry with slight sweetness. The guessed price was £5.33, while it retails for £4.89 at Aldi.
We then moved on to the W/O Organic Nero d’Avola Rosé 2023 from Laithwaites. This organic wine has a 12.5% ABV and is bottled in 100% recycled ‘wild’ glass, a first in the UK. While writing this up, I noticed it has a high score of 4.1 on Vivino. The wine had a very light blush colour, with a cantaloupe melon aroma and a smooth, balanced strawberry taste. It had more mouthfeel and body than the previous Pinot Grigio Blush. One person, who was particularly fond of it, was eager to take the remaining bottle home at the end of the evening and three others agreed that it paired exceptionally well with the Italian food. It’s a delicious wine filled with berry, cherry-blossom, and citrus notes. The average guessed price was £11.80, while it’s available for £11.99 when buying a mix of six from Laithwaites.
Next was the Nostro Posto Nero d’Avola 2023, also from Laithwaites, with a 12% ABV. This wine comes from a cooperative and is their most prized Nero d’Avola. Though described as medium to full-bodied, it seemed more light to medium to our group. It had ripe red fruit notes, particularly at the start of the taste. One person, who primarily drinks white and rosé, disliked it, but two others particularly enjoyed it, with one describing it as well-rounded. The average guessed price was £9.50, while it’s available for £9.99 in a mix of six from Laithwaites.
Following that, we tried the Tenute Fenice Nero d’Avola 2023, also from Laithwaites, with a higher ABV of 14%. The story behind this wine is quite interesting. After an earthquake struck in 1968, the vines were abandoned until winemaker Dino Taschetta revived them. It’s a barrel-aged Nero d’Avola with dark fruit notes and a blackberry taste. It was smoother than the Nostro Posto and we found it medium to full-bodied, with a spicy finish. It paired particularly well with the Italian food and was popular with the group, even winning over our predominantly white/rosé drinker. The average guessed price was £11, while it’s currently £8.99 in a mix of six from Laithwaites.
We also tasted The Best Organic Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2021 from Morrisons, which I had previously reviewed. This wine, with a 12.5% ABV, won an IWSC bronze medal. Someone described the aromas reminiscent of an autumn country walk in the UK, with brambly fruit and chocolaty notes. The average guessed price was £10.70, though it currently retails for £7.50 at Morrisons and is only £5.62 during 25% off periods. I still enjoy this wine, especially at this price.
Next up was the Irresistible Salice Salento 2020 from Co-op. This new addition from Co-op, is made from the Negroamaro grape which typically has a slight burnt taste. With a 13.5% ABV, it was deep in colour and rich in red fruit flavours, with a strong dark berry aroma. The characteristic slight burnt finish and vanilla aftertaste were too much for one person. The wine’s mid-tannins mellowed with food. It stood up very well and is probably best enjoyed with (Italian) food. Three people particularly liked this wine and I was among them. It’s a great move by Co-op to list a region-typical rather than a sweet mass-market Negroamaro. The average guessed price was £9.70, while it’s available for £8.00 at Co-op.
Another wine I had previously reviewed, the Duca di Sasseta Primitivo 2022 from Lidl, was also in the tasting. The grapes are ‘Leggermente Appassite,’ meaning ‘slightly wilted,’ to concentrate the flavour. This wine was rich and sweet with good acidity. It had flavours of blackberry, liquorice, damson and plums, with sweetness from the fruit rather than sugar, balanced by tannins and a zingy finish. Someone mentioned it reminded them of American Zinfandel, which is actually genetically the same grape as Primitivo. The guessed price was £9.00, but it was £7.49 when it was available on Lidl’s short-term wine tour. It might return next spring.
Finally, we tasted the Aprimondo Appassimento from Tesco, recommended by a taster from the previous summer BBQ tasting who wasn’t here this time. It’s made from 85% Sangiovese and 15% other grapes, with aromas of fig, caramel and vanilla. We found chocolate, butterscotch, black cherry, raisin, prune and black tea flavours. With a high 15 g/l of residual sugar, it was the sweetest wine of the tasting, which was too much for one of our more serious drinkers. However, it paired well with tiramisu. The average guessed price was £11.25, while it’s usually £9.25 from Tesco, more recently reduced to £8.00 and only £6.00 during 25% off periods.
At the final vote, most liked the Kylie Prosecco, followed by the Tenute Fenice Nero d’Avola and the Irresistible Salice Salento. I continue to be amazed at the breadth of people’s different preferred tastes. Just about everyone was able to go home with remnants of the bottles they liked. This experience justifies the vast number of different wines on sale, which also amazes me. Another observation is the great value wines are when on offer and further discounted by 25%.
Thanks to the PR agencies, wholesalers and retailers who provided samples for this tasting.
