March Premium Six-Pack - Italy: North by Northeast

The Peter Zemmer 2019 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco (with 25,000 bottles made) opens to delicate but steady intensity, blossoming in slow motion before the senses. It shows classic varietal tones of quince, pear, white peach and tangy citrus that is carefully measured against those more neutral fruit flavors. A pretty mineral signature gives the wine linearity and a brilliant sense of clarity. Alto Adige Pinot Bianco is one of the great white wines of Italy, and it shows even at this extremely affordable price point. MONICA LARNER, The Wine Advocate

We were umming and oohing the whole time when trying this wine. Something really unique and special from the hills of the Vale de Osta. A refreshing blend of native varieties Petite Arvine, Prié Blanc and Müller-Thurgau, with Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

The interplay of ripe, sometimes tropical sometimes citrus infused fruit is so lovely. High-tone white florals amble through and weave themselves among the fruit.  A seam of quartzy minerality pulls this together tightly allowing the fleshy and sun drenched fruit salad of flavour to shine. It's pure and crystalline but has a lovely gentle and giving warmth at the same time. It really is a sublime combo of vivid flavours, shimmering minerality and mellow white and golden fruits. Delicious

The Correggia family are a small yet formidable force in the sandy soils of Roero, just west of the Tanaro River in Piedmont. After the tragic death of her husband, Ornella with help from friends propelled the wines of Matteo Correggia to even greater heights. She is now flanked by her children Giovanni and Brigitta and the wines have never looked better.
Fragrant aromas of white flowers, citrus and pear on the nose lead into a finely textured palate. Hints of sweet almond arise. Its fresh and tingly finish with a fine phenolic chew carrying the orchard fruits into a long gentle close.

Elio Ottin is the rising star of Valle d'Aosta, the smallest of Italy's regions located in the Alps bordering France and Switzerland. Until 2007 Elio, a passionate farmer, was selling his fruit to the local cooperative, which is common in these parts due to the small land holdings and the intense labour required to work the terraced hillsides.

Fumin is a native Valdostan variety, first recorded in 1711. It is widely grown in the upper and central parts of the valley and thrives in the cold climate. Elio dries his Fumin for one week before the wine is fermented and the grapes aren't pressed into cask for ageing until the end of January. Full bodied with intense fruit aromas of marasca cherry, blackberries and blackcurrants with hints of spice, chocolate and cigar box.

We love these Alpine nebbiolo's a lot and Sandro Fay produce some of the finest in the region. The giddy heights lend a lovely lilting and lifted aromatic and fruit profile that is so appealing.

Here rose and alpine herbs meld with red currant and lucious cherry fruits with hints of young balsamic and licorice notes that entice you in. It has a resinous texture that draws out the cherry and licorice long across the palate. Mid-weight and full of energy with plenty of snappy goodness. The fine tannins string-up the vibrant fruit beautifully. It feels so light on its feet but packed with plenty of juicy fruit. What a great intro to the wines of Valtelina.

A wine that originated from where the Valpolicella tadition of drying grapes and the freshness and fragrance of grapes pressed during harvest are combined. This gives birth to a wine of great concentration and elegance, where the freshness suprises when countered by the dark, sweet fruits and long persistent palate.

This skirts such a lovely middle-ground and the lighter, fresher style we see from La Dama is given a little oomph and lick of pizzaz that is hard not to love. Pepper and camphor on the nose with dark roasted ground spice and a Campari like citrus flourish. It belies what comes after which seems so pretty and energetic but matched with some lovey dark, broody fruit that swims around a concentrated but focused core. It comes off subtle and persistent and ultimately so readily appealing. A very cool drop!