New Taste

First taste presents medal winners from the International Wine Challenge's Discovery Tasting.
The competition features the best new wines from around the world that are looking for representation in the UK. This week we look at Italian reds.

Silver - Varramista 2004, Fattoria Varramista Spa, Tuscany
info@varramista.it
Very classy Syrah, showing raspberry fruit with gamey aromas on the nose, ripe and round with a soft silky texture and gentle tannins.

Silver - Dama 2007, Azienda Marramiero, Abruzzo, Montepulciano
marramiero@tin.it
Grapefruit definition. Showing some development on the nose with hints of leather along with spiced fruit. Mouth filling tannins. Very pleasant and plenty of refreshing fruit and perfume. A very good length.

Silver - Le Buche 2006, Giuseppe E Riccardo Olivi, Sarteano, Tuscany
info@lebuche.eu
Red fruits on the nose. Cherry fruit on the palate. Dense chewy and very ripe tannins. Very well balanced. Will certainly improve with age.

Silver - Poggio De' Paoli 2007, Tenuta Lenzini, Colline Lucchesi Lucca's Hill, Tuscany
micheleguarino@libero.it
Clean, pure fruit, intense toastiness, spicy full-bodied blackcurrant aroma and flavours. Oak balanced and well integrated.

Silver -Trionfo Amarone Della Valpolicella, 2005 Vinea SRL, Veneto, Valpolicella
claire.ronxin@vinea-vini.com
Big style, showing firm grip and dark cherry flavours. Pleasant long length and lovely balance. Very attractive.

Bronze - Terragnolo Primitivo Salento IGT Rosso 2003, Apollonio Casa Vinicola SRL, Salento, Puglia
info@apolloniovini.it
Engaging blackberry fruit nose. Appealing, with ripe soft black fruit. Long, elegant finish.

Bronze - Montefalco Sagrantino Docg, 2005 Cantina Novelli, Montefalco, Umbria
accoglienza@cantinanovelli.it
Rustic, lots of brute strength and some sweet fruit too. Good mouthfeel.

Bronze - Tempore 2006, Giuseppe E Riccardo Olivi, Siena Tuscany
info@lebuche.eu
Rich flavour, complex, ripe fruit. Tasty earthiness, good structure.

Bronze - Rosso Veronese IGT "dedicatum" 2006 Terre Di Leone SRL, Veneto Valpolicella Classica
trevisanb@alice.it
Dried rose petals with some tar on the nose. Intriguing bitterness, very smooth with good balance. Good food wine.

Bronze - Refosco Dal Peduncolo Rosso 2007, Vigna Del Torre, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Doc Aquileia paneretta@paneretta.it
Leafy, cherry nose that follows into the palate. Plenty of acidic structure, long finish.

• Sommeliers