One of the most important tastings of the year for me – Vinexus Italia – yesterday at the Institute of Masters of Wine. Vinexus is the company started and built up over the years since the 1990s by the late Nick Belfrage MW (author of several key books about Italian wine including ‘Life beyond Lambrusco’) and supported in more recent years by Nick Bielak MW who died too young in 2022. The team they worked with continue to do a fantastic job in the U.K. wine trade and they have some of the best Italian wines in their portfolio. This tasting is always a highlight and a big event because it showcases the new vintage releases to the U.K. trade and press before they arrive on the market. This year the vintages being shown were Brunello 2019, Barolo 2020, and Barbaresco 2021. Yesterday there were so many super impressive wines but among the ones that struck me most were – Comm. G.B Burlotto Castelletto Barolo 2020, @paitinwine Barbaresco Fasét 2021, @giannibrunelli Brunello di Montalcino 2019, @lagerlamontalcino were for me much less oaky and better this year especially their ‘La Pieve’ 2019, @altesino Montosoli 2019 and the @canalicchiodisopra Brunelli especially ‘La Casaccia’ and many more. Grazie mille @vinexusitalia for organising this wonderful showcase of Italian wines.
© 2023, Susan Hulme MW. All rights reserved.