Italian Wine Lunch Restaurant Reading
A rare and ancient red Puglian variety, Susumaniello was used mostly as a blending component until a few years ago.
Sample menu only, view current menus.
Throughout the autumn Head Sommelier Guillaume and his team will be pouring a glass of one of the wonderful wines below with our Italian Wine Lunch offer.
Bianco Dragon Wine Restaurant Reading
LUIGI BAUDANA LANGHE BIANCO DRAGON, 2013
Langhe, Piemonte
This small estate has just over 4 hectares of vineyard, all in the commune of Serralunga d’Alba. Their tiny cellar is situated in the village of Baudana, while their vineyards are primarily in the ‘crus’ of Baudana and the highly regarded Cerretta.
The Bianco Dragon is a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon (planted in the northeastern part of Cerretta by Luigi in the early 1980s) with Nascetta and Riesling from the Vajra vineyards. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel, and has a lovely lift and depth, with real interest on the palate.
Dry floral and summer grass perfumes are supported by distinct mineral notes and a savory, lifted character on the palate. The touches of Riesling and Nascetta add an extra elegance, giving the Langhe Bianco Dragon a long refreshing finish.
A Mano Wine Restaurant Berkshire L’Ortolan
A MANO IMPRINT SUSUMANIELLO, 2014
Puglia
Mark Shannon and Elvezia Sbalchiero, the duo behind A Mano, have worked in the wine business for most of their lives…
Elvezia is a northern Italian wine marketing expert and Mark is a Californian winemaker. They fell in love with Puglia and, when they decided to start their own label, made it their home.
Vineyards
The grapes are grown in vineyards located in the Salento peninsula of Puglia. A rare and ancient red Puglian variety, Susumaniello was used mostly as a blending component until a few years ago. The name means ‘little donkey’ in local dialect, from the enormous load the vines bear when young, although others say that it is so called because it is stubborn and difficult to manage! The sandy vineyards are high up on the hillside, dry farmed and are over 30 years old.
TASTING NOTES
Deep, inky purple-black in the glass. Intense aromas of blackberry and chocolate are supported by blueberry perfumes, violets, blossom, crème de cassis and Mediterranean herbs. The wine is full bodied, with powerful yet fine tannins and great texture. A fantastic freshness carries through the seamless finish.
