6-Bottle Mixed Case Wine Description - September 2025
CENTOPASSI GIATO GRILLO CATARRATTO DOC SICILIA
Grape
A blend of 60% Grillo and 40% Catarratto
Grillo is an autochthonous Sicilian varietal, historically tied to Marsala and prized for its aromatic intensity, structure, and aging potential, even outliving most Sicilian whites.
Catarratto is among Sicily’s most widely planted white grapes, known for its high acidity, floral aromas, and refreshing salinity.
Region
Produced on the Belice Corleonese plateau in western Sicily, notably in vineyards around Giabbascio, Pietralunga, and Verzanica, territory on Monte Jato near Palermo. The name Giato refers to the ancient district around Mount Jato’s Greek theatre.
Tasting Notes
Bright aromas of lemon zest, white blossoms, peach stone, and a hint of tropical fruit create an inviting nose. On the palate, vibrant notes of white grapefruit, Meyer lemon, yellow peach, and apple unfold alongside subtle touches of raw hazelnut, tarragon, and honeysuckle. A streak of wet stone and saline minerality adds depth and precision. Dry, fresh, and mineral-driven, with lively acidity and a refined, harmonious structure.
Vinification & Ageing
Grapes are hand-harvested in boxes from mid-August to mid-September. They undergo soft crushing and fermentation in stainless steel vats, with maturation in steel for about four months. Fully certified organic.
Ageing Potential
Thanks to Grillo’s robust structure and the wine’s vibrant acidity, it has great potential to age, likely developing greater complexity over a few years, though it's enjoyable young too.
Food Pairing
Ideal with seafood and Mediterranean dishes such as pasta con le sarde (a Sicilian classic), grilled fish, shellfish, light antipasti, salads, or simply frutti di mare.
Fun Fact
Centopassi wines are produced by social cooperatives under the Libera Terra initiative, cultivating lands confiscated from the Mafia and transforming them into a symbol of justice, resilience, and renewal.
The name Centopassi honours Peppino Impastato, a Sicilian journalist and activist murdered by the Mafia in 1978. It refers to the short distance between his home and that of Mafia boss Gaetano Badalamenti, symbolising the perilous gap he crossed in defiance.
His life and fight for justice were brought to the screen in the award-winning 2000 film I Cento Passi (The Hundred Steps) by Marco Tullio Giordana cementing his legacy as a symbol of courage in Sicily and beyond. A movie I recommend you watch!
Discover more about the producer: Centopassi
I CLIVI COLLIO DOC FRIULIANO “SAN LORENZO”
Pronunciation: “Free-oo-lah-no”
Grape
100% Friulano
An indigenous grape variety of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Friulano is known for its delicate and characteristic bouquet, often featuring clear almond scents and mild wildflowers. It offers a dry, slightly aromatic profile with an elegant almond base and flavors of elderberry.
Region
Produced in the Collio DOC area of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. The vineyards are located around the San Lorenzo Church on Mount Quarin, in the village of Brazzano, province of Gorizia. The soils consist of marl and sandstone flysch of Eocene origin, locally known as Ponca.
Tasting Notes
The wine shows a delicate bouquet with clear almond scents and mild wildflowers. On the palate, it is dry and slightly aromatic, with an elegant almond base and flavors of elderberry, finishing clean and crisp with a subtle bitter almond note.
Vinification & Ageing
The grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel using native yeasts. After fermentation, the wine remains in contact with its fine lees for 12 months in stainless steel tanks, enhancing texture and complexity.
Ageing Potential
Enjoyable upon release, yet capable of evolving beautifully over time, developing greater complexity and depth.
Food Pairing
This wine pairs wonderfully with fish dishes, both sea and freshwater, whether prepared in stew or sauce, as well as regional Friulian cuisine, shellfish, hard cheeses, and charcuterie.
Fun Fact
The name San Lorenzo pays homage to the patron saint of Brazzano, highlighting the deep-rooted connection between the vineyard and the local community.
Discover more about the producer: I Clivi
VOERZIO MARTINI COLLI TORTONESI DOC TIMORASSO "DERTHONA”
Pronunciation: “Tee-mo-rah-sso”
Grape
100% Timorasso
An indigenous white grape from Piedmont, Timorasso was nearly extinct before being revived in the Colli Tortonesi area. It is known for its rich structure, vibrant acidity, and impressive ageing capacity. The variety offers notes of stone fruit, citrus, and herbs, often developing complex mineral and honeyed tones with time.
Region
Produced in the Derthona area of Colli Tortonesi, in Piedmont, Italy. The vineyards are planted on calcareous clay soils in the hills surrounding the town of Tortona, at altitudes that favour slow ripening and aromatic development. The local terroir, with its marl-rich soils, gives the wines notable minerality and longevity.
Tasting Notes
This Timorasso reveals a layered bouquet of ripe peach, citrus zest, wild herbs, and a distinct mineral character. On the palate, it is textured and elegant, with vibrant acidity balanced by weight and richness. Notes of honey, chamomile, and flint emerge, leading to a long, savoury finish.
Vinification & Ageing
The grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in stainless steel. The wine is aged on its fine lees for several months to enhance complexity, mouthfeel, and aromatic depth, while maintaining freshness and purity of fruit.
Ageing Potential
Already expressive in youth, Derthona Timorasso is renowned for its capacity to age gracefully for a decade or more, developing layers of honeyed, nutty, and mineral notes over time.
Food Pairing
It pairs well with rich fish dishes, shellfish, risotto, aged cheeses, and white meats. Its structure and complexity also make it ideal for more elaborate pairings such as truffle-based dishes and traditional Piedmontese cuisine.
Fun Facts
“Derthona” is the ancient Roman name for the town of Tortona and today designates the denomination for Timorasso wines, symbolising the renaissance of this rare grape variety in its historic homeland.
Discover more about the producer: VoerzioMartini
AMANTIS MONTECUCCO SANGIOVESE DOCG
Pronunciation: “San-joh-veh-zeh”
Grape
100% Sangiovese
The iconic red grape of Tuscany, Sangiovese is celebrated for its bright acidity, firm structure, and expressive red fruit aromas. In Montecucco, it develops a particularly elegant profile, combining ripe cherry, plum, and subtle floral notes with hints of spice and earthiness.
Region
Produced in the Montecucco DOCG, located in southern Tuscany near Maremma. The vineyards are situated on gentle hills with calcareous clay soils that provide excellent drainage and allow the grapes to achieve full ripeness while maintaining freshness. The region’s microclimate, influenced by proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea and the southern Apennines, enhances aromatic complexity and balance.
Tasting Notes
The wine shows an inviting bouquet of ripe red cherries, wild berries, and soft floral hints, with subtle spice and earthy undertones. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with silky tannins, refreshing acidity, and a persistent finish that reflects both fruit and minerality.
Vinification & Ageing
Fermentation occurs in stainless steel with selected yeasts, followed by ageing in a combination of large oak casks and tonneaux to preserve freshness while adding structure and complexity. The careful vinification enhances Sangiovese’s aromatic purity and elegant tannic profile.
Ageing Potential
Enjoyable upon release, yet capable of developing additional depth and complexity over 5–8 years, revealing richer tertiary notes of leather, tobacco, and dried fruit.
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with roasted or grilled meats, pasta with tomato-based sauces, aged pecorino cheeses, and traditional Tuscan dishes such as wild boar ragù or pappa al pomodoro.
Fun Fact
With only about 70 producers cultivating roughly 800 hectares of vines, Montecucco maintains a boutique scale, ensuring meticulous care and quality.
Discover more about the producer: Amantis
CARVINEA MERULA IGT SALENTO ROSSO
Grape
Merula Rosso is a blend of Aglianico and Primitivo, two indigenous grape varieties of Southern Italy, known for producing wines with rich flavours, deep colour, and structured yet approachable profiles.
Region
Produced in Puglia, Italy, the vineyards are planted on well-drained soils rich in clay and limestone. The Mediterranean climate, combined with cooling sea breezes, ensures optimal ripening while preserving the grapes’ aromatic freshness.
Tasting Notes
This wine displays a ruby-red colour with aromas of plum, black cherry, and subtle spice. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with soft, round tannins, balanced acidity, and a smooth finish featuring hints of wild herbs and gentle minerality.
Vinification & Ageing
Grapes are fermented with native or selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged in a combination of stainless steel and small French oak barrels for approximately 7 months, followed by short bottle maturation to enhance complexity while preserving the purity of fruit and freshness.
Ageing Potential
Enjoyable upon release, Merula Rosso can develop additional depth and complexity over 3–6 years when stored properly.
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with pasta dishes, grilled meats, roasted vegetables, charcuterie, and medium-aged cheeses. Its balance makes it versatile for everyday dining.
Fun Fact
The name “Merula” comes from the local dialect meaning “blackbird”, in honour of the blackbirds that visit Carvinea’s vineyards at the end of harvest, symbolizing the connection between nature and viticulture.
Discover more about the producer: Carvinea
MARMORELLE BRINDISI DOC NEGROAMARO
Pronunciation: “Neh-groh-ah-mah-ro”
Grape
100% Negroamaro
Negroamaro is a native red grape of Puglia, renowned for its deep colour, rich body, and elegant structure. It expresses dark fruit aromas such as black cherry and plum, complemented by hints of spice, cocoa, and Mediterranean herbs.
Region
Produced in the Brindisi DOC area of southern Puglia, Italy. The vineyards are located on sun-exposed hills with fertile, well-drained soils rich in limestone and clay. The warm Mediterranean climate, tempered by sea breezes, allows the grapes to ripen fully while maintaining freshness and aromatic intensity.
Tasting Notes
The wine shows an expressive bouquet of black cherries, plums, and wild herbs, with subtle notes of pepper and cocoa. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with velvety tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, persistent finish featuring soft spice and mineral undertones.
Vinification & Ageing
Grapes undergo controlled fermentation in stainless steel or concrete tanks, followed by ageing in large oak casks or small barrels to enhance structure and complexity while preserving the wine’s fruit purity and freshness.
Ageing Potential
Enjoyable upon release, yet capable of developing greater depth and richness over 5–7 years, revealing tertiary notes of leather, tobacco, and dried fruits.
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with grilled and roasted meats, hearty pasta dishes, game, aged cheeses, and Mediterranean cuisine. Its rich structure and smooth tannins make it versatile for festive meals as well as everyday dining.
Fun Fact
Negroamaro translates to "black and bitter," a nod to its deep color and robust, often tannic character, and it was likely brought to Italy's Puglia region by ancient Greek colonists about 3,000 years ago.
Discover more about the producer: Marmorelle
