Fiano Irpinia Fiano 2011 13%
Ciro Picariello produces wines using the Fiano grape near the village of Summonte in Campania, using natural methods, and no filtration or fining. The 2011 Fiano Irpinia is a thrill, an inquisitive and unexpected wine that could take you all the way from smoked salmon to Xmas pudding via the turkey and still leave you wanting more. The mouth feel is lush and oily, with a raisin-ish aroma and flavour. A quixotic, enlivening, man-on-the-wire wine.
Ciro Picariello www.ciropicariello.com (Italian only)
I Campi - Campo Base 2011 Soave
Connie McKenna said of Flavio Pra's 2011 Soave: “It is the colour of Jane Fonda's hair, circa 1968 and Barbarella”
It's kind of hard to top that for a description. Sally McKenna ventured with “bakewell tart, almonds” and John McKenna was getting apricot skin and touches of caramel. But Barbarella it has to be, though we must point out that M. Pra's winemaking has nothing garish about it: this is a classy Soave, full of sunshine and smoke and autumnal berries, and it is gorgeously complete and elegant, showing superb understanding of garganega and trebbiano grapes.
Both wines from Grape Circus, Dublin, contact Enrico Fantasia, grapecircus@gmail.com or on 087 1314338
