Tedeschi Marne 180 2022

The grapes for Marne 180 come from the hills of Valpolicella, in Veneto, north-eastern Italy. This historic wine area stretches between Verona and the Pre-Alpine foothills, in a landscape of small valleys, terraces and sun-drenched vineyards. The name of the cuvée refers to the marls found in the vineyard soils, which lie at around 180 metres above sea level. These soils, blending clay, limestone and marl, encourage steady ripening of the grapes and bring freshness, depth and finesse to the typical expression of Amarone della Valpolicella.

The grapes are harvested during the last ten days of September. After gentle pressing, fermentation with maceration lasts ten days at a controlled temperature. The wine is then aged for twelve months in Slavonian oak barrels.

This wine reveals notes of ripe cherry, candied plum and blackberry, complemented by hints of dried violet, black pepper, liquorice and cocoa. The ageing brings touches of vanilla, precious wood and tobacco, while an impression of minerality underlines the depth of the whole. The palate is broad, dense and velvety, carried by a generous texture, ripe tannins and balancing acidity. The long, warm finish extends the fruity, spicy and balsamic flavours.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, home of the Dolce Vita, but how hard it is to understand how its wine is organised! The key to understanding Italy's appellation system is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single uniform one, since each region has its own appellation system. Yet Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavours and styles, as well as bottles full of surprise and creativity. Unfortunately it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most useful and commercially renowned names: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let us talk a little history: winegrowing in Italy goes back to the most distant antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and changed the grape varieties, later calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and some regions already stood out for the excellence of their produce. The Romans also planted many vineyards across Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquests. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a fairly harsh mountain climate. The plain in the "middle of the boot" has a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. The "south of the boot" enjoys a Mediterranean climate with very hot, very dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a great variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of them native to its land. It is a country just as complex as its wines, and well worth exploring!