Mount Crocetta Argione Appasimento 2015

Montecrocetta is a 33-hectare winery located between Gambellara and Soave in the Veneto region. The Argione cuvée is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. It is in fact an Amarone della Valpolicella-style wine, but made with other grape varieties from the Vicenza area and on a terroir of volcanic origin. The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully selected. They are
placed in small wooden crates and left to dry for around a month and a half, then pressed and fermented. The wine is then aged 18 months in old oak barrels and bottled unfiltered. This wine reveals magnificent notes of plum, prune, concentrated black fruit, cherry, black pepper, leather, dried flowers, aniseed, liquorice, cinnamon and sweet spices. The tannins are subtle and the mid-palate is flavoursome and velvety. It is balanced in the manner of an Amarone della Valpolicella, with aromatic freshness and great suppleness.

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others...



But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion.



Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!