An evening from the archive
Simon Evans (The Naked Grape) — Wines of Northern Italy
- Date
- Tuesday, 15 April 2025
- Time
- 20:30
- Host
- Simon Evans, The Naked Grape
- Theme
- Wines of Northern Italy
Simon Evans of The Naked Grape took members on a structured tour of Northern Italy, presenting one wine from each of eight regions — from a pale, smoky Blanc de Morgex at the foot of Mont Blanc to a Piedmontese Moscato to close. The highlight of the reds was a 60-year-old-vine Pinot Noir from Lombardy and an ambitious Super Tuscan rival from Emilia-Romagna.
The wines
What we tasted
- 1
Cave Mont Blanc - Blanc de Morgex
Cave Mont Blanc· Morgex (Prié Blanc)· Val d'Aosta, Italy· 2022· % abv
11.5%. Pale straw, aromatic, savoury and smoky nose. Fresh fruity notes balanced with a savoury palate. £22.50.
Tonight £0RRP £0
Vivino 3.7/5 · 76 ratings
Vivino avg £45.42 · our RRP £0
Pairs with pasta, shellfish, mature and hard cheese, lean fish
View on Vivino - 2
Cantine Lunae Vermentino
Cantine Lunae· Vermentino· Liguria (Colli di Luni), Italy· 2023· % abv
12.5%. Biodynamic. Pale straw, slight spice on nose. Fresh and rich with a long finish. £23.50.
Tonight £0RRP £0 - 3
Kaltern Kerner 'Carned'
Kaltern (cooperative)· Kerner· Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy· 2023· % abv
14.5%. Light straw, spicy and fruity. Fruit, herby, creamy and nutty palate with long finish. £27.50.
Tonight £0RRP £0 - 4
Cantine del Garda Bardolino
Cantine del Garda· Corvina Veronese, Molinara, Rondinella· Veneto, Italy· 2023· % abv
12%. Pale red. Morello cherry nose and sweetish cherry palate. £12.99.
Tonight £0RRP £0Vivino 3.7/5 · 23,111 ratings
Vivino avg £17.90 · our RRP £0
Pairs with beef, pasta, lamb, game (deer, venison)
View on Vivino - 5
Le Monde Cabernet Franc
Le Monde· Cabernet Franc· Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy· % abv
13%. Green harvest. Deep red, fresh fruit nose, evident tannins well balanced with smooth fruit and acidity. Very long finish. £19.99.
Tonight £0RRP £0
- 6
Frecciarosso Giorgio Odero Pinot Noir
Frecciarosso (Giorgio Odero)· Pinot Noir· Lombardy, Italy· 2012· % abv
14%. Old vine (~60 years), 555 cases/year, matured in new French oak. Tawny red, spice and fruit nose, very rich and reminiscent of tawny port. £44.99.
Tonight £0RRP £0
Vivino 4.1/5 · 114 ratings
Vivino avg £54.83 · our RRP £0
Pairs with beef, veal, game (deer, venison), poultry
View on Vivino - 7
Tenute Gacci
Tenute Gacci· Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Altropese· Emilia-Romagna, Italy· 2016· % abv
14%. Blend competing with Super Tuscans: 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cab Sauv, 22% Merlot, 3% Altropese. 3 years Croatian oak. Still young, dark fruits and big tannins. £79.99.
Tonight £0RRP £0 - 8
Vite Colte La Gatta Moscato
Vite Colte· Moscato· Piedmont, Italy· 2023· % abv
5%. Pétillant, free run juice. Light colour, fresh grapy aromas, honeyed sweetness with very fresh fruit. £15.99.
Tonight £0RRP £0
Vivino 3.9/5 · 47 ratings
Vivino avg £14.95 · our RRP £0
Pairs with fruity desserts, aperitif
View on Vivino
That's a wrap on this one.
Missed it? There's always another evening around the corner.