W
L
WINE CONNOISSEUR
BY THE LAWNS, THORNTON HALL
Italian wines are so easy to drink and when paired with food
the flavour and nature of the wine is emphasised to the full.
At The Lawns, Thornton Hall, we pride ourselves on our wine
cellar, we hold in stock some of the world’s most renowned
varieties. Our next wine and dine evening is our “Yuletide
Tasting Evening” on December 9th but for now, here is the
selection of our top 5 wines.
Prosecco Spumante, Amori
(100% Glera ABV 11.5%)
This company is the brainchild of an Italian, a Frenchman, and
a Dutchman. Stefano Girelli, Philippe Marx and Peter Kosten
have combined their skill and experience to bring affordable
good value wines from across Italy, with the help of renowned
Italian winemaker Stefano Chioccioli who makes all the wines.
Bright aromas of pears apples and peaches are followed by more
of the same on the palate. Gentle easy-going sparkler from north
eastern Italy.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano "Clara Stella" 2016
(100% Vernaccia ABV 13.0% )
Cappella Sant’Andrea, named after St Andrea’s Chapel, is a
delightful estate within sight of the famous medieval towers
of San Gimignano in Tuscany. There are only six hectares of
vines but they are part of a larger working farm that has olive
trees, donkeys, goats, chickens and even a few rabbits. It’s run
by a young couple, Flavia del Seta and her winemaker husband,
Francesco. Flavia’s mother, Antonella, inherited the property
from her father Giovanni Leoncini and uncle Renato who bought
it in 1959. The vines are in conversion to organic viticulture and
there are modern winemaking facilities, complete with stainless
steel tanks to retain maximum freshness. This is a classic seafood
wine this has pervasive fruit with a touch of honey and silky
texture followed by a hint of bitterness on the finish.
Gavi DOCG del Comune di Gavi, La Chiara 2016
(100% Cortese ABV 12.5%)
This 6.5 hectare estate in Piedmont was established by Ferdinando
Bergaglio in 1975. He felt that his previous experience with
famous winemakers in Gavi gave him sufficient expertise to set
up La Chiara. Currently run by Roberto and Silvana Bergaglio
38 wirrallife.com
with uncompromising attention to detail. This small estate's low
yields give this wine a juicy, honey-like core. Add the Cortese
grape's apple-like freshness, and you have a standard bearer for
Gavi, Piedmont's most famous dry white.
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC, Vigne Alte, Zeni
2012
(50% Corvina, 45% Rondinella, 5% Molinara`ABV 15.5%)
The family owned Zeni Winery is situated a stone's throw
away from Lake Garda just up above the picturesque town of
Bardolino in the Veneto. They were established in 1870. Fausto,
Elena and Federica run the business following in their father
Gaetano ‘Nino’ Zeni's footsteps. Ideally situated in the heart of
the region they have the pick of the bunch from the long-term
contract growers they deal with to help supplement their own
production. They now manage 25 hectares of vineyards. They
export over 80% of their production all over Europe, the US and
Canada. Amarone is a powerful, concentrated dry red that is
properly made from grapes that have been dried in airy barns.
This is a superb example with mature, complex flavours.
El Aziz, Vendemmia Tardiva, IGT Sicilia, Fina
(100% Grillo ABV 14.0%)
Bruno Fina is a man with an agenda. Stocky, shaven-headed, he
cuts the sort of figure that doesn’t let much get in its way. This
has involved launching his own impressive range of wines and
building a huge ‘baglio-cantina’ a mansion-cum-winery in an
Arab-Sicilian style. Sitting on an escarpment, this is visible from
miles around and conversely his dining room has spectacular
views over the sea to the island of Favignana. Bruno doesn't have
much in the way of vineyards but that doesn’t matter when your
hinterland is one of the largest vineyard areas in Europe. His
winemaking skills, while they have a New World influence, were
honed by working for Giacomo Tachis, the godfather of Italian
winemaking consultants. Rich apricot and exotic fruit mix, this
is a fascinating dessert wine. Using late-harvested Grillo grapes,
it has that all-important balance between sweetness and acidity.
To try any of these wines, visit The Lawns Restaurant at Thornton
Hall, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH63 1JF or call 0151 336 3938.