Wine of the week: a fascinating and memorable Italian red

2018 Lagrein, Tramin, Alto Adige, Italy

MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

In 2011, this remarkable cooperative totted up its 20th Tre Bicchieri award in the Gambero Rosso, which means that this is one of Italy’s most elite wineries despite it being a name that only the most committed of Italian wine lovers would have come across over here.

Most famous for its crystalline white wines, in particular the extraordinary Stoan (£20.49, Strictlywine.co.uk), a mind-expanding chardonnay, sauvignon, pinot blanc and gewürztraminer blend, I have picked a shockingly pure lagrein this week, which will be sure to cement this winery’s skills in your taste memory for ever.

Simply fermented in steel tanks and cement vats and then given the briefest time in a variety of oak barrels to add a sprinkling of spicy seasoning, what I adore about this wine is the accuracy and richness of the flavour. Every single thing I crave about the fascinating and memorable lagrein grape is in the glass. With only 12.5% alcohol onboard and a massive amount of slick liquorice and blackberry fruit, I know that you will fall under this wine’s spell in just one sip.

Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (matthewjukes.com)

Explore More

Matthew Jukes has been the MoneyWeek wine correspondent since 2006.

He has worked in the UK wine business for well over three decades and during this time has written 14 wine books. His four highly-acclaimed, annual wine reports – the Burgundy En Primeur Report, the Bordeaux En Primeur Report, the Piemonte Report and the 100 Best Australian Wines – are published on his website.

Matthew is a winner of the International Wine and Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year Trophy. His thoughts, recommendations and tastings notes are followed very closely by the wine world at large.