Tedeschi Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2024 (Italy) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious Pinot Grigio from the Delle Venezie DOC in northeastern Italy. It arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the July 19 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Tedeschi Wines, a winemaking family with a long history and deep bond in the Valpolicella territory of Veneto in northeastern Italy. Since 1630, the Tedeschi family has always sought the path of quality in their terroir wines, which are produced exclusively from grapes grown on hillsides. The family has always believed in the extraordinary potential of local wine production, while enhancing its value with modern and innovative production techniques, as well as practicing environmental management methods.

The modern history of Tedeschi Wines arrived in the 1960s when Lorenzo Tedeschi, the fourth generation of the family, recognized the diverse potential of the grapes grown in the iconic Monte Olmi vineyard, which was acquired by the family in 1918. Lorenzo decided to vinify each varietal separately, and the result was the creation of Amarone Capitel Monte Olmi, a wine that symbolized Tedeschi and became emblematic of the region.

Today, the winery is led by Lorenzo's children - Antonietta, Sabrina, and Riccardo Tedeschi - as they carry forward their father's vision for the winery. They continue to focus on growing grapes on hillside vineyards with poor soils, which results in wines with greater complexity and structure. By combining their extensive experience with scientific vigour, the family has adopted an approach that guarantees the future of the territory. Quality is the priority, while also using a sustainable approach in order to preserve the beauty of their unique lands for future generations.

From a region known for its Pinot Grigio, let's see how this 2024 Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio from Italy is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TEDESCHI PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE 2024 - DOC, Italy (#562058) (XD) - $19.95
Vinified in stainless steel and enclosed by screw cap, this has a clean, medium+ intensity nose that is fresh with zesty lemon citrus, garden herbs, and savoury earth aromas. The medium+ weighted palate has good concentration in a dry and slightly honeyed flavour profile of lemon peel, citrus, herbs, apple, and savoury earthy mineral notes. It has clean, refreshing acidity, plus a dusty textured mouthfeel. Leesy and earthy mineral notes linger on the savoury finish, with good length. Score: 87+ pts

Several other wines by Tedeschi are available at the LCBO, and can also be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Tedeschi Capitel Nicalò Valpolicella Superiore 2020 (Veneto) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of a lovely Valpolicella Superiore that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection on June 24th.

It is produced by Azienda Agricola Tedeschi, also known as Tedeschi Wines, a prominent family-owned winery situated in the Valpolicella region, within Veneto in northeastern Italy. Founded in 1630, Tedeschi has a long and rich history in winemaking spanning over four centuries. Considered one of the leading wineries in Valpolicella, Tedeschi is also a pioneer in crafting cru wines from the region. Tedeschi Winery has been passed down through the generations within the family while having a strong commitment to quality winemaking and respect for traditional winemaking methods.

Today, Tedeschi is a renowned and respected producer of Amarone and other wines from Valpolicella. The winemaking philosophy at Tedeschi is based on patience - to wait for the amount of time required both in the vineyard and in the winery - and dedication - to carefully attend to details and have the appropriate attitude towards the raw materials, while striving to combine long-held family traditions with innovative research, experimentation, and production methods. Their profound attention to detail in the vineyard includes research to uncover the perfect interaction between the characteristics of the soil, micro-climate, sun exposure, selecting the most appropriate varietals, and the cultivation system. The resulting wines are elegant and endowed with marked personality, revealing the richness, tastes and aromas that are typical of the earth that have always characterized their production and identity. Tedeschi has always respected the environment and is certified sustainable according to the standards of Biodiversity Friend and Equalitas.

Like the 2019 Tedeschi Capitel Nicalò Valpolicella Superiore that I enjoyed a couple of years ago, this vintage continues to be a blend of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% Rossignola / Oseleta / Negrara / Dindarella. The grapes were grown in the Moraine Hills, where the soils are moraine clay and limestone of moraine origin, in the heart of Valpolicella and vinified in the Veronese tradition of drying the grapes. By placing the grapes in crates for about one month, the grapes undergo partial dehydration, losing about 8-10% of their weight. This natural process results in water loss while enriching the sugar content of the grapes, their dry extract, and the colour of
the wine.

After harvesting the grapes, they were dried for one month and then underwent maceration and both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, and underwent further ageing for 6 months in bottle. The wine is named after their ancestor, Niccolò, and is crafted to be pleasing for all gastronomic delights. From a good vintage that is better than the 2019 vintage, let's see how this 2020 Valpolicella Superiore is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TEDESCHI CAPITEL NICALÒ VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2020 - Sustainable, DOC, Veneto, Italy (#984997) (XD) - $19.95
Blend of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% Rossignola / Oseleta / Negrara / Dindarella. The clean, fresh, and fragrant nose offers an attractive mix of savoury earth, leafy herbs, black and dark red cherry, and fine spice aromas, plus some dried fruit, and red plum nuances adding further complexity. It's medium-full bodied on the dry palate with fresh, juicy, and tangy lemony acidity lifting the dark cherry fruited, savoury earth, fine spices, cedary oak, and mocha flavours. Supple, dusty textured tannins are smooth and refined. Tangy and dry with dark berry, earth, and wood spice notes lingering on the long, juicy, and well-balanced finish. Enjoyable now and over the next 4-5 years. Highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

With a fairly large portfolio, some wines by Tedeschi are available at the LCBO, while the entire range can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Tedeschi Capitel Nicalò Valpolicella Superiore 2019 (Veneto) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of a consistently well-made, and delicious red wine from the famous Valpolicella region within Veneto. It arrived at the LCBO over the weekend, as part of the December 11 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is crafted by Tedeschi Wines, a winemaking family with over four centuries of history and tradition, including cru wine pioneers in Valpolicella. Since 1630, the Tedeschi family have been passionate in its interpretation of the Valpolicella region. Their wines are marked with personality to reveal aromas and flavours that are typical of the earth and characterize Tedeschi's identity. Tedeschi's winemaking philosophy is based on patience - to wait for the amount of time required both in the vineyard and in the winery - and dedication - to carefully attend to details and have the appropriate attitude towards their raw materials. They strive to combine long held family traditions with innovative research and production methods to craft wines that delivers the richness of Valpolicella.

Today, Tedeschi wines are synonymous with terroir and Valpolicella. Their profound attention to detail in the vineyard includes research to uncover the perfect interaction between the characteristics of the soil, micro-climate, sun exposure, selecting the most appropriate varietals, and the cultivation system. Research and experimentation are fundamental tools at Tedeschi. They have always respected the environment and are now sustainable and certified according to the standards of Biodiversity Friend and Equalitas.

This red wine is a blend of autochthonous varieties - 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% Rossignola / Oseleta / Negrara / Dindarella - that were grown on Moraine Hills of clay and limestone in the heart of Valpolicella. It was crafted in the traditional Veronese manner of drying the grapes. In actual fact, it is a partial dehydration as the grapes are placed in crates for approximately one month, thereby losing 8-10% of their weight. This process naturally enriches the sugar content of the grapes, their dry extract, and the colour of the wine. After fermentation and maceration, the wine is aged for 12 to 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels, then aged for another 6 months in bottle prior to release. I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of this wine and it always pleases. Let's see how this 2019 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TEDESCHI CAPITEL NICALÒ VALPOLICELLA SUPERIORE 2019 - DOC, Veneto, Italy (#984997) (XD) - $17.95
A blend of 35% Corvina, 35% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, and 10% Rossignola / Oseleta / Negrara / Dindarella, the medium-high intensity offers stewed and dried dark berry, black cherry, and plum aromas mingling with spices and earthy wood notes. It has good weight on the spicy, medium-bodied palate with more stewed black cherry, currant, plum, wood spice, and earthy notes in a dry flavour profile that's lifted by fresh, lively acidity. Supple tannins have a nice, slightly chalky texture. Very good length with wood spice, stewed berries, and faint mineral notes lingering on the finish. Recommended buy! Score: 89 pts

While some lovely wines from Tedeschi can be found at the LCBO, others can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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