Orra Wine Review 2021

I have the upmost respect for all wineries. Each year, many wineries take the trouble to send their produce for my review and I thank them for their generosity and their trust.

These wines although interesting, do not fall into any major category, some tend to get put aside until I have time to appraise them and I have decided to place these into a new annual category called Orra Wine Review:

Palazzo Lodron

The Counts of Lodron settled in the Lagarina Valley at the end of the 15th Century. An area used to define the lower mountain course of the Adige river, mainly included in the Trentino province, the lowest section being part of the Verona province. The largest nearby town is Rovereto.

Today the descendants of the Counts of Lodron are the Volpini de Maestri family. They opened their magnificent palace for public events in the 1990’s.

The winery was founded in 2016.

La Montecchia, Conte Emo Capodilista

A historical winery part of the Colli Euganei appellation, namely hills of volcanic origin, 40 km from the sea, considered the hills of Venice.

Podernuovo a Palazzone

The beautiful estate belonging to Giovanni Bulgari, adjacent to the hamlet of Palazzone in the municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni, on the border of Umbria and Lazio.

Poggio Santa Maria

Castiglione del Lago, Umbria.

A small winery near Lake Trasimeno, situated at 370 metres above sea level, producing 15,000 bottles annually.

Tasting Notes

Palazzo Lodron Flaminia Rosato 2018

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot. Deep pink in colour.

Cherry and red summer berry, Sicilian red orange. Has a candied character. Silky tannins. Clean fresh and vibrant appeal. Slight exotic. Mint and flinty nuances on the close. Has understated elegance.

Points 92 TW

Palazzo Lodron Divertimento N.10 2018

Cabernet Franc, Merlot. Deep ruby red in colour.

Black cherry. Black berry. Mint. Dark chocolate. Blue floral tones. Caressing tannins. Bright acidity. Good textural richness. Still in its infancy. So much to offer.

Points 92-94TW

Palazzo Lodron Rizzoi 2018

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carménère. Deep ruby red in colour. Heady violet florals introduce blackberry fruits and bramble. Asian spice, soft aromas of Madagascan vanilla. Rich and creamy on entry succulent fruit pump through its veins expanding across the mid palate and onward to a juicy close.

Balanced and enticing.

Points 96 TW

Conte Emo Capodilista Piuchebello Bianco Veneto 2019

White and yellow Moscato grapes. Pale straw in colour. Decadent aromas of Asian fruit with a predominance of mango. Yellow florals. Medium to full body. Bright clean and fresh with sour cherry and nutshell nuances on the finish.

Points 90 TW

Conte Emo Capodilista Rolandino Pinot Bianco 2019

Pale straw in colour with faint yellow highlights. Cut spring flower aromatics. Orchard fruit, honeydew melon. Savoury. Comes across a little tight. Needs a couple of years of bottle age. Vivid acidity.

Points 91 TW

Conte Emo Capodilista Fior D’Arancia NV

Sweet spumante, yellow Moscato. Medium gold in colour. Super concentrated aromas of orange peel and lemon zest. Pie crust. Yellow florals. Elegant perlage. Hints of guava on the back end. Beautifully crafted. Not showing any sweet aggression. Wonderful clarity and precision.

Point 92 TW

Conte Emo Capodilista Ca’Emo 2017

Merlot 40%, Cabernet Franc 30%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, Raboso 5 %.

Deep ruby red in colour. Red berry fruits, plum, liquorice. Fruit showing irregular maceration.Has buckets of residual tanning tension. Comes across a little lean with an abrupt close.

Points 89 TW

Conte Emo Capodilista Irenèo 2016

Cabernet Sauvignon 90%, Merlot 6%, Carménère 4%. Pale purple in colour.

Black cherry, blueberry, dried herbs, faint liquorice, pipe tobacco and a whiff of Eastern spice. Needs plenty of areation. Dense, juicy and muscular.

Points 92 TW

PoderNuovo a Palazzone Argirio 2017

Cabernet Franc. Bright ruby red in colour. Violet floral aromas. Sweet red cherry, stewed plum underpinned with black berry cassis, dark chocolate, liquorice. Soft entry. Savoury and earthy. Distinctly racy personality. Ample and generous. Finish goes on a marathon. Difficult growing year: remarkable achievement.

Points 95 TW

PoderNuovo a Palazzone Therra 2015

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese. Black cherry, plum, blackberries, dry leather, white pepper, faint blue florals. Juicy and balanced. Superb intensity. Plenty of verve. Ends on nuances of white smoke and underbush. Linear with persistent finish.

Points 94 TW

Poggio Santa Maria Colli del Trasimeno Montelungo 2016

Merlot 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 15%. Twelve months in steel and six months in bottle. Medium garnet in colour. Black fruits. Wet leather. Dried mushroom, forest floor and spice. Chewy tannins.Medium bodied. Citrusy character.

Points 88 TW

Poggio Santa Maria Colli del Trasimeno Santa Maria Tresa 2016

Merlot 100%. Vinification in wooden vats with free run must without pressing. Natural fermentation with manual punching down for 20 days. Aged in new French oak barriques for 12 months, followed by 12 months in bottle. Ruby red in colour. Black cherry, liquorice, underbrush. Chewy tannins. Nervous style.

Points 87 TW