Evening!
Last week we had a tumultuous return visit to beautiful Salo by
Italy’s Lake Garda. This week I want you to imagine we’ve been
back home for a while, and been sampling all those lovely grappas we
were able to bring home. There’s four of them in all. Here’s what
I thought.
Franzosi’s
Grappa di Rebo
The
small cork on this modern-style bottle reveals a bizarre insert that
does a great job of regulating the pour. It doesn’t restrict it in
any way. The label is transparent with the name written sideways in
red.
It
is savoury in its mightily impressive nose and on the tongue, and not
really sweet at all, but actually very good. There was definitely a
benefit to using my new grappa glasses here. The wine glass I tried
on opening at our friends Phil and Laura’s didn’t do it justice.
Phil and Laura love Italy almost as much as we do, though this was
their first experience of its special spirit. Laura seemed
interested, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d been left with
an impression of weird vodka.
Overall
the Rebo didn’t quite live up to the taste we had at the showroom.
It may be that it is better chilled, but I never chill my grappa, and
don’t really want to start doing that.
Il
Roccolo Quatra
I’m
not sure if this one really is called “Quatra”, as the writing on
the label is somewhat ambiguous. It’ll have to do though. It’s a
refined little bottle with smart shoulders and a slight taper,
adorned at the top with a ribbon and a large, tight stopper. The
label is low maintenance and respectful.
Much
sweeter than the Rebo, I’ve found the Quatra to be very enjoyable
and easy drinking. I really feel that extra 5% alcohol does it a lot
of favours as it generates intoxicating fumes and a more intense
sweetness.
It’s
a no-nonsense grappa that ticks all the boxes and gets the job done.
Il
Turina Invecchiata
Presented
in a low-key but classic bottle with what I’m going to call a
wedding stationery label, this expression is a model of
understatement. It features the same bottle insert as the Rebo, and
is 45% ABV. I determined quite quickly that it lacked a certain
sweetness that I was hoping for. It was enjoyable enough, but quickly
found itself sliding down the pecking order and being the grappa that
I would drink most frequently because I wanted to make the Quatra
last. And also I opened this…
Grappa
di Leali MonteAcuto
It
turns out that this immaculately packaged delight is the jewel in the
crown. If you visit here fairly regularly you might already be aware
that I was so impressed with this that I made it one of my three
spirits of the year. It is full-bodied, sweet and complex, and well
worth that trip off the beaten track, into the back roads of the
region.
And
so ends our Italian love affair for another year. It’s well worth
discovering and pursuing the delights of grappa, but even if it isn’t
up your street, and wine is more your thing, a week or two exploring
the various regions of Italy, visiting cantinas and wineries, makes
for a relaxing and engaging experience.
That’s
it for now then. I’ll be back next week, talking about something
else. See you then.
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