Inama Soave Classico is a wine that unites the world. Inama Soave Classico is ridiculously cheap, fantastically and consistently flavourful and gives you everything you ever wanted from a wine. You want a multi dimensional nose? You got it. You want a balanced and structured wine? No worries. You want to pay £7 for a 90 point wine? Sold to the lady in the straw hat. It's insane how good this wine is for the money but not as insane as the fact that Soave is continually overlooked in favour of *blows into hand* Pinot Grigio.I couldn't be more bored with Pinot Grigio right now. Ok, Vie de Romans, Villa Russiz, they produce wonderful Pinot Grigio's but still, the mass produced, mass exported Pinot Grigio out there, for the most part, is dull as dishwater. I've had more exciting bottles of mineral water, honestly! So what is it about Pinot Grigio? Why is everyone drinking this wine over Soave? Over Falanghina? Is it purely Pinot envy? It could be a part of the reason. If asked to name an Italian white on Family Fortunes every one would hear the "wha wha whaaaaaa TOP ANSWER" because we all know PG. I am begging of you to put it down, step away from the PG and pick up a bottle of Soave, and not just any bottle of Soave, THIS bottle of Soave. Inama are a celebrated and fairly new vineyard (1960's) in the Soave Classico region producing some stonking whites at great prices. This particular Soave has a production of 150,000 bottles a year which is fairly high and that they manage to achieve such excellence with such a high production is a credit to the winemakers. They are busy bees over at Inama, knocking out high quality Chardonnays, standard Veneto Rosso's, Sauvignon Blancs, dessert wine and a very good Carmenere. However, it is their range of Soave's that set the Gambero Rosso guys salivating and gets me clapping my hands with glee because we have, in their Soave range, QPR in spades.
For those who don't know Soave, it's a region in the Veneto with 3 DOC/DOCG wines. Soave is not a grape variety, the grape used to make Soave is called "Garganega".
Soave DOC - Tends to be the cheapest of the 3, no real ageing potential, a simple example of the Garganega grape. Soave Classico DOC - These are wines with grapes grown in the "Classico" region of Soave, that being Soave itself and Monteforte d'Alpone. These wines tend to take on a more mineral quality and are a little fruitier and capable of a little ageing. Oh, and they're pricier too. Recioto di Soave Superiore DOCG - These wines can only be grown on the slopes of Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone, must have at least 3 months bottle age. The Riserva versions must be aged two years. These wines are more complex than the Soave Classico DOC's.
If you're still feeling the need to head into Pinot Grigio land let me give you some PG Tips, as with every grape varietal that becomes exceptionally popular there are some real lemons out there but there are also four really excellent producers namely Vie de Romans, Villa Russiz, Tramin and from the Alto Adige, Alois Lageder. Soave is the wine of Romeo and Juliet, it can be complex, it can be simple but a good bottle is always fruity and for nosehounds this is one of the better Italian whites with interesting aromas of honey, pears and apricots. These are nose and flavour profiles I enjoy in a white wine but I do realise that some people just like bland, dairy milk chocolate, walkers ready salted crisps and standard Pinot Grigio. Whatever floats yer boat, innit!
Inama Soave Classico 2006 - BUY - €9
Very light hay colour, a pleasant nose of pears, peaches, honeyed with some apricot notes too, nose is wonderfully fresh and fruity. The palate is structured, mid bodied, the fruit continues throughout the tasting with a super long finish. That this is £7 a bottle is crazy. Value here in spades. 90 Points
Where can I buy this wine?
Europeans - Web di Vino - €9.25
Americans - Wine Exchange - $10.99
Brits - The Cellar Door - £7
Australians - No place! Sorry
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I'm still waiting for that Australian Italian wine superstore? Anyone know one? Am I bashing your beloved Pinot Grigio? Have you tried Soave? Have you tried this Soave? Stories of Soave please!
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