Cascina degli Ulivi Mounbè · 2009

In one of the scenes from Natural Resistance, the Jonathan Nossiter documentary which tells of the difficulties Italian winemakers encounter, cultivating their lands with all due respect for nature, Steffano Bellotti appears, proudly holding a handful of the healthy earth from his parcels. That land is precisely where the Cascina degli Ulivi vineyards are embedded and cultivated bio-dynamically. The winery's philosophy, which is well summarised on the back labels of its wines, talks of how nature produces one of its finest fruits, first on the land and then in the winery. Without any intervention in the vineyards, with no added yeasts, no filtration, no correcting nor clarifying. Simply the must from grapes which ferment naturally. Mounbè is a wine made using a coupage of Barbera, Dolcetto and Ancellotta, with the latter being a little known variety which provides colour and good sugar content. It's a wine which may have some sediment and needs time if it's to be enjoyed to the full; we advise decanting it before serving. In the glass it appears a ruby-red colour, with garnet hues which indicate the start of evolution, as well as a clarity and brightness which prove its perfect condition. On the nose, the typical character of the Barbera grape is predominant: warm, mature and showing excellent acidity. Aromas of cherries, rhubarb, tobacco, liquorice, iron, plus balsamic and oregano notes. The first taste confirms our suspicions: a powerful freshness that will last in the bottle for years. A sprightly, flavoursome wine with fine tannins. Its alcohol content shouldn't be underestimated, but has absolutely no influence at all on the pleasure each sip provides. A wine that doesn't deserve to be rushed. Uncork it and allow some time before enjoying it, perhaps with a tasty meat risotto... As we all know, there are some pleasures that are well worth a quiet wait.

Look

Ruby red, Riflessi granati

Nose

Cherry liqueur, Tamarind, Iron, Balsamic notes

Palate

Fresh, Agile, Assertive, Persistent

Pairs with

Risotto with sausage, Gnocchi with cheese, Roast lamb, Stuffed veal

Drink

Serve between 16ºC and 18ºC

£53.18

About the vineyard[+]

Buy Italian Wine Online — Delivered to the UK Vinissimus stocks over 400 Italian wines — from everyday Chianti and Prosecco to aged Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino. Browse by region, grape or style using the filters below, with delivery across the UK and £10 off your first order. Italian wine regions Italy produces wine in every one of its 20 regions. Four are the most useful starting points: Tuscany: home to Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Bolgheri and the Super Tuscans — Sassicaia, Tignanello, Ornellaia. Italy's most recognised fine wine region. Piedmont: home to Barolo and Barbaresco, both made from Nebbiolo — powerful, structured reds built for long ageing. Also, the source of Barbera d'Asti, Moscato d'Asti and Franciacorta-adjacent sparkling wines from Alta Langa. Veneto: produces more wine than any other Italian region. Amarone della Valpolicella is its flagship — rich and concentrated, made from partially dried grapes. Also the source of Valpolicella Ripasso, Soave and Prosecco. Puglia: bold, ripe reds — mainly Primitivo and Negroamaro. Excellent value relative to Tuscany and Piedmont. Italian red wine Italian red wine ranges from light, fresh styles like young Valpolicella and Bardolino, through medium-bodied Chianti and Barbera, to some of the longest-lived reds in the world — Barolo, Brunello and Amarone. The three grapes most worth knowing: Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Primitivo. Italian white wine Pinot Grigio is the most exported Italian white, but the more interesting bottles come from Campania — Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo — from Friuli, from Soave in the Veneto, and from Sardinia's Vermentino. Barrel-aged white Burgundy lovers often find a natural home in Verdicchio or white Rioja-style whites from Friuli. Italian sparkling wine Three styles worth knowing: Prosecco: light and fresh, pear and floral notes, from the Veneto. The most widely drunk Italian sparkling wine. Franciacorta: from Lombardy, made using the same method as Champagne. More complex and aged than Prosecco, with better structure and depth. Asti Spumante: sweet and low-alcohol from Piedmont, made from Moscato Bianco. A different category — not a Champagne substitute but a style in its own right. Italian wine classifications Four quality tiers from lowest to highest: Vino da Tavola: table wine, no geographical indication IGT: broader regional indication — includes many Super Tuscans that deliberately sit outside DOC rules DOC: controlled designation of origin, with specific rules on grape varieties and production methods DOCG: the highest tier, strictest controls — includes Barolo, Brunello, Chianti Classico, Amarone and Franciacorta FAQ What is the best Italian red wine? Depends on budget and style. For everyday drinking, a Chianti Classico or Barbera d'Asti offers reliable quality from £12–20. For special occasions, Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino are the benchmark — structured, age-worthy reds that rival the best in the world. What is the difference between DOC and DOCG? Both are controlled designations, but DOCG is the higher tier with stricter production rules and mandatory tasting approval before release. DOCG covers Italy's most prestigious wines — Barolo, Brunello, Chianti Classico and Amarone among them. What Italian wine is similar to Malbec or Shiraz? Primitivo from Puglia is the closest in style — full-bodied, dark fruit, warm spice, soft tannins. Nero d'Avola from Sicily is another option, slightly more structured with a Mediterranean earthiness. Which Italian wines are good for beginners? Prosecco for sparkling, Pinot Grigio or Soave for white, and Chianti or Valpolicella for red. All are approachable, widely available and a reliable starting point before moving into more complex styles.

£53.18