Macchiona La Stoppa Barbera/Bonarda MAGNUM 2010

Macchiona La Stoppa Barbera/Bonarda MAGNUM Biodynamic wine, old vines Barbera and Bonarda, long ageing, mature vintage, claret-esque in style, delicious savoury and full bodied natural red wine. Macchiona is a biodynamic red wine made from the very Italian grapes of Bonarda and Barbera but carries with it a note of the Bordelaise. It has dark fruity notes of blackcurrant, dried currants with cedar, and subtle notes of pencil and wood. The acidity of the Italian grapes add an extra dimension and make the wine unmistakably Italian. A mature vintage, the 2006 is drinking beautifully.

La Stoppa are an ancient wine estate in Val Trebbiola, not far from the River Trebbia, in the province of Piacenza.

100 years ago, the then owner Ageno, a lawyer of some repute planted Bordeaux varieties and named them after the more illustrious wines of that region, Bordo, Bordo Bianco and Pino. In the 70s the estate was taken over by the Pantaleoni Family and now is run by Elena Pantaleoni according to biodynamic principles. The vines have been replanted and they now produce wines from local varieties such as Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, Barbera and Bonarda, as well as the wines from their ancient vines of Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Semillon. The commitment to natural production, minimal work in the cellar and the excellent terroir yield wines of character, freshness and style which have something of the Bordeaux about them even with the Italian varieties. Perhaps, the 'Terroir' remembers its past and transfuses the history of this magnificent estate into every grape!