Blessed with sea and mountain climatic influences, Torre Zambra enjoys a beautiful setting in the picturesque hills of Villamagna. Winemaking is serious and methodical utilising native yeasts, a combination of concrete tank and tonneau ageing, and dedicated sustainable farming. Stunning fresh wines and gorgeous slurpable yet contemplative reds, a producer of amazing consistent quality.
50% Pecorino, 30% Passerina and 20% Trebbiano from plots around the estate, fermented and rested in stainless steel tanks before bottling.
Extensive winemaking trials and evolution see the whites now inoculated rather than wild fermented as per the reds, with reason being they ferment through quicker and cleaner and hit a more pinpoint style. Such an interesting wine here, highly aromatic and fruit-driven but with a ‘more you look, the more you see’ level of complexity. Pineapples, tinned fruit salad, lychees and tropical fruit leap out of the glass on the nose, almost a Sauvignon Blanc intensity here. These flavours continue on the palate, but there’s further elements – almonds and walnuts give a subtle bittering twist, torn mint leaves and white flowers all showing their hands. In simple terms, a delicious, super interesting textural dry white perfect for the warmer months.
50% Montepulciano, 30% Sangiovese, 20% Primitivo.
Drawing inspiration from Provence here for cracking freshness, but unmistakably Italianite. An intense and refreshing style led by cherries, strawberry and damson plums, over Campari notes, crushed fennel seeds and tomato leaf, with crisply defined mineral edges. A fantastic style for food matching, a great option for broadening a rosé section, and right at home among our keenness for pink wine.
From plantings around the estate. Wild fermented in stainless steel, then aged 12 months in concrete tanks before bottling.
Bright and grippy, enough juiciness for casual drinking and enough depth to take seriously. The Montepulciano grape curiously can provide impressions of oak characters in its chocolate and spice notes – whatever the case, fun drinking here.
“Cherry jam, floral notes, liquorice, mint, and almond biscotti. It’s medium-bodied, fleshy and packed with cherry and spicy flavour, a little new leather, rich silty tannin, a bright pop of acidity, a ferrous character, and a choc-coffee tinged finish of good length. Lively wine, and kind of rustic, chewy, and juicy, but in a positive sense. Excellent.” 93 points, Gary Walsh, Winefront
A single vineyard wine, 100% Pecorino and raised entirely in stainless steel.
Zippy! Lemon peel, a broad swathe of citrus spectrum, apricot, pineapple and tropical tones. Floral notes of white rose and acacia give the treble, with some salinity for low end. Fresh acidity and a decent body give it superb balance and versatility to pair with a wide range of food, otherwise pretty smart for drinking on its own.
Single vineyard here, wild fermented in stainless, then aged four months in concrete tanks before six months in oak; a mix of French and Slavonian barrels, 20% new, and a mix of large and small formats. More obvious seriousness here, initial impressions took us to a freshly opened bar of Old Gold Rum ‘n Raisin dark chocolate.
“Rich, dark cherry, chocolate and almond, with a spicy floral perfume, and a sort of ‘new car’ smell. Ripe, fleshy, coffee and chocolate, with a cinch of dried herb and amaro, grainy tannin, and a finish of fine length. No shortage of flavour and impact. Very good Monty.” 93 points, Gary Walsh, Winefront
The Riserva is wild fermented in stainless steel before six months ageing in concrete tanks, then 12 months in French and Slavonian mixed format barrels (40% new), with a further six months bottle ageing before release.
Where some tasters have braced themselves expecting a ripe oak bomb given Riserva designation, this sits pretty and approachable. Wine matches the luxe packaging, loads of coffee, cocoa, spice and dark fruits here, hedonistic though well balanced.
“Rich black fruit and smoky oak on the nose and palate. Full-bodied with well-integrated tannins and a medium finish. Not overly complex and nice to drink now. Should cellar a while, too.” 92 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
100% Montepulciano. Fermented wild in stainless steel, aged six months in concrete tanks, then 10 months in French and Slavonian oak tonneau, 50% new, with a further six months in bottle before release. Villamagna DOC (pronounced Villa-manya) is one of Italy’s smallest appellations at 85 hectares, hosting some five producers and two co-ops. Granted in 2011, it’s characterised by limestone and clacaire soils and sits at 120 – 250 metres elevation.
Despite weighing in at 15% alcohol against the Riserva’s 14%, it presents as a finer iteration. Varietal flavours of tobacco, cocoa and coffee are present, but fruit notes of black cherry and raspberry are more present here, with it holding a tighter line in the mouth and finishing with awesome length. Serious and extremely limited, ships in great looking wooden six packs.
“Wild blackberries, chocolate, bacon and sweet spices on the nose. Full body with chewy tannins and fresh acidity. Sweet blackberries on the palate with a vivid finish. Very ripe and plush, but well-balanced. Sustainable. Vegan. Drink or hold.” 91 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
