The wines of Inama, Soave, Italy

Azienda Agricola Inama, Via IV Novembre 1, 37047 San Bonifacio (VR), Italy
Tel: +39 0348 444 1444
Website: www.inamaaziendaagricola.it
UK agent: Winetraders (01865 251 851)

Let me start by saying that I was very excited by this line up of wines. It’s very rare to try through a producer’s range of wines and rate as many as three of them as excellent, but Stefano Inama has put in a near-perfect performance. Prices are still sane, also. Before I wrote these stunning wines up I wanted to be sure about my judgements, so I tried the majority of them again a couple of months later and confirmed my ratings. Particularly exciting are the top Soave, the barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blance, and the exotically rich Montepulciano. 

Inama Soave Classico 2001
Made from hand-harvested pergola-trained Garganega grapes, fermented and aged in stainless steel. Quite a distinctive herbal edge to the nose: bright and fruity. Rounded rich palate with lots of flavour and a savoury minerally edge. An interesting, characterful wine. Very good/excellent (£7.99 Sainsbury)

Inama Soave Classico ‘Vigneti di Foscarino’ 2000
Made from a selection of old vines grown at the top of Monte Foscarino. Pergola trained Garganega grapes. Remarkable forward herby nose with waxy, nutty complexity. Really rich, spectacular palate with a spicy, herby edge. Quite brilliant: a lovely complex savoury white wine. Very good/excellent (£12)

Inama Soave Classico ‘Vigneto du Lot’ 2001
From an experimental vineyard planted in 1993: instead of pergola training, the Garganega grapes are grown in a permanent cordon and are spur pruned. 50% new Allier oak is used. Striking rich herby, toasty nutty nose. Rich exotic ripe palate with straw and herb edge to the savoury nutty palate. Excellent (£16.50)

Inama Sauvignon del Veneto ‘Vulcaia’ IGT
Sauvignon was planted on the slopes of Monte Foscarino in 1986 by Stefano’s father Guiseppe. This is fermented and aged in stainless steel. Deep coloured. Exotic, rich nose showing sweet herby fruit with a savoury edge. Soft, herby palate with some maturity to it. Unusual. Very good+ (£10)

Inama Sauvignon del Veneto ‘Vulcaia Fume’ 2000
A selection of the best grapes fermented in barriques, 50% of which are new. Remarkably complex rich nose is herby and toasty with some liqueur-like notes. The palate is dense and rich, with intense herby complexity. Bold and rich, this is remarkable stuff that’s brilliantly different. Excellent (£20)

Inama Bradisismo Cabernet Sauvignon del Veneto 1999
From vineyards in the Colli Berici, which has a rich terrarossa soil. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Carmenère (15%) and Cabernet Franc (15%) aged in new French barriques. Dense, refined spicy blackcurrant fruit with a savoury, chalky edge. Taut, dense palate is vividly fruited with a minerally core and good acid. Vivid, taut and concentrated. Very good/excellent (£20)

Aziendo Agricola Bionomio, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2000
Stefano Inama purchased a 4.2 ha parcel of old vine Montepulciano (of a special clone) in the heart of Abruzzo. This wine is aged in new French barriques. Rich, intense exotic nose is liqouricey and ripe with intense spicy and menthol notes. The palate is super-concentrated and spicy with lush, intense berry fruit and some oak evident. A modern, supercharged style but still with lots of character. Excellent (£25)

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