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Inama

The Inama estate was founded in 1960 by Giuseppe Inama, who owned 30 ha of vines in the heart of the Soave Classico region, predominantly on the highly regarded Monte Foscarino. He handed the reigns to his son in 1992, who has continued to tend the family's vines, principally Garganega and Sauvignon Blanc, but also Chardonnay and a number of red varieties.

Inama The Soave vineyards are largely sited on the hills overlooking Soave and Monteforte d'Alpone, on the volcanic soils that typify the region. The grapes here are Garganega, the principal variety of all Soave, and Sauvignon Blanc, which has become something of an Inama specialty. Other vineyards include the Colli Berici Bradisismo (commonly misspelt Bradissimo by the inattentive), the name of which derives from bradyseism, a slow seismic event which forms ridges in the land. The soils here are terra rossa, like those found in the Coonawarra region of South Australia, and as such are eminently suited for red vines rather than white. Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenere are the most common, and Colli Berici was the first DOC for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in all Italy. The vines were imported from Bordeaux, along with Carmenere, which was mistaken for Cabernet Franc at the time. Today, as a result, many wines still declare themselves, incorrectly, as Cabernet Franc on the label. Intervention in the winery is minimal; the wines see a short maceration, and a gentle pressing. The must then settles before temperature-controlled fermentation, and then malolactic. The wines are bottled with as little fining and filtration as is possible.

The range of wines at Inama focuses on Soave and Sauvignon, with several cuvées of each, as well as Chardonnay and other wines. The Soave starts with the straight Classico cuvée, made from 100% Garganega (as is the case for all Soave) grown on 17 ha of basaltic lava. The vineyards are located on south, south-west and south-east facing slopes of Monteforte d’Alpone and Soave, at an altitude of 100 – 200 m. The vines are up to 30 years old, pergola trained and hand-harvested. It sees a cold soak, with stainless steel fermentation and up to eight months in steel before bottling. The Soave Vigneti di Foscarino is a special selection from these vineyards, sourced from about 10 ha of vines. The main difference is in the winery, where this cuvée sees alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in oak, with eight months oak ageing, with batonnage, before a coarse filtration and bottling. There is also a single vineyard Soave, Vigneto du Lot, sourced from a 2 ha plot on the Monte Foscarino. This sees the same oak treatment, using a mix of Allier and Nevers barrels.

The two Sauvignons include Vulcaia, from 15 year old Geneva double curtain trained vines on the Monteforte d’Alpone. This sees stainless steel throughout, and is bottled without fining or filtration. The Vulcaia Fumé is much the same but, as the name suggests, this sees well toasted oak, for both alcoholic and malolactic fermentations before nine months in barrel. The straight Chardonnay and the Chardonnay Campo dei Tovi cuvée follow the same principles, in that the former sees stainless steel, the latter oak. The Bradisismo Rosso del Veneto is, as expounded above, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. Fermented in stainless steel then aged in Nevers and Allier wood for fifteen months, this sees an egg white fining before bottling without filtration. The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvée, Oracolo Veneto Rosso, is fermented and aged in Tronçais barriques. The Vulcaia Apres Vino Dolce is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, late harvested, then fermented in heavily toasted oak. This sees nine months in oak before bottling after filtration. Finally there is also a spirit Acquavite, made from Garganega distilled over a bain-marie steamer, bottled at a heady 50% ABV. (21/6/05)

Contact details:
Address: Via F.lli Mazzotto 29, 37047 San Bonifacio -
Telephone: +39 045 761 0517
Internet: www.inamaaziendaagricola.it

Inama - Tasting Notes

Tasted in November 2004. Click to locate stockists:

Inama Soave Classico 2002: Stainless steel fermentation. Lovely nose of candied fruits. Rounded palate, Perfumed, slightly confected, with nuances of Turkish delight and rose petals. Rather unfocussed. Lacks impact and concentration. 14/20

Inama Soave Classico Vigneti di Foscarino 2001: Old vines, fermented in oak. A much fuller nose here. More depth. Sweet, concentrated, perfumed fruit. Rounded palate, again low on acidity, although with a little more concentration this time. Spicy, peppery bite. Exotic perfume again. Lacks balance. 14.5/20

Inama Soave Classico Vigneto du Lot 2002: A single vineyard cuvée, trellised vines. Perfumed, mineral nose, with impact, suggesting fatness if that's possible. Full, perfumed, seductive palate, although only moderate concentration. Some peppery acidity which is appreciated. This is a significant step up from the previous two wines. 15.5/20

Inama Vulcaia Sauvignon Blanc 2003: Stainless steel fermentation. Exotic, ripe, minerally, sweet candied fruit. Ripe and balanced. Moderate concentration. Perfume, mineral and chalk character. Rose petals again. Little to suggest Sauvignon, more reflective of its origins than the grape. It's good. 15.5/20

Inama Vulcaia Fumé 2001: Mixed fermentation, 30% in new oak, the remainder in stainless steel. Obvious barrel ferment nose here, with coffee notes too. Nice palate though. There is a little more body and impact than previous wines, with honeyed oak notes, but these are not overpowering. Good depth, minerals, chalky perfume. Just scraping very good. 16/20

Inama Bradisismo Rosso 2000: Liquorice and cigar smoke. Medium body. The mineral, chalky notes some through even to this cuvée, although thankfully not the rose petals or perfume. Quite primary. Depth and interest too. Woody, musky notes. Tannins come out of hiding at the end. Needs 4-5 years. 15+/20

Inama Vulcaia Après Vino Dolce 2001: Fresh, crisp nose, with evidence of some botrytis. Fat. Rich. Oily. Mouth-coating, expressive, huge. Chalky botrytis, oranges and apricots. Great length. This is glorious, with superb potential for the cellar. 17+/20

Tasted in July 2003:

Inama Vulcaia Sauvignon Blanc 2000: This wine has a moderate colour. It is ripe and rich on the nose, with some evidence of lees contact. There's a tropical character to the fruit, perhaps mango, with a touch of cream. A fat, weighty texture on the palate, a touch oily even, but with firm grip and fresh, juicy, citrus-like acidity. Mouth-filling, and with a firm, persistent length. Delicious stuff. 16.5/20