Wine Reviews: The Exceptional Veneto Wines of Inama

I’ve been fascinated by the wines of Azienda Agricola Inama for quite a few years. Located in Soave Classico, winemaker Stefano Inama crafts classic Veneto wines with a lot of personality and depth, while also doing things a bit differently.

I have enjoyed this Veneto producer’s Soaves, sourced from sites Stefano’s father Giuseppe purchased in the 1960s near Mount Foscarino. But it was their Carmenère that really got me excited. Wine geeks surely know how this grape has found a new home in Chile after its history of being confused with Merlot in Bordeaux. It was brought to Italy from Southwest France some 150 years ago, where it was then commonly confused with Cabernet Franc. Regardless, in the warm, hilly area of the Colli Berici, the Carmenère grape has a found a home in which to thrive. When I met and tasted with Stefano in 2016, he told me, "Carmenere requires such an addiction.” And that intense focus on this grape is evident in the glass.

I recently tasted through some newly released wines from Inama, and I continue to find these wines to be great examples their region, while offering a sense of dynamism and excitement that makes them stand out.

These wines were received as trade samples and tasted sighted.

2019 Inama Soave Classico Vin Soave - Italy, Veneto, Soave Classico
SRP: $16
Medium yellow color. Nose shows peaches, cantaloupe melon, lime, with white flowers and sea salt; Crisp and bright on the palate but shows creamy depth and lovely balance. Lemon, peach, juicy pear, the fruit mixes well with notes of slices cucumber, mint, orange zest, steely, chalk dusty tones. Brisk but nice richness and depth, for an entry-level wine at this price, serious richness and complexity in here. (88 points)

2017 Inama Soave Classico Vigneti di Carbonare - Italy, Veneto, Soave Classico
SRP: $28
Light gold color. Enticing nose of lemon, quince, white flowers, hay, along with fascinating tones of talc, saline and green olive. Rich texture, medium-bodied, bright acidity, the balance is lovely. Lemons, green apple, kiwi, the fruit is mixed with oyster shell, minerals, green olive, hay. There’s a purity and focus in this wine that is really attractive. Serious Soave that Muscadet or Chablis nerds should try. From the basalt soils of the Carbonare vineyard. (92 points)

2016 Inama Carménère Più - Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT
SRP: $21

Light purple color. Spicy nose of pepper, anise, paprika and mesquite over top of rec cherries and black and red currants. Medium-bodied on the palate, fresh acidity, nice grip on the palate, but no harsh edges. A silky but tangy feel with tart red and black currants and cherries. A host of complex spicy notes, like paprika, pepper, grilled steak. It opens up so well with air and shows more floral and elegant tones. I’d love to see this in four to six years. Special, fascinating Carmenere that includes 30% Merlot. (91 points)

2016 Inama Bradisismo - Italy, Veneto, Colli Berici
SRP: $30
Deep purple color. Dark and saucy on the nose with black currants, roasted figs, black cherries, along with roasted chestnut, scorched herbs, graphite, violets and anise. Fresh acidity frames the wine nicely, on a medium/full-bodied frame, with solid tannic backbone. Roasted fig, blueberry and black cherry fruit, deep but tangy, and the fruit is laced with mesquite, pepper, soy, leather. Underlying mineral, graphite and cocoa powder tones. This will show best after about five years, I’d wager. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carmenère, aged 14 months in oak, seven months in stainless steel, and 12 months in bottle. (91 points)

This post first appeared on the daily wine blog Terroirist.