December Wine Tasting - Italy vs. Australia

December's Wine Tasting!!!
Italy vs. Australia

(wines are described below)

Friday, Dec. 14th
3:30-7:30pm

Freeport Cheese & Wine
27 Bow Street
Freeport, ME
(207) 865-3993

We are repeating the "dueling distributors" format from last month!

• Old World vs. New World!
• Italy vs. Australia!
• Mary Bridge from Winebow (my favorite Italian importer) vs. Doug and Cat from SOPO!

The Wines!!!
(the complete list!)

From Italy, the reigning champion!

Sparking

Zardetto Prosecco Brut Conegliano (Veneto) $11.99 - One of my FAVORITE sparkling wines. One of the first to market and introduce Prosecco! Lemon, grapefruit and tropical fruit aromas and flavors. Nice angular, lean minerality. Fresh. Clean, crisp, light. Soft in the mouth. Great bubbles. 100% Prosecco. Stainless steel fermentation. Minimal aging. Food pairing - Great for a party (wedding sparkler) or cocktail wine. Drink with seafood or just enjoy! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 88 points

White wines

Botromagno Gravina DOC (Apulia) 2006 - Reg. $9.99, Sale $8.99 -We love this wine! A huge hit at a private wine tasting - nice, crisp, fresh, drinks great! Straw colored, clear, with green tints. Aromas of flowers and tropical fruit and lemons. Dry, medium-bodied, flavors of lemon & tropical fruit. Real nice soft texture without being "fat". Fermented and aged in stainless steel. 100% malolactic fermentation. Blend of 60% Greco & 40% Malvasia. The D'Agostino Family has helped restore this winemaking area and they are making one of the best white wines from Southern Italy! Food pairing - Great with oysters, shellfish, fish, spicy foods and savory soups. Drinks well without food.

Maculan Pinot & Toi IGT (Veneto) 2006 - $14.99 - This is a tasty wine from one of Northern Italy’s best wineries! Pale yellow color. Aromas of citrus, peaches and pears. Flavors of peaches, pears and minerals. Well-balanced acidity. Soft and round feeling at the start. Crisp, clean finish. Refreshing wine. Blend of 60% Tocai, 25% Pinot Bianco and 15% Pinot Grigio from vineyards in-and-around Breganze in northeastern Italy. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in the bottle for 6 months before it is released. Food pairing - great as a cocktail wine, with antipasta, lighter white meat dishes, lighter pasta dishes, etc. Food & Wine, Italy’s Top Wines Under $20

Falesco Ferentano IGT (Lazium) 2005 - $29.99 - this white wine is the Big Daddy in the bunch - made from a red-skinned, obscure grape - Roscetto. This rivals excellent Burgundies! A great, unusual white wine! Aromas and flavors of pineapples, bananas, fresh herbs, vanilla, minerals & more. Rich & full-bodied. Long finish that is just complex as can be! From a rare grape unique to Umbria - 100% estate-grown Roscetto, a red grape that makes a full-bodied white wine. Aged 3 months in 2-year-old French oak barriques. Bottled unfined & unfiltered. Aged 3 months in the bottle. 750 cases made. Food pairing - This white wine screams for "big" meats dishes. Definitely a "red wine lover's" white wine!

Reds

Morgante Nero d'Avola IGT (Sicily) 2005 $16.99 - Riccardo Cotarella is the brilliant winemaker at Morgante - as well as at Falesco and elsewhere in Italy - he is a true ROCK STAR and genius when it comes to Italian winemaking! Morgante is a 5th generation vineyard that began making its own wines in 1994. This is full-bodied and wonderful. Smoky, earthy & dark fruit aromas! Flavors of dark berries, black cherries, earth and smoky meats. Long, full finish! Aged 4 months in moderately toasted French oak; aged another 4 months in the bottle. Food pairing - roasted meats, eggplant parmigiana, pasta, lasagna, etc. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points

Coppo Barbera d'Asti Camp du Rouss DOC (Piedmont) 2004 - $21.99 - Another wine with Riccardo Cotarella's signature on it! Coppo is a wonderful, small producer in Piedmont - they are regarded as Barbera specialists! It’s rich, flavorful, soft, full-bodied…aromas and flavors of black and red fruit...hints of smoke, licorice (and I don’t like licorice candy), game, herbs, touch of spice. Silky, soft tannins. 20% is aged in new French oak for 12 months. 8,000 cases made. Food pairing - Goes well with osso buco, grilled meats, roast beef, roast duck, lamb or beef stew, sautéed mushrooms. Wine Spectator, 90 points; Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre IGT (Veronese) 2004 - Reg. $21.99, Sale $19.99 - Gambero Rosso, Italy's most important wine publication, named Allegrini a "Star" winery - one which has won at least ten "3-glass" awards (it's highest). Only a select few have won the "star" - which recognizes Italy's top producers who consistently produce outstanding wines across many vintages! Allegrini makes its mark with vineyard specific wines - this is one of them! What a rich, soft, elegant, great-tasting wine! A SPECIAL wine! For Amarone lovers, w/o the Amarone price tag! Velvet in a glass. Rich, complex nose – ripe fruit and spicy oak. Mouth-filling wine, but soft feel. Smooth tannins balance the dark berry and cherry flavors. Powerful. Long finish. Single vineyard blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella & 5% Sangiovese. Food pairing - Great food wine! Rich meals – game, mushroom risotto, lamb & more. For a special treat – try with GOOD bittersweet chocolate! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points

Dessert

Maculan Dindarello Moscato IGT (Veneto) 2005 - $21.99 - Maculan is probably Italy's most esteemed producer of dessert wines! This is a tasty dessert wine! Aromas of honey and flowers. Full-bodied, sweet and with well-balanced acidity. Made from 100% Moscato Fior d'Arancio (orange blossom) from the Dindarello vineyard northeastern Italy. The grapes are dried for one-and-a-half months to concentrate the sugars and flavors in the grapes. Only 11% alcohol, this is a lighter dessert wine than a port or one of the Australian "stickies." Food pairing - Wonderful with fresh fruit such as sliced pears. Drinks great on its own!

From Australia, the "New World" Challenger!

White Wines

Hill of Content Benjamin’s Blend 2005 (Australia) $14.99 - Completely unoaked, this is a wonderful wine. This label has achieved cult status. Unlike many blends, you can taste the Chardonnay (green apple & pear) at the start, the Semillon (lush, rich) in the middle and the Sauvignon Blanc (crisp, clean, good acidity, herbaceous grassiness) at the finish. It has a real nice feel in the mouth, a pleasant, exciting nose. Well-balanced acidity. Food pairing - This wine goes well with a slew of foods, especially seafood.

Elderton Unwooded Chardonnay 2007 (Australia) $14.99 - This is a pretty, bright and fresh white! Aromas of bright, ripe tropical fruits, orchard fruits, mint and stony minerals. Flavors of green apple, pears & melons. Juicy feel to the wine. Clean at the finish! Unoaked Chardonnay. Bottle fresh, young and crisp! 100% Chardonnay. Food pairing - lighter poultry dishes, seafood, salads, etc. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 88 points

Red Wines

Hill of Content Grenache Shiraz 2004 (Australia) $14.99 - Wonderful New World take on a classic combo from Southern France!!! Aromas and flavors of raspberries and strawberries (that’s the Grenache talking right out of the glass!). The Shiraz adds nice peppery notes and spices and gives the wine a little more weight! Well-balanced. Aged 24 months in old French oak. Clare Valley fruit. 90% Grenache, 10% Shiraz. Food pairing - Great as a cocktail wine when your guests first arrive! Drinks well with grilled foods, Provencal meals, etc.

Elderton Tantalus Shiraz/Cabernet/Malbec/Merlot 2005 (Australia) $13.99 - Bright, fresh, juicy and tasty! Aromas and flavors of dark and red berries….lots of fruit in the flavors! Nice spices in the aromas along with a little “brambly” note. Soft tannins. Easy-to-drink. Hints of spice, pepper and mocha. Blend of 59% Shiraz, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec & 6% Merlot. 12 months in American oak. Tantalus was punished by the Greek gods – he was kept perpetually hungry and thirsty! Food pairing – pizza, pasta, grilled foods! Drinks well without food! Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 88 points

"Some Young Punks" Quickie Nebbiolo/Shiraz 2006 (Australia) $21.99 - Fabulous wine made by 3 young winemakers! The young woman in the team was in our store on May 31st. Aussie blends are GREAT VALUES! Big, red berry and cherry aromas with lots of minerals and baking spices. Lots of red fruit flavors & zesty minerals. Full-flavored. Juicy. Soft tannins at the finish. Soft, lingering finish with more red fruit! 50% Nebbiolo & 50% Shiraz. 200 cases made. The label is an old “pulp fiction” book cover (one of the winemakers collect them). 10% aged in new oak; 90% in older barriques. Food pairing - Excellent choice for grilled meats, roasts and just drinking! Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 90 points

Shinas Estates “The Guilty” Shiraz 2005 (Australia) $22.99 - This is an EXCELLENT Shiraz! A great companion to “The Innocent” Viognier! Aromas of flowers, dark berries and plums and peppery spice. Loads of flavors – ripe dark fruit, cherries, strawberries, blackberries and more. Full-bodied. Well-balanced tannins. Long finish with lots of black cherries. Single vineyard old-vine grapes. Hand-harvested grapes. Aged 18 months in old French oak, concentrating the aromas & flavors. 2,500 cases made. Food pairing – steaks, grilled meats, lamb….drinks well on its own – I like big wines!

This is from an earlier tasting - back in January 2007. I thought I'd post my notes from this great event tasting wonderful Italian wines!

Italian Wine Tasting
Featuring 2 Star Winemakers from Piedmont
& 6 of their wines!

Wednesday, Jan. 24th
6:00 - 7:30pm
Hilton Garden Inn
5 Park Street, Freeport, ME
$10/person
Call Freeport Cheese & Wine at 865-3993 to reserve a seat

The wines of Piedmont, especially Barolos, are world-renowned. This week, we will have 2 top winemakers from Piedmont here in Freeport showcasing their wines, Mauro Veglio and Gianfranco Alessandria. They are cousins and each of them leads a small winery.

This is a rare treat - we don't often get many winemakers in Maine - and it's rare to get two of the top Barolo producers here at the same time - we want to thank Ned Swain of Devenish Wines from helping put this together. These winemakers produce world-class wines!

The tasting is at the Hilton Garden Inn because Maine law only permits a retail store to have one wine tasting per month. There is a small fee, $10, to taste this flight of 6 wines - restaurants and bars are not permitted to give away alcohol in Maine. Bear in mind, 3 of these wines will retail for approximately $60/bottle - so, $10 is a small price to pay for an opportunity to taste such great wines!

The Hilton Garden Inn has a wonderful bar that is comfortable and a perfect venue for a small event such as this!

What will we taste?

2 Barolos, one Dolcetto, 2 Barbera d'Albas and a wine unique to only 8 winemakers in Barolo, L'Insieme!

We are thrilled and pleased that we can share these wines with you and offer you the opportunity to meet these two wonderful winemakers! The L'Insieme is a unique wine in the Langhe - it is a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each year, 8 Barolo winemakers produce their own versions of L'Insieme....and at least $120,000 of the proceeds from the wine are donated to charities around the world. It is internationally known and respected as a wonderful, unique wine from Piedmont!

The Wines!

(you may buy any of these wines from Freeport Cheese & Wine)

Mauro Veglio Dolcetto d'Alba 2005 - $15.99 - Excellent wine! Aromas of plums, flowers, almonds and earth. Medium-bodied. Light, firm tannins. Medium-length finish. Drink now through 2008. 1,000 cases made.

Mauro Veglio Barbera d'Alba 2005 - $17.99 - a soft, ripe, medium-bodied red that tastes wonderful! Soft mouthfell. Easy-going wine with a lot of layers. Delicious. Flavors of passion fruit, red berries and minerals. Bright, fresh finish! Drink now. 700 cases made.

Mauro Veglio Barolo Castelletto 2000 - $59.99 - This is AWESOME with a capital "A." Aromas of blackberries, cherries, plums, eucalyptus, leather, flowers and spices. Full-bodied. Lots of intensity. Rich fruit and mineral flavors. Good tannic structure. Big, chewy and elegant! From a single vineyard in Monforte. 500 cases made. This wine will be long-lived and it is still a baby in terms of age. Should last through 2015, at least. Wine Spectator, 92 points; Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points; Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 91 points

Gianfranco Alessandria Barbera d'Alba 2005* - this is a delicious wine! Aromas of red and dark berries, earth and smoke. Medium-to-full bodied. Balanced acidity. Minerals on the finish along with fresh fruit. Drink now. 450 cases made.

Gianfranco Alessandria Barolo 2001* - Excellent wine! Aromas of flowers, spices, toasted oak and berries. Flavors of cherry, leather, anise, earth and tar. Firm tannins. Full-bodied. Chewy. Long and powerful. Juicy finish. Like most Barolos, this is just beginning to mature. Drink now - 2015. 300 cases made. Wine Spectator, 91 points

Gianfranco Alessandria L'Insieme 2003* - This is an awesome wine! Aromas and flavors of raspberries, licorice, mocha, chocolate and vanilla. Medium-bodied. Chewy tannins. Red and dark fruit and vanilla on the long finish. Blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon. 100 cases made.

*We will have prices for the Gianfranco Wines at the tasting (the Barbera is probably in the teens, the Barolo and the L'Insieme will be $60, give or take some money.

The Wines of Piedmont

Piedmont produces many wines - Barbera d'Alba, Nebbiolo Langhe, Dolcetto d'Alba, Barbaresco, Moscato d'Asti, and, of course, the legendary Barolo.

These wines all represent different styles of wine. Barbera d'Alba is generally lighter (but, some Barberas are big, full-bodied wines), with lots of bracing acidity, a zippy quality, often rustic notes and bright fresh fruit. Nebbiolo (the grape of the Langhe, Barbaresco and Barolo) produces wines that are often light in color, but powerful in terms of flavors and aromas. Nebbiolo, like Pinot Noir, is a grape that is very sensitive to terroir, and the smallest changes in soil, altitude, micro-climate, etc., will produce a significantly different wine.

In the 1980's, the legendary Elio Altare began the winemaking revolution that has brought Barolo to such prominence. As the years passed, he has mentored winemakers such as Mauro Veglio. Without Elio Altare, we wouldn't see such great wines from Barolo.

Our Winemakers

Mauro Veglio

Like most families in the Langhe, the Veglios were "contadino," or farmers, who sold their grapes to the local cooperative. That generally meant a great harvest equalled more grapes and quality didn't matter as much....they made wine...but, not a lot (and most was made for personal consumption)...the wines they made had to take a back seat to other farming tasks - harvesting the grain, olives, gathering firewood, etc.

Mauro and Daniela Veglio wanted to raise the quality of their grapes and their wines. At Elio Altare's urging, they did. In 1992, they started producing wines under their own label. Veglio studied well under Altare - as his Barolos are widely respected. They farm sustainably. To improve quality, they dramatically reduce yields in the vineyards. They built a new winery and began using better winemaking techniques. They utilize shorter maceration periods, rotor-fermenters, temperature-controlled fermentation & aging in French oak barriques. They make refined, elegant wines!

Gianfranco Alessandria

Gianfranco took over managing his family's farm in 1986, after the passing of his father. He continued the family's practice of selling off his grapes from the 5.5 hectares of vineyard land his father had amassed. At the end of the 1980's, at the urging of his cousin, Mauro Veglio, he began bottling small portions of his harvest. The first Barolo came with the 1993 vintage, which was awarded "Three Glasses" (the highest award), by Italy's leading wine publication, Gambero Rosso.

The new winery, which is attached to their home, was finished in 1996, and that was the first year of full production. While modernizing the facilities refined the winemaking, it did not change Alessandria's belief that the land of Monforte d'Alba and the vines are what produce the best grapes....so, like his cousin, he practices sustainable agriculture, minimizing his influence on the soil and land. He produces stunning wines!

Hello,

Robert Parker just dropped 91 points on one of my favorite wines. I hate it when he does this on a $15 or under wine that I "discovered."

Why?

It disappears from the market and then when it reappears the price is higher. Why?

Supply-and-demand. And, too many consumers give more credit to Parker's opinion than their own and more to Parker's opinion than my opinion (if you like a jammy, peppery Zinfandel, I'm not recommending an earthy Cotes-du-Rhone to you, regardless of the "points;" if you like an oaky, buttery Chardonnay, I don't care how many points Parker gives a Chablis - could be the wrong wine for you!).

I love this wine! Period.

Parker could give it 99 points or 65 points (how often have you read a wine review below 85 points - makes one wonder about those scores, doesn't it?).

On Wednesday, I tasted a wine from an importer I generally like that Parker gave 90 points. Veggie, green veggies, is the one thought I left from tasting this wine. Not good green veggies. I cycled back to this wine 3 times over 60 minutes and tasted 2 different bottles. Veggies. Green veggies. If you like green bell peppers dominating your wine, I just found it for you! My point - points don't matter that much. Wine does. Tasting the bottle over time matters.

We showed Mas Carlot "Les Enfants Terribles" to great acclaim at our October wine tasting. Doug and Cat, who own SOPO (South Portland Wine Company), have no more than 14 cases of this wine.

From this e-mail, those 14 cases will be gone by 6pm on Friday, Nov. 16th.

Mas Carlot “Les Enfants Terribles” Costières de Nimes Syrah & Mourvèdre 2005 (France) $14.99 - I LOVE this! Complex, robust, tasty! Aromas & flavors of rocky, mineral soil, leather, dark berries, dark plums, black cherries, anise, earth, smoke. Layers & layers - that's probably why it speaks to me so! Everything is well-put-together. Well-balanced. Medium-to-full-bodied. This screams & defines "terroir" - that sense of place that I think wine should have! Half is aged in new oak. Will drink well thru 2009-10. Food pairing - lamb with rosemary, beef, rich mushroom dishes, etc. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 91 points

That's the wine.

If you want some and want it at the tasting on Friday, call or e-mail!

Thanks!

Eric

October 2007 Wines of the Month

October Wines of the Month

&

The Concept of Terroir

Ah....what is "terroir?" We'll get to that a little later on!

All of the wines for this month come from Rosenthal Wine Merchant (RWM). Neal Rosenthal is widely considered the foremost importer of French wines into the USA, as well as one of the top importers of Italian wines.

Newsweek wrote an article in 2003 about Neal Rosenthal's single-minded pursuit and support of winemakers who are bucking the trend of producing "copycat" wines designed to score high.

"Rosenthal maintains that "terroir is built on the notion that a certain piece of land and its particular climate is best suited to certain grapes and approaches. But the most delicious and layered wines take time to discover: hundreds, if not thousands of years."

Rosenthal has said, "Californian wines may be technically perfect but who cares? I want perfection in my software programs, not my friends or my wine."

Each year, RWM visits each grower twice - to follow the evolution of each wine and the development of each estate. Rosenthal is highly particular about the quality of its winemakers, preferring to deal with tiny, hands-on producers.

Rosenthal does not pick a wine or an appellation (winemaking area) because it is "hot." Rather, they look for high quality first-and-foremost.

You will pay for this quality - rarely are Rosenthal wines the least expensive wines from a given area. They are often the best - and, they pack a lot of value into a bottle.

Rosenthal looks for wines that show quality and character. The portfolio remains rather consistent - rarely does a producer get added or subtracted. This is because of the care Rosenthal takes when picking a producer and the hands-on partnership he has with each producer.

The Concept of Terroir

What is "terroir?"

Over the last 25 years, the wine business has boomed. Huge amounts of money have been invested in this business. By-and-large, the result has been better wine, at all price levels.

At the same time, the trend in the wine world has been to chase ever higher scores from a small number of reviewers (Robert Parker, the Wine Spectator, etc.). The result has been a merging of winemaking styles so that many wines (regardless of where it's made) are beginning to taste alike.

At its core, this runs counter to the idea of "terroir" - and it runs completely counter to the entire premise behind the wines Neil Rosenthal selects and imports.

To make outstanding wine, one must start with a proper vineyard site and have excellent viticultural practices. 90% of the ultimate wine is created in the vineyard; and, the role of the winemaker is to let the wine make itself.

Wine is an agricultural product. Its flavor and characteristics bear the influence of the soil and climate and how those work with the grape variety. Neil Rosenthal believes firmly that wine should show its "local" characteristics.

So, with all that said, let's look at this month's "terroir- expressive wines!

The Wines!

Tier 1 - $9-15/bottle

We're off to Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley.

The White:

Chateau La Rame Bordeaux Blanc 2006 (Bordeaux, France) $14.99 - This wine has the slate, flinty minerality that is a hallmark of the best wines from the region and from Graves! The Armand family regards the 2006 as the best vintage of the last decade (and that includes the legendary 2000's and 2005's).

Aromas of slate and flint and bright, ripe tropical fruits and gree apples. The flavors reflect the flinty mineraity and also show nice notes of apples, tropical fruits and white stone fruits. The Semillon adds a smooth, soft richness to the wine towards the end. This is medium-bodied and has a nice long finish. Food pairing - simple white fish, such as sole, sea bass or halibut. Roast chicken, Thanksgiving dinner.90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon. The Armand family seeks extreme ripeness for its grapes, so the harvest is entirely done by hand and requires multiple passes through the vineyard over a period of weeks.

The vineyard is on the East Bank of the Garonne River, directly across from the commune of Graves, approximately 25 miles southeast of the city of Bordeaux. The 20 hectares (approximately 50 acres) of Chateau La Rame are on a clay-limestone soil that is blessed with an unusual substratum of a bed of fozzilized oysters! The hillside vineyards overlook the river and face fully to the south as they slope down towards the river. The vineyards are 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc and the vines average 45 years of age.

This is the appellation of Sainte Croix du Mont. Yves Armand and his family have set out to reestablish Sainte Croix du Mont as an appellation of merit to rival the great estates of Sauternes and Barsac.

The Red:

Domaine Monpertuis Vignoble de la Ramiere Cuvee Counoise 2005 (France) $14.99 - 100% Counoise! That's the grape!

This is a chance to taste a really good wine made by a GREAT winemaker whose Chateauneuf-du-Papes sell for $40-$100/bottle! We have 2 of his wines in Tier 3 and "the other" this month. Winemaker Paul Jeune (one of the LEGENDS in Chateauneuf-du-Pape - "CNP" - his family has produced "CNP" for 6 generations) expanded his holdings in the Southern Rhone when he bought the "Vignoble de La Ramiere" vineyard on the western side of the Rhone across the river from Chateaneuf in the village of Rochegude in 1995.

Being on the west side of the river takes this vineyard out of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation and most of it is outside of the Cotes-du-Rhone appellation, so this is a "lowly" "Vin du Pays du Gard." It's "lowly" status as a Vin du Pays keeps the price of this superb wine low! I always say great winemakers make good wine regardless of price - and Paul Jeune is a great winemaker and this is just good wine!

Counoise is one of the 13 grapes that may be used to produce Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It is reminiscent of blackberries when it is ripe.

The 2005 vintage of this wine is fabulous. The grapes were definitely ripe, as this wine just explodes with ripe blackberry aromas! It also exudes comfortable warmth as the aromas include notes of soft, rich black earth just shoveled up in the garden! The flavors are blackberries and more blackberries, including the "seedy" qualities that ripe berries have. At the end, the rich dark earth circles around and also has notes of mushrooms or truffles buried in the blackberry fruit. Food pairing - most any grilled and/or red meats. Awesome with game birds! Rich mushroom dishes. Hearty stews.

Tier 2 - $16-24/bottle

Both the red and the white are from Beaujolais this month - neither of these wines bears any resemblence to the "candied" fruit flavors of a Beaujolais Nouveau. The red is a "Cru du Beaujolais" from Julienas. The white is from the village of Leynes, the northernmost village in Beaujolais, just south of Maconnais in Burgundy proper. If there is ever an 11th "Cru," it will be Leynes.

Pascal Granger is the winemaker for both of these wines. He was born in 1961 and his family has been making wine for 200 years in Beaujolais.

Cru du Beaujolais comes from 10 villages - (1) Brouilly, (2) Cote du Brouilly, (3) Chiroubles, (4) Saint Amour, (5) Chenas, (6) Julienas - named for Julius Caeser, (7) Morgon, (8) Regnie, the newest "cru," (9) Fleurie - these wine have distinct floral aromas, hence "Fleurie," is the biggest rival to Moulin-a-Vent's status, and (10) Moulin-a-Vent, the most esteemed of the "Crus."

You will see the name of the village on the label of a Cru. You likely will not see the word Beaujolais - at least not in in letters. This is tradition because a Morgon is different from a Fleurie which differs from a Julienas.

Over 99% of the wine made in Beaujolais is red; so, it is unusual to have a Beaujolais Blanc!

The White:

Pascal Granger "La Jacarde" Beaujolais Blanc 2006 (France) $18.99 - Beaujolais Blanc is Chardonnay.

This is the first vintage of this wine from Pascal Granger, who has been making fabulous Cru Beaujolais in Julienas, Chenas and Moulin-a-Vent for years.

Granger purchased this tiny vineyard, "Clos de la Jacarde" a few years ago. It is mostly Gamay vines, but it includes 2 rows of Chardonnay grapes. The village of Leynes, where this vineyard sits, is just outside the area of Fuisse, of Pouilly-Fuisse fame in Burgundy.

This is not a fruity or oaky Chardonnay. This is a "poor man's" Chablis and it packs the similar mineral leanness and cut that is a hallmark of true Chablis.

Think of this as a sleek, racy thoroughbred. The soil in this vineyard is granite and this wine shows that quality. This wine is complex with minerals and a "cut" to it that defines Chablis. It's racy, crisp and lean with amazing complexity to it. Food pairing - shellfish, white fish, oysters and mussels.

The Red:

Pascal Granger Julienas 2005 (France) $18.99 - Anyone who loves good Burgundy and good Pinot Noir, needs to think again about Beaujolais if the candied, bubblegum flavors of Nouveau has turned you away from Beaujolais! Cru Beaujolais is a great value!

Wines from the Julienas and Fleurie "crus" have silky textures. They aren't lightweight, but they are not as tannic and heavy as many Morgons. This is CLASSIC Gamay (the Beaujolais grape) and CLASSIC Julienas!

Brilliant dark red color. Aromas of vibrant dark fruit - lots of blackberries and some raspberries. Notes of violets and white pepper. Flavors of rich dark fruit! This is lush, with great weight and depth to it. Soft tannins. Long juicy finish with great acidity. Food pairing - roast chicken, Thanksgiving Dinner, mushroom dishes, etc.

This is fermented like it is a Burgundy - there is no carbonic maceration - which is a style of fermentation generally used in Beaujolais. This is a technique in which the grapes are not crushed. Rather they are placed whole in the stainless steel vat and the weight of thousands of pounds of grapes crushes the bottom grapes and fermentation begins - which eventually breaks the skin on all the grapes. This wine is fermented in open top cement vats. The grapes are hand-picked, destemmed and crushed. The wine is then placed in barrels and aged before bottling. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 90 points.

Tier 3 - $25-55/bottle

We are in Burgundy and Chateauneuf-du-Pape for Tier 3.

The White:

Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet "Les Chaumes" 2003 (France) $54.99 - This is drinking just beautifully right now!

This wine is an example of what a skilled winemaker is capable of when confronted with both extreme heat and drought. Despite the heat which led to overripe fruit - which in turn led to lesser winemakers producing overly alcoholic wines that were too "hot" for Burgundy, Jean-Marc was able to produce classic Chassagne-Montrachet!

It has a creamy texture and shows the faint nutmeg, brown spice, cream and butter aromas and flavors that are hallmarks of true Chassagne-Montrachet. This shows just light hints of oak as it is fermented in 3-, 4- and 5-year oak barrels. Food pairing - roasted chicken, Thanksgiving Dinner, lobster, scallops, etc.

This vineyard is located just below the highly esteemed Premier Cru vineyard of Les Champs-Gain. It is in the very heart of the Chassagne commune. Most of the vines are 25-50 years old.

Jean-Marc Pillot recently took over the reins at this family-owned winery from his father, Jean, who is still actively helping in the vineyards and winemaking.

Jean-Marc is recognized for using new oak "juste comme il faut," that is, "just enough. The white wines are fermented in oak barrels, but Jean-Marc never uses more than 25% new wood - he doesn't want to overwhelm the intensity of the fruit and the sense of terroir. Batonnage is done to enrich the whites (batonnage is the stirring up of the lies or residue at the bottom of the barrels), but it is not exaggerated. The wines are aged 12-18 months in the bottle and are bottled unfiltered to preserve their purity.

The Red:

Both the Tier 3 Red and the "Other" come from Domaine Monpertuis - and both are Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge.

The Domaine de Monpertuis has been in the Jeune Family for 6 generations. Each successive owner has added bits and pieces to the estate. Today, Paul Jeune owns 10 acres in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, as well as property in the Cotes du Rhone and Vin de Pays du Gard.

The majority of Jeune's CNP vineyards contain vines that are 60-110 years old. The rest are 20-to-60 years old. So, he has a wealth of "old-vine" fruit to use. The heart-and-soul of the Jeune holdings are in La Croze, Le Clos de la Cerise and Monpertuis.

Chateauneuf-du-Pape may contain any of 13 individual grape varietals. Jeune relies heavily on Grenache. The "Cuvee Classique" is usually 70-85% Grenache with Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault providing the balance. The "Cuvee Tradition," produced only from vines that are at least 60 years old and even then, it's only produced in the best years, is at least 85% Grenache.

All grapes are hand-harvested. They are not destemmed. It is aged in large "foudres" (really big oak barrels) for 18-24 months after the harvest and bottled approximately 2 years after the harvest. It's bottled without filtration.

Domaine Monpertuis Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Cuvee Classique" 2005 (France) $44.99 - Truly a great red from an awesome vintage from a great winemaker!

This wine combines both power and elegance with expressive bright red berry fruit!

Aromas of fresh raspberries and strawberries backed up with great mineral notes. Flavors of wild berries, red currants, Soft, smooth tannins at the finish and a lot of red fruit at the end!

Food pairings - beef, steak, lamb, roasted meats and grilled meats, bold mushroom dishes, etc. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 91-94 points

The Others:

Domaine Monpertuis Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Cuvee Tradition" 2005 (France) $79.99 - This is a POWERHOUSE of a Chateauneuf-du-Pape! Paul Jeune, the winemaker, says it is better than the 1989 or 1990 vintages.

This winery only produces this wine in the best years!

Aromas of cherries, blackberries, Provencal herbs, coffee, minerals, rhubarb, roses and smoked meat. Big flavors across the board - dark and red berries, dark chocolate, This wine is almost chewy in its weight and texture! Long, long finish with soft, supple tannins that compliment the ripe fruit at the finish. Food pairing - steak, lamb, roast beef, venison, duck, etc!

This is a wine I'd linger over with a good friend who enjoys wine and good food! I'd take 2-3 hours to enjoy this bottle!

You can lay this down and age this for years. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 93-96 points

October 2007 Wine Tasting

The theme is

New World vs. Old World Wines

The Whites:

The first two whites are made from grapes that are closely related to one another - Spain's Albarino and Germany's Riesling. It's believed that Cistercian monks introduced Albarino to Galicia in northwesternmost Spain in the 12th century! Today, this winegrowing area in Spain is known as Rias Baixas; and, it is producing some of the best white wines, and white wine values, in the world!

Gran Vinum Nessa Albariño 2006 (Spain) $12.99 - This is delicious! From a winery, Gran Vinum, that produces superb wines! Wonderful aromas of peaches, pears, citrus, flowers and minerals. Flavors of white peaches, minerals and a wonderful, zippy acidity that has a little saline quality to it! It's medium-bodied and dry. Estate grown grapes. Stainless steel fermentation. Aged 1 month on lees to soften the texture. This is from our favorite Spanish importer, Aurelio Cabestrero. In 1993, he was named the best sommelier in Spain. Food pairing - Great paired with fresh Maine seafood, especially shellfish! Wine & Spirits, 90 points; Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 88 points

Slatestone Dry Riesling 2004 (Germany) $13.99 - This is a great sipping wine! One of our favorite Rieslings! Loads of peach, nectarine and white orchard fruit aromas and flavors. Excellent minerality and acidity in the wine - the vines grow right in slate! This is a dry, refreshing, low-alcohol wine that is medium-bodied and a great wine with food or alone. 1,000 cases made. Food pairing - Goes well with fish, seafood, poultry & veal. Great with spicy foods or salty meats such as ham.

The second two whites are not really related to one another. What they share in common is that each is produced from an OBSCURE grape. The first is Is Jurancon Sec - it's made from Gros Manseng and is made in the extreme Southwestern corner of France; the second wine is a Scheurebe Kabinett; Scheurebe is the grape and the wine is from the Pfalz area.

Darting Scheurebe Kabinett Halbtrocken Durkheimer Fronhof 2006 (Germany) $18.99 - This is a Terry Thiese wine! If you know only one thing about German wines - know this - Terry Thiese is the leading and best importer of German wines! No one spends mores time in German vineyards and wineries than Terry Thiese! Wonderful wine! Hint of sweetness! Touch of spiciness - this is Scheurebe trait! Lots of fruit flavors and aromas - citrus, pink grapefruit, apricot and even blackberries. The spiciness is peppery. Crisp. Refreshing. Scheurebe (pronounced SHOY-ray-buh. Think Sigmund Freud {FROYd} - thanks for the hint, Tony!) is a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner - developed in 1956. Halbtrocken means "half- dry" or "off-dry." "Halbtrocken - more often achieves the right balance of fullness and bite," Hugh Johnson wrote in his Modern Encyclopedia of Wine. Food pairing - Great choice for a curry dish and other spicy Asian fare (the low alcohol level is refreshing and cleanses your palate and washes away the heat). Goes GREAT with ham! Wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner wine!

Clos Uroulat Cuvée Marie Jurançon Sec 2005 (France) $24.99 - This a unique AND fabulous wine! Clos Uroulat is imported by Martine's Wines. Both are among the best at what they do - make and import unique and tasty wines! LOTS, and LOTS, and LOTS of aromas and flavors! Leave this open and cycle back to it over an evening and your experience will change! And, that is what wine should add to your evening! Savor this! Don't rush through this wine! Aromas and flavors of baking spices, apples, marzipan, roasted almonds and vanilla. This is rich and lush! Great acidity! 90% Gros Manseng and 10% Petit Courbu. The grapes partially dried on the vine; same as with Sauternes. Hand-harvested. Aged in French oak barrels (almost none are new). A whopping 200 cases brought into the USA (that's 2,400 bottles). Food pairing - smoked fish, freshwater fish, seafood, ham, spicy Asian fare, paté and foie gras. Whatever you want to drink with this works! - me - I'm taking my bottle and heading for a comfortable chair and some good friends! Wine Spectator, 90 points

The Reds

For 2 of the reds, we are going to going to compare and contrast 2 red blends, one from France and one from Australia! Old World vs. New World! Duking it out! I prefer Old World wines most days and nights, but that doesn't mean I don't like a big, bold, in your face New World red when the mood strikes!

Mas Carlot "Les Enfants Terribles" Costières de Nimes Syrah & Mourvèdre 2005 (France) $14.99 - I LOVE this! This is made by a husband-and-wife team, Nathalie Blanc-Mares and Cyril Mares (they were the boy-and-girl next door as kids; the wine is jokingly named after their kids). Nathalie's family bought the property and restored it in the 1960's. Mas Carlot practices sustainable agriculture. Complex, robust, tasty! Aromas & flavors of rocky, mineral soil, leather, dark berries, dark plums, black cherries, anise, earth, smoke. Layers & layers - that's probably why it speaks to me so! Everything is well-put-together. Well-balanced. Medium-to-full-bodied. This screams & defines "terroir" - that sense of place that we think wine should have! Half is aged in new oak. Will drink well thru 2009-10. Food pairing - lamb with rosemary, beef, rich mushroom dishes, etc.

Fetish Wines "Playmates" Shiraz Mataro Grenache 2005 (Australia) $19.99 - Outstanding wine that is brand new to Maine! Made by one of Australia's star winemakers, Rolf Binder! The Fetish wines are exclusive to Joshua Tree Imports - these feature the best winemaking from some of Australia's greatest winemakers! Great aromas and flavors - lots going on in this wine! Blackberries, spices, licorice, anise, notes of earth and toasty oak! 89% Shiraz, 8% Mataro & 3% Grenache. 2,500 cases imported. Drink now through 2009. Food pairing - meat dishes, robust vegetarian dish, mushroom dishes, etc. Drinks great on its own! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90-92 points; Wine Spectator, 88 points

For the other set of reds, we are pulling a wine from a "newer" area in Spain, Bierzo! Old World vs. New World! Duking it out! I prefer Old World wines most days and nights, but that doesn't mean I don't like a big, bold, in your face New World red when the mood strikes!

Luna Beberide Mencia Bierzo D.O.C. 2005 (Spain) $13.99 - This wonderful and a STEAL at this price! Bierzo is in northern Spain, near Galicia. Aromas of ripe cherries, spice and earth. Flavors of red and dark berries, graphite, pepper, and minerals. Well-balanced acidity. Long finish. Loads of what the french call "Terroir" - a wine that tastes of a place. Unoaked. Unfiltered. Mencia is the grape. It is local to the area. Another wine from our favorite Spanish importer, Aurelio Cabestrero. Food pairing - grilled meats, goat cheese, mushroom dishes, hearty foods. Drinks well on its own. Wine & Spirits, 91 points; Wine Enthusiast, 90 points; Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 89 points

Domaine de Pallus "Les Pensees de Pallus" Chinon 2004 (France) $18.99 - French winemaker, Bertrand Sourdais, first gained fame making highly acclaimed wine at Dominio de Atauta in Ribera del Duero. While wowing the wine world with these great wines, he wanted to return home to his native Loire Valley and his family's estate, Domaine de Pallus and make wine from Cabernet Franc. 100% biodynamic farming. Wines are aged in 2nd use barrels from Chateau Haut-Brion. Chinon is 100% Cabernet Franc. The grapes from Sourdais's best and oldest vines go into this special wine! This is bottled without filtering or fining. This is one of those bottles that just evolves over time after you've opened it. Aromas of raspberries, black pepper, a little smoke, plums begin to open up. then flavors of red berries, white pepper, roasted nuts and more. This is an elegant wine - rather than an "in your face" wine! I like it A LOT! Food pairing - poultry and white meats. Lighter red meat dishes (veal). Fish with a red wine sauce.

The Dessert

Domaine de Beaumalric Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2005 (France) $18.99 - This winemaker's Beaumes de Venise is known for being fresh and elegant, rather than robust. Aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, peaches and apricots. Nice balancing acidity. Yummy! The grapes are harvested in October when fully ripe, but not overly ripe. The wine is made sweet by "arresting" the fermentation by adding distilled spirits before the yeast ferments off all the residual sugar. 100% Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains. The Greeks may have brought this grape into France before the Romans conquered Gaul. This area is about 2 miles away from the famed Rhone winemaking area of Gigondas! Beaumes means "cave" or "grotto. This area sits adjacent to a line of cliffs below the Ventoux Mountains.

Piedmont Tasting - Barolo, Barbera and more!

The wines of Piedmont, especially Barolos, are world-renowned. This week, we will have 2 top winemakers from Piedmont here in Freeport showcasing their wines, Mauro Veglio and Gianfranco Alessandria. They are cousins and each of them leads a small winery.

This is a rare treat - we don't often get many winemakers in Maine - and it's rare to get two of the top Barolo producers here at the same time - we want to thank Ned Swain of Devenish Wines from helping put this together. These winemakers produce world-class wines!

The tasting is at the Hilton Garden Inn because Maine law only permits a retail store to have one wine tasting per month. There is a small fee, $10, to taste this flight of 6 wines - restaurants and bars are not permitted to give away alcohol in Maine. Bear in mind, 3 of these wines will retail for approximately $60/bottle - so, $10 is a small price to pay for an opportunity to taste such great wines!

The Hilton Garden Inn has a wonderful bar that is comfortable and a perfect venue for a small event such as this!

What will we taste?

2 Barolos, one Dolcetto, 2 Barbera d'Albas and a wine unique to only 8 winemakers in Barolo, L'Insieme!

We are thrilled and pleased that we can share these wines with you and offer you the opportunity to meet these two wonderful winemakers! The L'Insieme is a unique wine in the Langhe - it is a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each year, 8 Barolo winemakers produce their own versions of L'Insieme....and at least $120,000 of the proceeds from the wine are donated to charities around the world. It is internationally known and respected as a wonderful, unique wine from Piedmont!

The Wines!

(you may buy any of these wines from Freeport Cheese & Wine)

Mauro Veglio Dolcetto d'Alba 2005 - $15.99 - Excellent wine! Aromas of plums, flowers, almonds and earth. Medium-bodied. Light, firm tannins. Medium-length finish. Drink now through 2008. 1,000 cases made.

Mauro Veglio Barbera d'Alba 2005 - $17.99 - a soft, ripe, medium-bodied red that tastes wonderful! Soft mouthfell. Easy-going wine with a lot of layers. Delicious. Flavors of passion fruit, red berries and minerals. Bright, fresh finish! Drink now. 700 cases made.

Mauro Veglio Barolo Castelletto 2000 - $59.99 - This is AWESOME with a capital "A." Aromas of blackberries, cherries, plums, eucalyptus, leather, flowers and spices. Full-bodied. Lots of intensity. Rich fruit and mineral flavors. Good tannic structure. Big, chewy and elegant! From a single vineyard in Monforte. 500 cases made. This wine will be long-lived and it is still a baby in terms of age. Should last through 2015, at least. Wine Spectator, 92 points; Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points; Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, 91 points
Gianfranco Alessandria Barbera d'Alba 2005* - this is a delicious wine! Aromas of red and dark berries, earth and smoke. Medium-to-full bodied. Balanced acidity. Minerals on the finish along with fresh fruit. Drink now. 450 cases made.

Gianfranco Alessandria Barolo 2001* - Excellent wine! Aromas of flowers, spices, toasted oak and berries. Flavors of cherry, leather, anise, earth and tar. Firm tannins. Full-bodied. Chewy. Long and powerful. Juicy finish. Like most Barolos, this is just beginning to mature. Drink now - 2015. 300 cases made. Wine Spectator, 91 points

Gianfranco Alessandria L'Insieme 2003* - This is an awesome wine! Aromas and flavors of raspberries, licorice, mocha, chocolate and vanilla. Medium-bodied. Chewy tannins. Red and dark fruit and vanilla on the long finish. Blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon. 100 cases made.

*We will have prices for the Gianfranco Wines at the tasting (the Barbera is probably in the teens, the Barolo and the L'Insieme will be $60, give or take some money.

The Wines of Piedmont

Piedmont produces many wines - Barbera d'Alba, Nebbiolo Langhe, Dolcetto d'Alba, Barbaresco, Moscato d'Asti, and, of course, the legendary Barolo.

These wines all represent different styles of wine. Barbera d'Alba is generally lighter (but, some Barberas are big, full-bodied wines), with lots of bracing acidity, a zippy quality, often rustic notes and bright fresh fruit. Nebbiolo (the grape of the Langhe, Barbaresco and Barolo) produces wines that are often light in color, but powerful in terms of flavors and aromas. Nebbiolo, like Pinot Noir, is a grape that is very sensitive to terroir, and the smallest changes in soil, altitude, micro-climate, etc., will produce a significantly different wine.

In the 1980's, the legendary Elio Altare began the winemaking revolution that has brought Barolo to such prominence. As the years passed, he has mentored winemakers such as Mauro Veglio. Without Elio Altare, we wouldn't see such great wines from Barolo.

Our Winemakers

Mauro Veglio

Like most families in the Langhe, the Veglios were "contadino," or farmers, who sold their grapes to the local cooperative. That generally meant a great harvest equalled more grapes and quality didn't matter as much....they made wine...but, not a lot (and most was made for personal consumption)...the wines they made had to take a back seat to other farming tasks - harvesting the grain, olives, gathering firewood, etc.

Mauro and Daniela Veglio wanted to raise the quality of their grapes and their wines. At Elio Altare's urging, they did. In 1992, they started producing wines under their own label. Veglio studied well under Altare - as his Barolos are widely respected. They farm sustainably. To improve quality, they dramatically reduce yields in the vineyards. They built a new winery and began using better winemaking techniques. They utilize shorter maceration periods, rotor-fermenters, temperature-controlled fermentation & aging in French oak barriques. They make refined, elegant wines!

Gianfranco Alessandria

Gianfranco took over managing his family's farm in 1986, after the passing of his father. He continued the family's practice of selling off his grapes from the 5.5 hectares of vineyard land his father had amassed. At the end of the 1980's, at the urging of his cousin, Mauro Veglio, he began bottling small portions of his harvest. The first Barolo came with the 1993 vintage, which was awarded "Three Glasses" (the highest award), by Italy's leading wine publication, Gambero Rosso.

The new winery, which is attached to their home, was finished in 1996, and that was the first year of full production. While modernizing the facilities refined the winemaking, it did not change Alessandria's belief that the land of Monforte d'Alba and the vines are what produce the best grapes....so, like his cousin, he practices sustainable agriculture, minimizing his influence on the soil and land. He produces stunning wines!

K Vintners Wine Dinner, Back Street Bistro

Wine Dinner

@

Back Street Bistro

Featuring winemaker, Charles Smith

Monday, Oct. 1st

reception @ 5:30 - dinner @ 6:00

11 Town Hall Plaza, Brunswick, ME

$65/person plus tax/gratuity
Please call (207) 725-4060 for reservations!

K Vintners is a relatively new Washington winery that we just love! Charles Smith, the winemaker is a little eccentric (actually, he's an entertaining iconoclast, especially when it comes to winemaking!).

"...K Vintners rocks with Washington Syrah." - Wine Spectator
"Top Ten Syrah in America" - Wine and Spirits
"These wines offer fascinating layers of richness" - San Francisco Chronicle

I've written about Charles (here's my description of my first encounter with Charles) and we've hosted a tasting featuring his wines! My second encounter with Charles was much calmer - he's a character and a really good guy!

Back Street Bistro is a wonderful restaurant. The food will be topnotch and so will the wines!

Doug Watts and Cat Oster, owners of SOPO (South Portland Wine Company) will also be on hand!

The Menu!

Reception
Selection of Cheese & Crackers, Fresh Fruit & Finger Foods
Charles Smith Wines "Holy Cow" Chardonnay

First Course
Selection of Autumn Terrines
Duck & Red Currant - Maine Lobster & Brie - Local Squash & Root Vegetable
K Vintners "Milbrandt" Syrah

Entree
Elk Wellington with Wild Mushroom Duxelles
Grilled Mushroom Demi-glace
Oven-roasted Red, Purple & Sweet Fingerling Potatoes
K Vintners "Cougar Hills" Syrah

Dessert
Brulee of Gingerbread Financier
Charles Smith Wines "Kung Fu Girl" Riesling

September Wine Tasting, Friday, Sept. 21st

It's time for our September Wine Tasting.

As always, the "in-store" tastings are free!

The theme is

Unusual Grapes
Unusual Blends

We are traveling the globe!

Sparkler

Gancia Prosecco Extra Dry (Italy) Reg. $16.99 Sale $13.99 - This is delicious! Jessica and I really enjoyed this when we tasted it last week! Wonderful bubbles and mouthfeel. Aromas of golden and green apples, pears and flowers. Flavors of fresh white fruit (apples, pears and white peaches). Crisp and refreshing! Food pairing - great as a cocktail wine. Nice with lighter foods and lighter desserts.

Whites

Salneval Albarinho 2006 (Spain) $12.99 - This is a delicious Spanish white. Many Albarinos are $15-17; this is a great value at $13! Wonderful aromas of fruit (apples, peaches, pears, lime), roses, ginger, mint and stony minerals. Flavors of pears, citrus, honey, plus minerals. It's medium-bodied and dry. With well-balanced acidity. Food pairing - Great paired with fresh Maine seafood!

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2006 (California) Reg. $14.99 Sale $13.99 - Pine Ridge is one of my favorite California wineries and this is one of my favorite white wines! This is refreshing, crisp and delicious! Aromas of honey, apricots, apples, pears and flowers. It's fresh and lively! Juicy! Flavors of melons, tangerines, pears. apples and a touch of sweetness. Nice acidity. Clean finish. 86% Chenin Blanc and 16% Viognier. 23,200 cases made. Food pairing - a picnic! Spicy Asian or Indian food. Crabcakes. Seafood. Food & Wine, "25 Best Wines for Summer"

Cave de Turckheim Vin d'Alsace Pinot Blanc 2004 (Alsace, France) Reg. $15.99 Sale $13.99 - I like this a lot! For lovers of Alsatian wines, Pinot Blanc is not that unusual! Most people I encounter have rarely tried a Pinot Blanc! Pinot Blanc is a close relative of Pinot Gris, which in turn is a close relative of Pinot Noir! Pinot Blancs have subtle aromas - they are not boldly aromatic. Subtle aromas of apples, pears and minerals. The flavors in this wine tend more to the minerally side with subtle fruit notes (apples and pears) and a hint of nuts (maybe almonds). Lively acidity. Crisp, zippy finish! Food pairing - smoked fish, shellfish, ham, Thanksgiving Dinner, poultry, etc.

Sepp Moser Gruner Veltiner Gebling Kremstal 2005 (Austria) $18.99 - This is Austria's flagship grape! This is an excellent Gruner Veltliner. It has a soft feel at the start - it's rich and soft! Flavors and aromas of peaches, apples, baking spices, minerals and it has the flavor and aroma for which the better Gruner Veltliners are known - white pepper! Nice acidity. Crisp finish that ends with a little white pepper! Stainless steel fermentation. 1,000 cases made. Gruner Veltiner is still little-known in the US (in fact, it is little known outside Austria!). The nearby Danube River plays a key role influencing the climate of this area. The Gebling vineyard dates to the late 13th century. Food pairing - Lobster and seafood. Seafood with rich sauces. Poultry with rich sauces. Sausages. Wine Spectator, 89 points

Reds

Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere 2006 (Chile) $12.99 - This is a tasty red blend from Southern Chile. Aromas of wild berries, blueberries, blackberries, dark cherries and vanilla. Flavors of red and black fruit, baking spices, pepper, vanilla and earth. Nice mouthfeel. Aged in French oak barrels. Cono Sur is Spanish for the "Southern Cone," the shape of South America below the Tropic of Capricorn. Blend of 60& Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Carmenere. Carmenere is often called the "lost grape of Bordeaux." It disappeared from Bordeaux and the grapes in Chile were thought to be Merlot until DNA testing in the 1990's showed it to be Carmenere. Organically grown grapes. Food pairing - steak, lamb, kabobs, rich veggie meals.

Tommasi Poggio al Tufo Rompicollo 2005 (Tuscany, Italy) $15.99 - This is a wonderful red from Tuscany - a blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon! 4,200 cases made. Aromas of cherries, raspberries, leather, spices and roasted nuts. Flavors of dark cherries, plums, vanilla and toasty oak, Medium-bodied. Soft tannins. Long, clean & crisp finish. Food pairing - grilled or roasted meats, game, sauces based on meats and/or mushrooms, and rich, flavorful cheese. Decanter, 3 Stars, "Very Good"

Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap 2005 (South Africa) Reg. $10.99 Sale $9.99 - This wine pays tribute to the early pioneers on the Cape who built a "wolftrap." To date, no wolf, either real or mythical, has ever been seen in the valley! Boekenhoutskloof (be warned - this is probably the most annoying website I have visited in ages) produces wonderful old-world wines from South Africa! This wine is fantastic and a great value! Aromas of red berries, bacon, spice, plums and vanilla. Soft tannins. Flavors of mocha, dark and red berries, vanilla and plums. 65% Syrah, 19% Cinsault, 11% Mourvèdre and 5% Viognier. 10% unwooded, 90% fermented with French oak. Up to 8 months aging before blending. Fined and bottled. Food pairing - great everyday wine! Wonderful with roasted and grilled meats, stews and hearty vegetarian dishes!

Altano Duoro 2005 (Portugal) Reg. $9.99 Sale $8.99 - This is a great value and a wonderful wine. Since we opened this has been a favorite of ours vintage after vintage! Excellent fruit in the nose and mouth (raspberry, blueberry, cherry and spice). Good balance between fruit and acidity. A touch of classic Portuguese earthiness & rusticity. Made from traditional Port grapes - Touriga Francesca and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) - grown in the heart of the Douro Valley. Food pairing - Great with hearty foods such as beef or lamb stews and roasted meats.

Dessert

Castello del Poggio Brachetto Spumante (Piedmont, Italy) $19.99 - This is fabulous! Great with a chocolate dessert! It's not as powerfully sweet as many Brachettos I've tasted. It has those wonderful strawberry and raspberry aromas and flavors that are hallmarks of this traditional Piedmontese dessert wine! At the same time is has a softer and crisper mouthfeel! We love it! Food pairing - fruit tarts, cake and chocolate!

We'll also have 5 flavors of "Outrageous Shortbreads" to try with the different wines. We've sampled these at wine tastings before and they are always a hit! The owners, Mike and Sandra, are avid wine and shortbread nuts. They are also marine biologists - so they've put their love of food and wine and their scientific training and passion to work to pair up different flavors with different wines. Mike's suggestion - try each flavor shortbread with the different wines and see what you like! That said, Mike and Sandra are sending along tasting suggestions!

September 2007 6-pack/12-pack DEAL!

Several distributors have some great deals going on some wonderful wines they are trying to move to make room for new wines for the Fall!

So, I bought a bunch and have put together one of our great 6-pack/12-pack offers! I also included a few new wines I just tried that aren't at "clearance" prices - but, they taste GREAT and are excellent values as well.

Remember, you can buy just a bottle or 2!

Or, you can buy the 6-pack or 12-pack!

Or, you can mix-and-match as you want!

Just let me know via phone (865-3993) or e-mail!

The 6-pack

Reg. $80.94
Sale $61.94

That's over 23% off the regular price!

Belle Mare Vin de Pays des Collines de la Moure Picpoul-de-Pinet 2006 (France) Reg. $11.99 Sale $8.99 - This is a rocking good Picpoul-de-Pinet (that's the grape) from Southern France! Nice tropical fruit aromas. One of the cool things about Picpoul is that it has tons of tropical fruit in the flavors and a dry finish. This also has nice minerality on the finish. It's one of the outstanding values one of our favorite importers, Steven Berardi, ferrets out from the most obscure places! Food pairing - Picpoul is often referred to as Southern France's Muscadet - yes, this is an awesome wine with shellfish and seafood (especially mussels and oysters).

Belle Mare Vin de Pays des Collines de la Moure Rosé 2006 (France) Reg. $11.99 Sale $8.99 - It's still warm enough for a great tasting rosé! This has great minerality and subtle raspberry and strawberry aromas. Flavors of minerals, flowers, raspberries and strawberries. Nice length on the finish. 100% Grenache. Stainless steel fermentation. Another great find from importer Steven Berardi! Food pairing - grilled chicken, grilled pork, salads. Sitting outside and sipping on a nice Indian summer's day!

Grange des Rouquette Marsanne Viognier Vin de Pays d'Oc 2005 (France) Reg. $13.99 Sale $9.99 - Wonderful classic blend from the South of France! Aromas of white peaches, green apples, baking spices & flowers. Flavors of white peaches, apples, melons and nuts. This is juicy and smooth! Nice acidity and crisp, clean finish. Mostly Marsanne (about 70% and the rest is Viognier). Food pairing - veal, tuna, chicken, salads, wonderful with lots of appetizers. Drinks well as a cocktail wine. Jane MacQuitty, Top 100 Summer Wines, "The Times," June 2007

Vinha da Tapada Coelheiros Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Portugal) Reg. $14.99 Sale $11.99 - This is a beautiful "old world" red! This has good, soft rich fruit in the aromas and flavors. Aromas and flavors of red berries, green peppers, vanilla, earth, minerals and herbs. This has a nice back-end to it that is driven by an earthy, soft fruit quality. Long finish. Soft tannins. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Castelão (also known as Periquita). Aged 6 months in 2nd year French oak barrels. Bottle aged before released from the winery. From the Alentejo region of Portugal. Food pairing - steak, lamb, beef, roasted and grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, "pork and clams" (a national dish in Portugal), mushroom dishes, etc.

Step Road Black Wing Shiraz 2005 (Australia) Reg. $13.99 Sale $11.99 - Wonderful Shiraz and a great value! Medium-bodied. Aromas of ripe berries, pepper & spice. Soft, supple, lush feel in the mouth. Flavors of dark berries and black cherries, chocolate and earth. Good balance b/t fruit, acidity and tannins. Rich and soft in the middle. Long finish. Aged 12-18 months in French & American oak. The winery attracts hawks to the area to deter the little birds that would eat all the grapes! Food Pairing - roasted and grilled meats. Drinks well on its own! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points

Loma Gorda Old Vine Garnacha Syrah 2005 (Almansa, Spain) Reg. 13.99 Sale $9.99 - At the regular price, this is a great value from Spain! Aromas of ripe red berries, cherries, plums, blackberries, herbs, vanilla and a little smoke. Nice ripe fruit flavors. Notes of peppery and baking spices. Nicely integrated tannins and acidity. Hints of toasty oak. Nice length on the finish. High altitude old vine Grenache (65%) and Syrah (35%) vineyards. From the little-known area of Almansa, southwest of Valencia, not far from the Mediterranean. From Aurelio Caestrero, owner of importer "Grapes of Spain" - one of my favorite Spanish importers. Aged 6 months in French and American oak barrels. Food pairing - drinks well withouth food! Great with grilled meats, pasta, lasagna, etc. Michael Franz, Wine Review Online, 88 points

The 12-pack

Reg. $182.88
Sale $145.88
10% Case Discount = $131.29

That's a 28% savings off the regular price!


Javier Sanz Rueda Villa Narcisa Verdejo 2006 (Spain) $13.99 - This wine is an absolute blast to drink - Verdejos are just tasty and fun! Rich, aromatic tropical fruit nose with citrus and mineral aromas. Crisp and intensely flavorful. Green apple, white peaches and melon fruit flavors. You might notice a bubble or two on your tongue. Nice acidity. Soft, rich feel. 100% Verdejo - "THE" white wine grape in Rueda. Stainless steel fermentation. Food pairing - Try with seafood, paella and lighter foods.

Bremerton Tamblyn Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Malbec/Merlot 2004 (Australia) $19.99 - A small, family-run winery that makes AWESOME wines in Langhore Creek! Rich, dark and red berry aromas and flavors. Distinctive Aussie pepper notes in the nose and flavors. Elegant, with deep rich flavors. An awesome Aussie blend - Cabernet (52%), Shiraz (30%), Malbec (12% and Merlot (6%). The grapes are 100% estate-grown. Deep, vibrant color. Food pairing - grilled and roasted meats, rich meals. Tastes great alone! Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 90 points

Giuseppe Lonardi Valpolicella Classico 2004 (Italy) $14.99 - The classic red wine for everyday drinking in the Veneto. Aromas and flavors of red berries, dark berries, cherries, plums, herbs and spice. Moderately tannic with nice acidity. Has a little of that quintessential Italian "dustiness." This is fresh and bright. Nice length on the finish! 75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. No barrel aging or fermentation. 1,100 cases made (the winery only makes 4,000 cases). Food pairing - Wonderful with chicken, duck, pork, spicy foods, tuna, salmon and more!

Vinansar Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo 2005 (Spain) Reg. $12.99 Sale $9.99 - Excellent red blend from Castille. Aromas and flavors of raspberries, red currants, strawberries and spices. Lots of spicy red fruits in the flavors. This is a fresh mouthful of wine that drinks easily. Soft, subtle tannins. Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon & 50% Tempranillo. Estate-grown grapes. Stainless-steel fermentation and aged 4 months without oak. Cabernet and Tempranillo are fermented separately and blended after vinification. Food pairing - grilled chicken, hamburgers, pork tenderloin, lasagna, etc. Drinks well without food!

Petit Grealo Sero Costers del Segre Subzona Artesa 2002 (Spain) Reg. $17.99 Sale $9.99 - In many ways this reminds me of a Priorat - it's just not at a Priorat price! Wonderful wine that benefits from the bottle aging it has! Lots of dark berry and raspberry fruit aromas and flavors. Nice minerality in the flavors. Well-balanced acidity and tannins. Blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermented in stainless steal. Aged 12 months in stainless steel before bottling. Bottled unfiltered. Single Vineyard. Food pairing - great with steaks, burgers, lamb, grilled and roasted meats, mushroom dishes, etc.

Shannon Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (California) Reg. $21.99 Sale $15.99 - This is a wonderful California Cabernet! Aromas of dark berries, ripe black plums, hints of toasty oak, vanilla and baking spices. Flavors of blackberries, cassis, blueberries, baking spices, vanilla and herbs. Medium-bodied. Smooth. Nice wine. Long, pleasing finish. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 9 months in French oak (20% new). Bottled Sept. 28th, 2006. 687 cases made. Food pairing - Drink with steak, beef, duck, rich mushroom dishes, etc.! Drinks great on its own!

The COOLEST wine in a LONG, LONG time!

The coolest wine I’ve tasted in a LONG time!

Clos Uroulat Jurançon 2004 (France) $33.99

From the wine’s name - Jurançon to the obscure and remote area in France that is its home to the history of the area and winemaking there to the aromas and flavors of this wine – I just love this entire story, wine and the winery and winemaker!

This just ROCKS!

This is a Vin Moelleux – it’s lush, round, soft with moderate sweetness and nice acidity. The color is a deep, beautiful golden yellow. Flavors of almonds and tropical fruit. It starts sweet and it finishes dry and crisp – that’s one of the things I love about it! It has this richness and fullness the entire time you are tasting it and smelling it. It lasts and lingers. You don’t rush through this wine! You savor it!

Even if you CLAIM to not like sweeter wines, I DARE you to not enjoy this wine!

I showed this as part of a tasting I donated to the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden fundraising auction. The tasting was over Labor Day Weekend. Doug from SOPO had brought this by earlier in the week. As soon as I tasted it, I knew I was taking this to the tasting with me! It was the runaway hit of the evening – and everyone there was saying, “I don’t usually like sweet wines, but I LOVE this;” or, they were asking, “Do you have more of that unusual wine from France?”

The French poet Colette loved this wine – “When I was a teenager, I met a passionate prince, imperious traitor, like any great seducer, the Jurançon.”

This winery and region in Pau in the Pyrénées mountains is nearly in Spain. This area introduced the “Appellation Controllee” system to France – this is the system that determines whether an area is worthy of having a named “appellation” and it holds winemakers to the production standards traditional to that area. In the 14th century, The Princes of Béarn and the parliament of Navarre also introduced the concept of “Cru” to winemaking by identifying and valuing specific vineyards sites as being superior. Legend has it that a drop of Jurançon Moelleux wine moistened the lips of infant Henry IV at his baptism in 1553.

Charles Hours is the winemaker and owner. I look at Charles and he is just a man I want to share a meal with and drink his wine with the food of his home! The grape is Petite Manseng. The grapes partially dry on the vine – the same as is done with Sauternes. They hand-harvest the grapes and it takes multiple passes through the vineyard to complete the harvest because they are looking for grapes of a specific ripeness. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels (25% new). The vines are Espalier-trained – this is a special trellising system – you need to see the picture in this link. They trellis the grapes in this fashion to minimize mold and rot.

The importer is Martine Saunier. She’s French-born. She is one of the best importers in the USA. Her family made wine in Burgundy. In 1979, after several years working for other importers, she created the first American wine importer owned and operated by a woman. Her portfolio is IMPRESSIVE! These are REAL wines that TASTE of a PLACE!

Food pairing - Goes grilled poultry, pork, smoked fish, freshwater fish, seafood & ham. Also goes well with spicy Asian fare, such as Thai food. This will pair well with paté. It drinks well on its own and it paired up well with chocolate-covered strawberries. Drinking this, I wanted to try it with a leg of lamb coated in rosemary! I think it'll work great!

Small Vineyards Imports, Italian Wine Tasting Recap!

Small Vineyards Imports

Italian Wine Tasting

Featuring winemaker, Lorenzo Gatteschi

Thursday, Sept. 6th, 5:30 – 7:00pm

This tasting was a blast!

To those of you who came to the tasting, thanks for coming and the positive feedback! If you didn’t come, you missed out! This was so cool and such fun! Great wines! Awesome, friendly guy who knows the wines talking about them! WOW! Great night!

Lorenzo Gatteschi, the importer and also a winemaker, was as charming and passionate as one would expect of an Italian. Like many Italians, he speaks with his hands! A lot! Lorenzo told me to not worry about not knowing Italian when I visit – he showed me how to talk with my hands – “I’m thirsty.” “I’m hungry.” “I’m sleepy.” He said if I know those and smile and am friendly, I’m good to go!

He knows the wines he imports like most parents know their children – and to Lorenzo, these wines and the people who make them are his family!

Small Vineyards is an importer that specializes in Italian wines. They only import Italian wines and they only work with small producers who own their own farms and wineries. Most of these wineries produce less than 4,000 cases in total each year.

Lorenzo Gatteschi’s family makes wine in Tuscany – Chianti Classico Riserva, a Super Tuscan (Merlot) and a “declassified” Sangiovese (the Chianti grape) – it’s declassified because the vines are too young to make Chianti Classico. Lorenzo is also the “public face” of Small Vineyards in the USA – he travels around and talks about the wines and tastes people on them. Lorenzo is 38-years old and he’s the first generation to leave this family town and work much of the year away from it.

Small Vineyards philosophy is a simple one – and it is one we wholeheartedly embrace! The best wines come from producers who care deeply about the wine and the vineyards. Small Vineyards Imports employs a cork-to-cork method - they are involved with the wine from before it goes into the bottle and until you open it – hence Tappo a Tappo (cork-to-cork).

These wines are brought to Maine by Mariner Beverages – one of the new, specialty distributors in Maine! Several of these wines are BRAND NEW to MAINE!

The Wines!

The Whites:

Marchetti Verdicchio dei Castello di Jesi 2005 $13.99 - This is one of the best Mediterranean whites under $15 I've ever tasted! Wonderful citrus and mineral flavors and aromas. This also has notes of green apples and tropical fruits. Vibrant acidity and loads of minerality throughout the wine. Picks up a little nuttiness (almonds?) on the finish. Long, crisp finish! Maurizio Marchetti is the winemaker - he's a passionate artist when it comes to wine and painting. His wife is a top-notch cardiologist, so Maurizio likes to say that she brings home the "pancetta" (bacon), which frees him to make wine and paint! In reality, Maurizio's great, great-grandfather was a highly successful spice trader years ago, buying all the land that Maurizio uses to farm. The good news is Maurizio feels little-to-no financial pressure when it comes to his wines - so, he only uses the best grapes (most years he gets no more than 1/2 a bottle from a single vine). From "first-run" juice. The grapes are not "crushed" for this wine - the juice runs freely. 250-year-old estate. Bottled in the classic "amphora" shape that Verdicchio has made famous (oddly, this packaging is a modern invention). 2,100 cases made. Food pairing - seafood, shellfish, swordfish, etc. Great with poultry. Drinks well on its own, but this is really a food wine!

Le Rote Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2005 (Tuscany, Italy) $16.99 - One of the best Vernaccias I have tasted! Aromas and flavors of flowers, minerals, spice and citrus. This wine is big and lush. Most definitely, not a wimpy, watery white - this has some backbone to it! It's bright, fresh and vibrant....and it packs a little punch! Michelangelo once said of Vernaccia, it "tickles, licks, bites and stings." Vernaccia is THE classic white wine of Tuscany! It's the 1st wine in Italy to earn DOC status! Husband-and-wife team that produces a tiny amount of wine from 35-year-old vines. Fermented and aged in stainless steel.. Aged 3 months in the bottle. 1,000 cases made (the winery only makes 2,500 cases total). Food pairing - white fish, shellfish, salads. Definitely a perfect summer food wine!

The Reds:

Giuseppe Martorana

This is one of the few small, family-owned wineries in Sicily that bottles its own wine. It's in SW Sicily, near Agrigento. Giuseppe Martorana is the winemaker. Giuseppe's father has never left Sicily. Giuseppe spent 15 years with the Italian police - mostly in Florence protecting a famous judge during the Mafia trials - he witnessed firsthand the wine renaissance in Tuscany. He knew Sicily had the same potential - so he returned home to make wine. His father told him no one would ever care about his "modern" techniques...that this was just Sicilian wine....the day he told his father their wine was going to America, his father cried (tears of joy and respect for his son).

Martorana* Contrada Ragabo Nero d’Avola 2005 (Sicily, Italy) $9.99 - This is simply delicious, fun-to-drink and a great value! This just rips with aromas and flavors of fresh, ripe blueberries, black plums, black cherries and almonds. You also pick up a hint of rhubarb. Soft tannins. Well-balanced acidity. Dry finish that just smacks of dark berry fruit! When asked to describe his wine, Giuseppe said he wanted a wine that is easy to drink, that "when you are finished eating with your family, you notice 3 or 4 empty bottles on the table." Made from 70-year-old vines. Stainless steel fermentation and aging. Aged 4 months in the bottle. "Green-harvesting" to lower the yield and improve the grapes. High-density planting in the vineyards to stress the vines and improve the grapes. 4,166 cases made. Food pairing - this is a perfect summer red! Great for grilling! Great for drinking on the deck or patio with friends!

Martorana* Nero d’Avola 2004 (Sicily, Italy) $17.99 - From the volcanic soils of Agrigento on the West coast of Sicily, comes one of the great grape varietals of the world. Nero d’Avola is an early ripening, full-bodied varietal with generous aromas of ripe plums, dark chocolate, berry cobbler, and almonds. The Martorana family has been making wine for three generations, and still hand-harvests in wicker baskets. The vines are from 30 - 90 years old, and Giuseppe Martorana harvests extremely low-yields, one of the lowest in the South of Italy. Thus, the wine has great mineral complexity and elegance. It has an appealing gentle cream to its mouth-feel. Ageworthy for 10 years-plus. Food pairing – roasted and grilled meats. Stews. Mushroom dishes.

Giuseppe Lonardi

This was a highlight of the most tasting. Tasting 3 distinctly different versions of Valpolicella!

1. Classico
2. Ripasso
3. Amarone

This is a tiny winery in a village close to Verona, in the gorgeous hills of Valpolicella. The winery only makes 4,000 cases each year. We are tasting 3 of its wines.

Giuseppe Lonardi (Bepi to his wife) is a 4th generation winemaker. His wife, Marilena, runs a small bistro near the wine cellars. She makes a wonderful Amarone-infused risotto - according to Lorenzo this is the most INCREDIBLE dish EVER - 2 bottles of Amarone, 6 hours of stirring the risotto....then heaven in a bowl!

Bepi has a great toast, “Peccato gravissimo ē quello di stare senza vino e senza amante.” Translation: “It is a grave mistake to live without wine and a lover.”

His friends says the 3 most important things in Giuseppe’s life are food, wine and his wife. He laughs and says, “Not necessarily in that order!” We just don't know the order - only Bepi does!

Giuseppe Lonardi Valpolicella Classico 2005 (Italy) $14.99 - The classic red wine for everyday drinking in the Veneto. Aromas and flavors of “dusty” red berries, dark berries, herbs and spice. Moderately tannic with nice acidity. 75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. No barrel aging or fermentation. 1,100 cases made (the winery only makes 4,000 cases). Food pairing – Wonderful with chicken, duck, pork, spicy foods, tuna, salmon and more!

Giuseppe Lonardi Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore 2003 (Italy) $26.99 - One of the best Ripassos I’ve tasted! Wonderful focused aromas of blackberries, flowers and herbs. Flavors of bright, fresh dark berries, herbs, violets, and dark cherries. Great length on the finish. Fine-grained tannins. 75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. Some of the grapes are dried and all of them are “passed over” the “lees” from a previous Amarone vintage – extracting the richness and lushness from that legendary wine’s “big” style, but leaving a wine that is more approachable at a younger age! Aged 6-10 months in Slavonian barriques and 3-6 months in the bottle. 1,800 cases made (the winery only makes 4,000 cases). Food pairing - Drink with a rich meal or just enjoy!

Giuseppe Lonardi Amarone 2001 (Veneto, Italy) $69.99 - This is one big, bold, powerful wine! Aromas and flavors dried dark fruit, chocolate, cedar and baking spices. Huge and voluptuous in the mouth. Just a massive mouthful of wine! As big as it is, this is well-balanced! Giuseppe Lonardi is a tiny winemaker. He and his wife own an inn and farm in the Veneto. And, he makes some of the best wine in the world! 75% Corvina, 20% Rondinella & 5% Molinara. The grapes are dried for 100 days (losing 30-40% of their liquid). 100% Aged 24 months in 100% 2nd use oak barrels (50% barrique and 50% tonneaux). Aged 6-10 months in the bottle. 750 cases made. This will age for 30 years! Food pairing - lamb or steak. This is one wine that I'd rather have after dinner with a couple of friends and just linger over!

Lorenzo Gatteschi’s Wine

Podere Ciona Montegrossoli IGT 2004 (Tuscany, Italy) $16.99 – This is Sangiovese (the Chianti grape) with 5% Alicante Bouschet! Classic Italian red with aromas and flavors of red berries, some Provencal herbs, a little dust and a little earth. Well-balanced and integrated tannins and acidity. Eating a little chicken or beef with this wine really transformed the flavors and texure! I loved this!

They don’t make Chianti Classico Riserva from these vines because they are too young – otherwise this vineyard is smackdab in the middle of the Chianti Classico region and one day soon the vines will be old enough to produce their much more expensive Riserva. Right now, we are the fortunate The family makes less than 1,000 cases each year. Their vineyards are among the highest elevations in Chianti Classico in the hills of Montegrossi near Gaiole. Food pairing – poultry (chicken, turkey, duck), pork, mushroom risotto or pasta dishes. This is a perfect wine with Thanksgiving Dinner! So perfect, that I special ordered 4 cases of it for delivery in November!

Maurizio Marchetti

Marchetti* Rosso Conero 2004 (Marche, Italy) Reg. $18.99 Sale $17.99 - A wonderful wine from the Marche! Aromas & flavors of vanilla, dried berries - raspberries, cranberries & blackberries, dark plums, spices (pepper & baking), & dark, bittersweet chocolate. Well-balanced acidity & tannins. Full-bodied. Long, rich finish. 90% Montepulciano & 20% Sangiovese. Aged 18 months in older Slavonian oak barrels & 2 months in the bottle. 2,500 cases. Maurizio Marchetti is the winemaker - he's a passionate artist when it comes to wine and painting. His wife is a top-notch cardiologist, so Maurizio likes to say that she brings home the "pancetta" (bacon), which frees him to make wine and paint! In reality, Maurizio's great, great-grandfather was a highly successful spice trader years ago, buying all the land that Maurizio uses to farm. The good news is Maurizio feels little-to-no financial pressure when it comes to his wines - so, he only uses the best grapes (most years he gets no more than 1/2 a bottle from a single vine). Food pairing - steaks, lamb, grilled meats, rich vegetarian dishes, etc.!