May 20, 2010

May Wine Tasting

Freeport Cheese & Wine
Wine & Cheese Tasting!
Friday, May 21st
3:30-7:30pm


We'll feature wines from a specialty importer of Italian wines - these guys are Italian and they know wine! The importer is Angelini Wines.

The Angelini brothers spent their childhood years in the farming village of San Lorenzo in Campo, within the Marche region of Italy (we will be tasting a Sangiovese from their family's winery). The family farm encompasses 200 acres of land with 5 specialized acres devoted to vineyards of Sangiovese, Vernaccia (Pergola Rosso) & Merlot.

The brothers moved to Connecticut in 1972; in 1986, they quit their engineering careers and created Angelini Wines with their longtime friend, Ron Plebiscito. They focus on authentic, good quality Italian wine from a range of very small to midsize wineries. They make frequent trips to Italy where they meet with each producer and visit the vineyards and wine cellars. This personal relationship with each producer helps them uncover and deliver excellent wines at great price!

All wine tastings in the store are FREE!

10% savings on all the tasting wines during the tasting! Or the week after! We'll also taste out a couple of cheeses. We hope to see you on Friday!

The Wines

Sparkling Wine

Carpene Malvolti Kerner Brut (Italy) $23.99- Delicious wine from a grape not that well-known in the US! Aromas of flowers, peaches and citrus. Flavors that show great minerality, acidity and tropical fruit. This has notes of almonds, as well. Long finish. This has Winery founded by Antonio Carpene in 1868 and run today by his great-grandson. Antonio corresponded frequently with great scientists, such as Pasteur, and he published many texts on the subject of winemaking. In 1873, at Conegliano, he created the first Oenology school in Italy. Carpene Malvolti helped pioneer the production of "method charmat," or sparkling wine, in large vats. 100% Kerner (a hybrid cross of Riesling and Schiava (a grape native to NE Italy). Food pairing - shellfish, vegetable dishes and aged cheeses. White Wines MontAsolo Pinot Grigio 2008 (Veneto, Italy) $8.99 - Great value in a good-tasting Pinot Grigio! Great choice for summer! Light, clean with refreshing citrus flavors and aromas. A hint of fresh bread in the aromas. The MontAsolo wines are produced by Cantina Montelliana e dei Colli Asolani, which was established in 1965. Montelliana is a cooperative of which the 1,100 members are the owners and supplier of the grapes. Food pairing - seafood, poultry, salads and lighter soups.

Rosé Wine

Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé 2009 (France) $12.99 - Delicious! It's strawberry-peach in color, dry, crisp and clean, offering aromas and flavors of strawberry, cherry, peach and citrus. Light/medium in body, it is a nicely balanced, versatile food wine, great for summer! Refreshing! Food pairing - fish chowder, turkey sandwiches, steamers and fruit salads.

White Wine

MontAsolo Pinot Grigio 2008 (Veneto, Italy) $8.99 – Great value in a good-tasting Pinot Grigio! Great choice for summer! Light, clean with refreshing citrus flavors and aromas. A hint of fresh bread in the aromas. The MontAsolo wines are produced by Cantina Montelliana e dei Colli Asolani, which was established in 1965. Montelliana is a cooperative of which the 1,100 members are the owners and supplier of the grapes. Food pairing – seafood, poultry, salads and lighter soups.

Palagetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2008 (Tuscany, Italy) $14.99- This is a tasty, crisp, dry white. It has a spicy, floral aroma. It's smooth, medium-bodied & has almond notes in the finish - which is crisp and clean. This is earthy, has hints of freshly mown hay and lime citrus. Michelangelo once described Vernaccia as a wine that, "tickles, licks, bites and stings..." Stainless steel fermentation. Food pairing - Goes well with fish, shellfish, white meats and antipasti dishes. Drinks well on its own, but this is better as a food wine!

Livon Braide Grande Vineyard Pinot Grigio Südtirol - Alto Adige 2006 (Italy) $25.99 - Great wine! Weightier than most Pinot Grigios. Velvety soft in the mouth. Aromas and flavors of baking spices, almonds and flowers! This is elegant with great structure and complexity. 100% Pinot Grigio. 30% is aged in French oak (Alliers) for 8 months and then aged 4 months in the bottle. Single vineyard. Sustainable agriculture. This will age well for 6-10 years. 1,800 cases made. Food pairing - seafood, shellfish and grilled white meats. Red Wines Laimburg Province Winery Lago di Caldaro Scelto Classico Superiore "Olleiten" 2007 - This is a bright, fresh red wine. It's delicate and elegant. Aromas of cherries and almonds. Flavors of lighter red fruit (cherries, raspberries, etc.). 100% Schiava. Aged 4 months in stainless steel. In 1975, the province of South Tyrol (a.k.a.; Alto Adige) created the Laimburg Research Center and this winery. Its purpose is to experiment with different grapes and wine making styles throughout the province, especially native varietals such as Schiava. Unfortunately, production of Schiava is shrinking as the wine world chases big, darker, heavier wines with high Parker scores. Food pairing - lighter dishes; chicken, mushroom risotto; Speck - the Tyrolean ham/bacon. Drink lightly chilled - about 57 degrees.

Red Wines

Laimburg Province Winery Lago di Caldaro Scelto Classico Superiore "Olleiten" 2007 - This is a bright, fresh red wine. It’s delicate and elegant. Aromas of cherries and almonds. Flavors of lighter red fruit (cherries, raspberries, etc.). 100% Schiava. Aged 4 months in stainless steel. In 1975, the province of South Tyrol (a.k.a.; Alto Adige) created the Laimburg Research Center and this winery. Its purpose is to experiment with different grapes and wine making styles throughout the province, especially native varietals such as Schiava. Unfortunately, production of Schiava is shrinking as the wine world chases big, darker, heavier wines with high Parker scores. Food pairing – lighter dishes; chicken, mushroom risotto; Speck – the Tyrolean ham/bacon. Drink lightly chilled – about 57 degrees.

Piazzo Barbera 2007 (Piedmont) $10.99 - This Barbera is 50% from Alba and 50% from Asti - so, it is generally a greater value than most Barbera's from either area! The winery only produces this wine in better years. This has aromas of roses, blackberries and a hint of oak. The flavors show baking spices and red and dark tannins. This has firm tannins that are not dominating. 100% Barbera. Aged 6 months in small oak barrels with another 6 months of bottle aging. 1,500 cases made. Food pairing - hearty dishes, aged cheeses. The "Azienda Agricola Piazzo" has been a supplier of grapes for some of the greatest wine makers of Piedmont. Today the estate has more than 70 hectares (172 acres) of vineyard, some surrounding the winery located on the border between Alba and the village of Treiso, and others in Novello in the Barolo growing area, and Mango on the hills of Moscato. The Barbera grape probably originated in the hills of Monferato, and is a local favorite of the people of Piedmont.

Il Palagetto Chianti Colli Senesi 2007 (Tuscany) $14.99 - Chianti is divided into 7 growing regions; Classico is one, Colli Senesi is another. Senesi is near Siena. This is a rich Chianti - it's spicy with intense aromas and flavors of earth, cherries and raspberries, cocoa and coffee. Long finish with good acidity. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot and 5% Colorino (the Colorino adds color and the Merlot softens the wine). Aged in French oak for 12 months and aged another 3 months in the bottle. The Niccolai family founded this farm and winery in 1991. Today it encompasses 200 acres in Tuscany. Aside from growing grapes and making wine, they produce olive oil, honey and saffron. Food pairing - Pasta with red meat sauces, red meat dishes and wild game; also good with less mature cheeses.

Angelini Estate Sangiovese Colli Pesaresi 2006 (Marche) $17.99 - Delicious, smooth, rich wine! This is spicy with hints of cherries and cedar. The fruit is more of a "stewed" styple with black currants and other dark fruit dominating. This is a 3rd generation family winery in Marche, which is on the Adriatic side of Italy, about level with Tuscany. They grow 7.5 acres of vines on their 200 acre farm - they primarily grow Sangiovese, Pergola Rosso and Merlot. They use larger barrels rather than barriques to reduce the impact the oak has on the wine. They farm sustainably. 100% Sangiovese. Aged 12 months in large oak barrels (new). 600 cases made. This will age for another 10 years. Food pairing - pasta with tomato and meat sauces, roasts and cheeses.

Il Palagetto Sottobosco "Super Tuscan" 2005 (Tuscany) Reg. $31.99, Sale $27.99- This has aromas of spice, smoke, blackcurrants.....Flavors of ripe dark fruits (blackberries), vanilla and toasted oak. This is rich and mouth-filling. Blend of 80% Sangiovese (from Montalcino, as in Brunello), 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. Aged 16 months in French oak barriques and another 12 months in the bottle. This will age well for at least another 5 years or so. 575 cases made. Food pairing - beef, polenta, rich stews, lamb and mature Pecorino cheeses.

That's the line-up.

We hope to see you Friday!

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