Well, Indeed, Feastlings. Many’s the time we’ve tried to have a tasting of sparkly wines between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and many’s the time only a few of you have shown much interest. But by Sunday, you’ll have had a huge dose of family and holiday obligation, and you’ll be looking to unwind. Our solution: offering wines more people want to taste. Allen Rodriguez of Classico Distributing joins us this Sunday at 3:30 with six delicious wines from northern Italy. If Piedmont isn’t your thing, maybe Veneto is, or Collio. Or, if you’re like me, you’ll love them all. We’ll pair the wines with our customary snacks and serve them all up for $35.00, and there’ll be discounts on the wines you’re in love with. Call 326-9363 to reserve a spot.
Way Up North
2012 Vietti Arneis, Roero $27.00
Pale sunshine yellow color with fresh floral, citrus and melon aromas and hints of almond. An unoaked, dry, medium bodied white wine with crisp acidity, Vietti’s Arneis is a well-balanced wine with good complexity and a lingering finish.
2012 Marco Felluga “Mongris” Pinot Grigio, Collio $22.00
Golden yellow in color, often with copper tones. It has an intense and immediate bouquet with pronounced hints of acacia flowers, broom and apple. In the mouth it is elegantly fruity and becomes full bodied, well-structured and has a remarkably long finish.
2008 Inama “Bradisismo” Veneto Rosso, Veneto $36.00
Deep red color. The nose of this Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere blend displays an intense bouquet of red and black fruit, dried cherries, cocoa and vanilla. It is soft and round on the palate with generous and balanced tannins and acidity. Persistent.
2009 Aldo Conterno Langhe Rosso, Langhe $38.00
From the International Wine Report: “The 2009 Aldo Conterno Langhe is absolutely stunning, exploding with fresh ripe blackberry, strawberry and raspberry fruit with some hints of mineral, smoke and licorice mixed in. This is concentrated but so fresh, not jammy or over the top and the balance this brings is impeccable. Everything is all wrapped up in a beautiful long finish gushing with mouthwatering red fruits. Just a gorgeous wine from a world-class producer and should be considered a serious value, by far one of the best Langhe Rossos I have ever tasted. The 80% Freisa, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot spends 5 to 6 months inside stainless steel vats, then poured onto “barriques” (barrels), where it remains for about 6 months before bottling.”
2009 Vietti “Scarrone” Barbera d’Alba, Alba $50.00
Ruby purple color with intense aromas of concentrated ripe red and black cherries with vanilla and hints of brown spice. With refreshing acidity, rich tannins, and on the fuller side for Barbera, the single vineyard La Scarrone had finesse, excellent balance, great complexity, integration and a long, lingering finish.
2008 Cesari Amarone Classico, Valpolicella $60.00
On the nose, the typical notes of raisined fruit and cherry flavors are dominant. Mild hints of vanilla and spice are present as well. Elegant and warm with a velvety mouthfeel. Incredibly long, persistent finish that lingers on the palate. Amarone ages gracefully for upwards of 10 years if stored properly.