“Baby Super Tuscans”

It could only happen in Italy but with a small concern of growers in the early seventies who were fed up with the laws regarding wines made in Chianti they forged ahead and left the rules behind. The consequence for these brave few was that their wines would be labled “Vino da Tavola” or “Table Wine” which at the time was essentially a slap in the face because tables wines had a poor reputation. But the few producers who held on to working outside the guidelines eventually garnered attention from the press and critics and the wine enthusiasts all over the world soon followed and greedily bought up what they could of this new wine known as a “Super Tuscan”. Flash forward to the present and “Super Tuscans” are as popular as ever and the prices match the demand. Typically these bottles range in price from $50 to $400 and more, but we have found a few gems for that come in under the $20 mark, we call them “Baby Super Tuscans”. These wines may not have the same notoriety but they are almost as good as their more expensive counterparts. This week’s “Friday Four Pack” is a collection of “Baby Super Tuscans” that you will definitely want explore.

2005 Barone Albergotti Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy $20

2008 Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC, Tuscany, Italy $20

2009 Fattoria di Fubbiano, Colline Lucchesi Rosso DOC, Tuscany, Italy $22

2009 Villa Pillo, Cingalino Toscana Rosso IGT, Tuscany, Italy $14

Regular retail price for all four bottles – $76

The “Friday Four Pack” price is – $65

Our Top Ten Wines for Thanksgiving

(in order from light to heavy)

2010 Scagliola, Moscato d’Asti “Primo Bacio”, Piedmont, Italy $20

NV Soligo, Prosecco Brut Treviso DOC, Veneto, Italy $18

Vigne de Alice, ‘Ose Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOC, Veneto, Italy $22

2010 Cincinnato, Castore, Villa di Cori Lazio Bianco IGT, Lazio, Italy $13

2008 Elena Walch, Pinot Bianco DOC, Alto Adige, Italy $20

2008 Poderi San Lazzaro, Pistillo, Offida Pecorino DOC, Marche, Italy $20

2009 Brigaldara, San Floriano Valpolicella DOC, Veneto, Italy $19

2009 Poderi Sanguineto, Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, Tuscany, Italy $20

2009 Alla Costiera, Cabernet Franc Colli Euganei DOC, Veneto, Italy $17

2009 Martilde, Oltrepo Pavese Bonarda DOC, Lombardy, Italy $14

This week’s “Friday Four Pack”, “Bird is the Word Part 1” is a selection of wines that are ideal matches for your upcoming Thanksgiving Feast. The four bottles elected in this pack are ideal to bring with you if you’re a guest at someone else’s table or if you’re hosting the event yourself.

It’s not easy to find a wine that will pair up with anything from sweet potatoes, roasted turkey, chestnut stuffing or whatever else might grace the table at Thanksgiving, but I think we have done it. The white amongst these affable characters is a Pinot Bianco from Elena Walch, a richer but not too heavy white that will make anyone’s turkey delicious no matter their level of culinary prowess. The reds are all delicious and range from lighter to fuller bodied, and the Cabernet Franc from Alla Costiera is so good you may not care what you’re eating with it. Be ahead of the curve and pick up this week’s “Friday Four Pack” and rest assured you have the perfect wine for Thanksgiving, four of them to be exact.

2008 Elena Walch, Pinot Bianco DOC, Alto Adige, Italy $20

2009 Alla Costiera, Cabernet Franc Colli Euganei DOC, Veneto, Italy $17

2009 Li Veli Passamante Salento Negroamaro IGT, Puglia, Italy $14

2009 Cincinnato, Polluce Villa di Cori Lazio Rosso IGT, Lazio, Italy $13

Regular retail price for all four bottles – $64

The “Friday Four Pack” price is – $54

This week’s “Friday Four Pack” is “California vs Italy”. This is fun and delicious way to explore the virtues of these prolific wine producing powerhouses. The two Italian contenders represent a “Baby Super Tuscan” from Villa Pillo and a full bodied rustic Barbera from Martilde in the Lombardy region. Representing California we have a Syrah from Bonny Doon a leader in organic wine production, and a fantastic Gamay from Edmund St. John that is so good its hard not to gulp it down. This “Friday Four Pack” is totally enjoyable and a while you can debate who the winner is one thing is for sure there are no losers in this bunch.

2009 Villa Pillo, “Cingalino” Toscana Rosso IGT, Tuscany, Italy $14

2007 Bonny Doon, Le Pousseur Central Coast Syrah, Santa Cruz CA, US $20

2009 Martilde Oltrepo Pavese Barbera, Lombardy, Italy DOC $14

2009 Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly Gamay Noir, Sierra Foothills CA, US $20

Regular retail price for all four bottles – $68

The “Friday Four Pack” price is – $55

This week’s “Friday Four Pack” is “Affordable Favorites”. These four wines are currently the most popular wines amongst the staff at Panzano and Tomasso. My go to wine in the bunch is the Tenuta del Portale from Basilicata this red is capable of pleasing a crowd and matches beautifully with anything from take out Chinese to your favorite red sauce and pasta recipie. All of the wines in this group our the professionals got to favorites and are ideal picks for when you need or want a good red.

2008 Tenuta del Portale, Starsa Basilicata Aglianico IGT, Basilicata, Italy $15

2010 Accademia Racemi, Pietraluna Negramaro del Salento IGP, Puglia, Italy $12

2009 Sada, Integolo Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy $17

2009 di Majo Norante, IGT Terra degli Osci Sangiovese, Molise, Italy $14

Regular retail price for all four bottles – $58

The “Friday Four Pack” price is – $49

This week’s “Friday Four Pack” is “The Marche”. Marche is the region on the Central Adriatic Coast of Italy(the opposite side of the map from Tuscany). Marche is a region that is unfamiliar to most wine enthusiasts here in the states and the wines here are a great fit for anyone who enjoys wines from Abruzzo or Tuscany. With this week’s Friday Four Pack “The Marche” you can discover the riches this coastal province has to offer.

2008 Cantina Ripatransone, Passarina Offida DOC, Marche, Italy $14

2009 Bucci, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore DOC, Marche, Italy $23

2010 Aurora, Rosso Piceno DOC, Offida Marche, Italy $16

2008 Bucci, Tenuta Pongelli Rosso Piceno DOC, Marche, Italy $26

Regular retail price for all four bottles – $79

The “Friday Four Pack” price is – $65 (it’s like getting the Passarina for free)

This week’s “Friday Four Pack” features Italy’s central wine producing regions of Lazio and Marche. if you haven’t had a good Orvieto in a while or have never tried a Rosso Piceno now is your chance. Pick up this week’s pack “Stuck in the Middle” and start your discovery of Central Italy.

2010 Sergio Mottura, Orvieto Secco DOC, Lazio, Italy

2010 Cincinnato, Castore, Villa di Cori Lazio Bianco IGT, Lazio, Italy

2010 Aurora, Rosso Piceno Offida DOC, Marche, Italy

2009 Cincinnato, Polluce, Villa di Cori Lazio Rosso IGT, Lazio, Italy

Regular retail price for all four bottles is $63 the “Friday Four Pack price is $50.

2010 Cantina Frentana, Cococciola Terre di Chieti IGT, Abruzzo, Italy

2009 Cantina Frentana, Terre Valse Montepulciano d’Abruzzo D.O.C., Abruzzo, Italy

2007 Illuminati, Costalupo Controguerra Bianco DOC, Abruzzo, Italy

2008 Illuminati Riparosso Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo, Italy

This week’s “Friday Four Pack” features the wines of Abruzzo. While the grape Montepulciano is king here there are other gems waiting to be discovered like Cococciola and Trebbiano. Pick up “Abruzzo in a Box” and start exploring this up and coming wine region.

Regular retail price for these wine is – $67

The “Friday Four Pack” price is – $55

This week’s “Friday Four Pack” is a “Bouquet of Barberas”. This four pack was so popular we decided to bring it back for the holiday weekend.

Pick up this weeks “Friday Four Pack” and explore Barbera’s virtues for yourself.

2008 Massa “Fuso” Barbera, Piedmont, Italy

2010 Scagliola “Mati” Piemonte Barbera DOC, Piedmont, Italy

2008 Casalone Barbera del Monferrato DOC, Piedmont, Italy

2009 Martilde Oltrepo Pavese Barbera, Lombardy, Italy DOC

Regular retail price – $56, the “Friday Four Pack” price – $49

Puglia Pack

2008 Cantine Due Palme, “le Sciare” IGT Salento Primitivo, Puglia, Italy

2010 Li Veli, Salento Negroamaro Rosato IGT, Puglia, Italy

2009 Cantine Due Palme, “Le Sciare” IGT Salento Chardonnay, Puglia, Italy

2009 Li Veli Passamante Salento Negroamaro, Salento, Puglia IGT

Grab this week’s “Friday Four Pack” and explore the heel of “the Boot”; Puglia. The warm Mediterranian climate of Puglia makes for wines that are ripe with baked fruit and spices.

Regular retail price $55, the “Friday Four Pack” price is $45