From Castigliole overlooking the Po River in Piedmont, Tenuta Migliavacca (owned by the Brezza family) was the first certified biodynamic winemaker in the region dating back to 1964. This was way ahead of the organic movement and certainly eons before it was cool to be sustainable, but that is the way it has always been done at Tenuta Migliavacca. From raising cattle to composting everything, this self-sustaining winery is very much the real deal. All of this hard work is seen to by the family patriarch, Francesco Brezza. Francesco’s no nonsense hard work ethic in his vineyards produces wines that are traditional, expressive, and incredibly enjoyable. Migliavacca’s wines are marked with excellent structure: a balance of minerality, acidity, and lush (but not heavy) red fruits. All of the wines produced by Francesco at Migliavacca offer unique character. These wines may not be for everyone, but if you don’t give them a try you’re really missing out. Read the rest of this entry »

If only I could take credit for the title of this Friday 4 Pack; however, Robert Louis Stevenson was the one who said “Wine is bottled poetry”. Barbera, whose trademarks are its high acidity and red fruit, is thought to have been grown in Italy since the 13th century, where it was first known as “de bonis vitibus barbexinis”. No matter the name, if you have not yet been able to try it, these wines are the perfect introduction. While not all of these are purely Barbera, all are fantastic. The Cascina Roera Barbera d’Asti is structured yet light, with rich black fruits and a little bit of spice. Braida Montebruna Barbera d’Asti, is supple and full in the mouth, with black and red fruits. We have the Martilde Barbera from Oltrepo Pavese, where some believe Barbera to have originated; it is a younger Barbera, with gobs of red fruit, acidity, and great flavor. The last, the Cascina Ballarin Langhe Rosso, is a Nebbiolo and Barbera blend. This wine is just beautiful; great flavor, nice acidity, and a great example of how Barbera can blend with other grapes and help bring the wine to its full potential.

Barbera can stand alone and Barbera can blend. Either way, it’s going to be a good bottle! Cheers!

2008 Cascina Roera, Barbera d’Asti DOCG, Piedmont, Italy $20

2008 Braida, Montebruna Barbera d’Asti DOC, Piedmont, Italy $26

2010 Martilde Oltrepo Pavese Barbera DOC, Lombardy, Italy $15

2009 Cascina Ballarin, Cino Langhe Rosso DOC, Piedmont, Italy $15

Regular retail purchase price for all four bottles – $76

The “Friday Four Pack” price – $65

Puglia, Italy is one of the lesser-traveled regions of Italy, and honestly we don’t know why. The scenery is stunning, the food and wine are outstanding, and like any other region in Italy it is abundant with its own unique charm. Long known for its outstanding olive oil production and formidable baking skills (the land of focaccia), Puglia has enjoyed good status among foodies. More recently (with a renewed passion for marketing itself as a prominent region for quality wine), Puglia is starting to garner attention from all over the globe. With an affordable and very drinkable blended red like Salice Salentino (malvasia nera & negroamaro) and the more fruit forward primitivo, Puglia is quickly becoming more popular amongst wine enthusiasts. Typical foods of this region are: lamb (stewed roasted or fried), sautéed broccoli rabe, orecchiette pasta, and abundant seafood dishes like oysters, cuttlefish, and octopus. Read the rest of this entry »

In the past when it came to the world of wine, “cooperative” was considered a four letter word. Why? Well for the most part, many offerings from cooperatives were poor. Quite a few factors contributed to the lower quality wine associated with cooperatives; amongst them (and the most important) was the lack of focus on quality. There was more of a focus on growing as many grapes as possible and paying farmers for quantity rather than quality, but times have changed and so has the market for wine. With many more consumers seeking high value wines rather than cheap slickly-marketed vino, cooperatives have found their second chance. However, there are sterling examples of success to be found. One such example would be Cantina Frentana. The Frentana winery praises itself for having one of the most efficiently operated wine growing cooperatives in Abruzzo. Frentana began in the late fifties with a few small selected vineyards and wine growers and in the last forty years has grown to more than 400 members. These growers are assisted throughout the entire grape-growing season (right up to harvest) by the highly qualified Frentana staff (which includes an agronomist and enologist) in an approach aimed at very specific grape yields considered worthy of wines with the traditional Frentana standard of quality. All the latest most up-to-date winemaking equipment and techniques are used together with a wealth of collective historical winemaking knowledge to produce high quality wines. The focus of working to the highest standard has resulted in Cantina Frentana providing wines that are honest, traditional, and thoroughly enjoyable.

2010 Terre Valse, Cantina Frentana, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, DOC $12

2009 Cantina Frentana, Terre Valse Montepulciano d’Abruzzo D.O.C., Abruzzo, Italy $13

2010 Cantina Frentana, Cococciola Terre di Chieti IGT, Abruzzo, Italy $19

2006 Cantina Frentana, Panarda Montepulciano d’Abruzzo D.O.C., Abruzzo, Italy $29

Regular retail purchase price for all four bottles – $73

The “Friday Four Pack” price – $60

The settings in the northern province of Trentino-Alto Adige are so spectacular you can see the motivation to produce something as close to “natural” as is humanly possible. While this is what all of the wine makers we have decided to feature this week are focused on, it’s apparent they are achieving their goals and quietly becoming the next group of great winemakers of the world. By focusing on this region, we wanted to work through and showcase a wide variety of styles: light to heavy, rustic and traditional, esoteric and beautiful. Read the rest of this entry »

While calling a couple of these bottles “Baby Amarone” wouldn’t quite be accurate the experience is similar and one perfect for this time of year.

Amarone is typically bold and full bodied noted by brawny tannins, intense dried red fruit followed by autumnal spices on the finish. Amarone is delicious and memorable, and once you’ve had one its a wine you will crave. However the making of Amarone is an incredibly laborious and costly to produce. Naturally they are fairly pricey and as a result most of us hold off on indulging and reserve Amarone for a special occasion. This is where a good Valpolicella or Ripasso comes in real handy. While typical Valpolicella’s are far lighter than Amarone the aromatics and flavors are very similar, and Ripasso is such a close second to Amarone that unless you have a well trained palate it can be difficult to tell the difference the two. On that note if you are intrigued(and you should be), come by and pick up this week’s “Friday Four Pack” and explore the glories of “a Poor Man’s Amarone”.

2010 Brigaldara, San Floriano Valpolicella DOC, Veneto, Italy $15

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

2009 Brigaldara, Il Vegro Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC, Veneto, Italy $35

2007 Le Ragose, Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore DOC, Veneto, Italy $29

Regular retail purchase price for all four bottles – $96

The “Friday Four Pack” price – $76

Chianti is a subject that we haven’t focused on too much in our newsletters in the past. It’s not for any specific reason; it’s just that most people are familiar with wines from Chianti, and we have spent considerable time and effort highlighting the other great finds from all over Italy. This week is different: 2009 (like 2007) is shaping up to be a very good vintage in Tuscany. While this vintage has been deemed by some critics as “very forward”, we have found 2009 to be very charming and in some cases exceptional. Most of the ’09 reserve level reds from Tuscany appear to have what it takes to age well, but wouldn’t it be great to find wines that are approachable right now and that have the ability to cellar for the next few years? You can’t always get what you want, but sometimes you can. Read the rest of this entry »

“Come Quickly; I am drinking the Stars!”…this is the famous quote of Dom Perignon. Thus the legend and the legendary status of Champagne begins. This is an over simplification of the story of Dom Perignon, but the tale is at the core of the world’s most famous style of wine: sparkling. Sparkling wine can be created in different ways: the most revered and the style that best expresses sparkling wine is the Methode Champenoise (Metodo Classico). Another process, known as the Charmant Method, is responsible for Italy’s most beloved bubbly: Prosecco.

Few things in life seem as festive or celebratory as the sound of a cork popping from a bottle of bubbly. What ensues is usually an occasion to remember: maybe it’s to mark a milestone in your life, a grand achievement, or it’s simply the gathering of friends and loved ones. Read the rest of this entry »

A Champagne is a beautiful thing; intense, smooth, a bit dry, yet bubbling with life. There doesn’t need to be a reason to crack open a bottle of bubbly, but at this time of the year, there are reasons aplenty: Christmas and New Years, friends and family, good food and presents. Great Champagne is complex, intriguing and incredibly delicious. With hints of toast, white flowers, and allure all the right places Champagne is a perfect fit for any occasion. Take a four pack home today, eat, drink, and be merry (and while you’re at it, raise a glass for the monk Dom Perignon for his discovery of Champagne). While not all bottles in the four pack are Champagne, they are all made using the classic Champagne method, whether it be Prosecco or Pinot Noir, France or Massachusetts and all are worth celebrating.

NV Francois Chidaine, Montlouis Sur Loire Brut, Loire Valley, France $23

2006 Westport Rivers”RJR” Brut Cuvee Mothode Chamagnoise, Westport MA, US $29

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

NV Champagne Paul Bara, Brut Grand Cru “Grand Rose”, Bouzy, Champagne $65

Regular retail purchase price for all four bottles – $139

The “Friday Four Pack” price – $110