It seems as though every time you open a wine publication, every article is focused on points. “2007 is the best vintage ever!”…“no wait: 2009 is!” (or was it 2005)? To be blunt, this is not what wine is about. Wine is about the land and the people behind it. If the people behind it are focused on creating the best wine possible, it’s probably worth buying (and following vintage after vintage). If an estate is focused on moving as much wine as possible, then points matter and the quality may or may not follow. Points are a game; good wine is a serious artistic endeavor. I’m going to get off my soapbox now and focus on one of the great wine-making regions of the world: Barolo in Piedmont, Italy. Barolo has produced some of the most coveted and sought after wines for centuries (even in times when the press didn’t matter and efforts were judged purely on their own merits); this is how Barolo built its reputation. A good Barolo is something you will remember; a great Barolo is something that is impossible to forget.

There are some things in life worthy of praise; a faithful companion, a glorious sunrise, and wonderful wines are but a few. For today, let us speak of the latter. They hail from Abruzzo, by way of the Valle Reale and Illuminati producers; their names are Montepulciano and Trebbiano and different in personality, taste, and vigor.

The 2010 Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a exceptional wine for the cost; full red fruit, a rich palate, and well balanced tannins (especially for such a young vintage) make for a great experience.

The 2009 Illuminati Riparosso (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo), aged for almost a year in oak, displays sumptuous red fruit on a long finish. A great fit for a dry aged steak!

As for the 2010 Valle Reale Trebbiano, it is a dry beauty; pear and white fruit overlaid a crisp wine that finishes strong and clear.

The last, the 2007 Illuminati Ciafre (Trebbiano) is wonderful. This Trebbiano is deep in flavor, rich in white fruit, and supple in the mouth. Indulge and enjoy.

Cheers!

2010 Valle Reale, Vigne Nuove Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC VPQRD, Abruzzo, Italy $14

2009 Illuminati Riparosso Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo, Italy $19

2010 Valle Reale, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC VPQRD, Abruzzo, Italy $14

2007 Illuminati Ciafre, DOC, Abruzzo, Italy $18

Regular Price - $65

Friday Four Pack Price - $52

In Lombardy in the town of Rovascala resides the winery of Martilde. Martilde is the combined effort of husband and wife team Antonella Tacci and Raimondo Lombardi. The wines of Antonella and Raimondo are a perfect reflection of the rustic and charming countryside where they are produced and of the couple themselves. They left behind great careers in Milan and immersed themselves in the world of vines and wines. Raimondo and Antonella quickly learned the good and the bad of being in the wine making business; to quote Antonella, “Our initial inexperience made us sitting ducks for a crowd of bad counselors, but paying dearly, we tried to learn fast…conscious that a radical change of life requires courage and some upsetting experiences”. This past January I was able to visit with Antonella and Raimondo at their home atop the vineyards of Martilde. The visit was a reminder that any good (or even great) wine is an expression of the land and (maybe more important) the people behind them. All the wines are labeled with Antonella’s artwork, and all the artwork is of their beloved pets and family members. Once opened you can taste the generous and artistic nature of the people behind the wines they create. Read the rest of this entry »

Barbera is a wonderful grape; its hallmark are its acidity and minerality, (let’s not forget the lush red fruit) which make for a very gastronomic wine. The wines we discuss today are perfect for a lingering meal; cuts of semi-rare steaks and chops, risotto, and fresh vegatables. Whatever your favorites are, I think you will find these wines to be a great fit.

The 2010 Migliavacca Barbera del Monferrato is a wonder to taste; it rears its head with minerality right out of the bottle; give it some time to rest to bring a greater balance to the wine and to reveal the wonderful red fruit in this bottle.

Cascina del Santuario makes the 2008 Barbera d’Alba in our Four Pack; soaring notes of red fruit, full and rich, with a great (and little bit savoury) finish. Alba produces beautiful things.

The 2010 Martilde Barbera is a store and customer favorite; hailing from the Oltrepò Pavese area, this is beautiful. Great acidity/alcohol balance, with spicy notes of deep red fruit means a wonderful bottle.

Now we come to the 2010 Spaventapasseri La Mota Barbera d’Asti; just a beautiful wine, rich in red fruit, balanced acidity, with enough punch in the mouth to cause you to sit back and savor the glass a little bit longer than you might normally.

Cheers!

2010 Migliavacca Barbera del Monferrato $14

2008 Cascina del Santuario Barbera d’Alba $16

2010 Martilde Barbera $15

2010 Spaventapasseri La Mota Barbera d’Asti $23

Regular retail purchase price for all four bottles $68

The “Friday Four Pack” price $55

Elisabetta Foradori is one of Italy’s best talents and finds herself amongst the great wine producers of the world. Her success is born of tireless dedication, hard work, and a belief in working with the land. While you might expect a winemaker of this status to work with familiar grapes like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, or even Chardonnay, Elisabetta instead has spent the last 28 years focused on the native varietals of Trentino: Teroldego, Nosiola, and Manzino Bianco. Along with this focused approach to working with a select few varietals, Elisabetta is committed to Bio-Dynamic farming methods and to aging her wines in Amphora (Very Large Clay Pots). Amphora is a vessel which imparts no flavors to the wine thus resulting in a wine that is a pure expression of the grape. Elisabetta is among few winemakers in the world who have decided to take this step (Gravner in Friuili & COS in Sicily) in part because of the expense and also the time it takes to make an amphora this size(two years just to allow the clay cure before it can be baked). But for Elisabetta it has always been about the long game and her wines are proof that her approach is a sound one. Read the rest of this entry »

This weekend (starting Friday and running all the way through Valentine’s Day) we are going to make a really sweet offer by holding a Huge Wine Sale. So if you need a Valentine’s Day gift or that perfect bottle for a candlelit dinner at home or if you just want to treat yourself, here’s the perfect chance to do so. Starting Friday morning (the 10th) and lasting through close on Tuesday (the 14th), you can save big. Buy three or more bottles and receive a 15% discount, pick up 6 or more and save yourself 20%, or if you want to stock up or if you have a hard time narrowing your choices down, buy 12 or more bottles and save 25%. Read the rest of this entry »