2009 Sant' Antonio Scaia Bianca
Tenuta Sant' Antonio Bianco Scaia Bianca is a white wine from the Veneto. Made by winery Fratelli Giuliari in 2009. Garganega forms the base of the best Soaves, and is also bottled on its own. It makes a richly fruited, soft, medium bodied white wine redolent of melon, green plum, and faint citrus fruits expressed in a distinctly fruity aroma. Pale yellow with greenish hues. Bouquet: white flowers like acacia and jasmine, hints of citrus fruit like pineapple, grapefruit and orange, apple and mango and a slight scent of banana. Taste: fresh and pleasant due to the well-sustained acidity. The body and aftertaste are soft. The finale is pungent and round. For white wines such as the "Scaia Bianca" the press is filled with a layer of nitrogen upon vinification, forming an oxygen-free barrier that concentrates flavors, resulting in lush, highly aromatic white wines. Constant stirring of the lees adds additional complexity to all of Tenuta Sant'Antonio's wines.
Our Price: 9.97
2008 Ajello Majus Grillo / Cattaratto Bianco
This very dry, aromatic Sicilian white is an ideal aperitif wine. The two grapes, Grillo & Catarrato, are also used to make Marsala. Like a nice, light Marsanne, this is full of fresh spring flowers, citrus blossoms, lime & orange flavors. A 50/50 blend of the local grapes Grillo and Catarratto. Grillo is known for its full body, while Catarratto, when in the right hands, can produce fine, crisp and characterful wines. Together, it is a near-perfect partnership. Broad aromatic impact with fruity nuances. Fermented in stainless steel. The result is a full-bodied, fresh and crisp wine with citrus, yellow plum, pear, peach and sweet herb notes. This wine is beautifully crisp and bright as a button, with persistent floral and mineral notes. Acidity is fairly low, the body soft but not flabby, and the finish gently herbal. Definitely get peach on the nose. Sicily is becoming known for high-quality wines and good values. If you're a Pinot Grigio fan looking for something new, this is your wine!
Serving suggestions: seafood, light fried dishes, salads, couscous. Enjoy this lively wine with pan-fried fish or Cioppino. Good wine with shellfish and light fish dishes.
Our Price: 11.57
2009 Scaia Rossa Corvina
The Castagnedi family owns this small estate in the Illasi valley, which is improving rapidly with the help of consulting oenologist Calestino Gasparini. This is clearly a future star of Amarone, with numerous excellent bottlings that are highly concentrated without being exaggerated. Try also their superb Valpolicella. The nose "jumps out" of the glass with strawberries, raspberries, violets and white pepper. (Bit like a good Beaujolais-Villages to us). Floral with hints of red rose, fruity with notes of red and black cherry, plum, wood fruits like blackberry, red and black currant. Taste: Well-balanced pungency and freshness. Intense and with good body despite its graceful youth. Savory earthiness, this medium-bodied wine has lovely, bright flavors and great balance. This is a terrific wine from a place we love, and it comes with our strongest "buy me" recommendation. Famous for their world-class Valpolicellas, Tenuta Sant'Antonio makes this delicious "little" red from 100% Corvina, aged in tank (no oak). The taste is more of the same: nice and pure. Light and fresh, but not skimpy. Intense and medium bodied despite its youth. Food Pairings: risotto, red roasted meats, mature cheeses. Serve it with grilled meats (anyone own a barbecue?), spicy sausages, or think tomato sauce and olives. Serve with First courses and risottos (also traditional Veneto dishes such as flour gnocchi with mountain cheese, pasta and bean soup, sausage risotto), white meat and poultry in general, grilled corn-meal mush with herrings.
Our Price: 10.57
2008 Coltibuono Sang/Syr Cancelli
The 2008 Cancelli's perfect balance of acid and fruit, and soft and harmonious finish complements many kinds of cuisine. Intense ruby red color, with purplish blue hues. Powerful on the nose, with aromas of cherry and ripe red fruits, accompanied by delicate hints of pepper. Ripe, juicy black and red berry aroma is fresh and pure, with some pretty floral notes. On the palate it is fresh, fragrant, with elegant, pleasantly persistent tannins - supple and velvety, with good structure and moderate acidity. Moderate-good saturation; a nice ruby red. The mouth follows the nose, with juicy, focused red/black berry flavors, this time saying more clearly 'Syrah' to me. A little licorice and mineral in the finish give it some character. An appealing variation on the straight Sangiovese wines, with the Syrah adding both to the flavors and texture of the wine. A very good anyday red. This is a young, pleasant wine with great potential for improvement with cellaring. The varietal blend was specifically developed to obtain a quality wine suitable for everyday consumption. The grape selection takes place in vineyards that are most suited to the production of young wines.
Our Price: 9.57
2008 Ajello Majus R Nero d'Avola
Rich and dark fruit, rustic, with a light licorice note & peppery flavors, sweet & ripe tannins. Sicily makes a lot o' wine. From Marsala, the sweet, fortified wine of the region, to up-and-coming Nero d'Avola, this hot and hilly region is diverse. Sicily was at one time more quantity focused than quality, and while it's still producing a great deal of wine, the quality coming out is much better. With poor soil (great for grapes), warm sunshine, little rainfall and good mountain terrains, this little island is perfect for making the good stuff. Intense and refined hedgerow nuances; it is round and full in the mouth and well-balanced, with a generous and pleasant aftertaste. 100% Nero d'Avola. Aged six months in large barrels and three months in tanks.
Our Price: 12.97
