Just think of all the times during the coldest, darkest days of winter when we would try to conjure up that hot summer day with just enough breeze to almost feel refreshing. The best summertime wines are light on their feet, crisp, tangy, with a hint of salty sea breeze, a stony minerality that finishes dry and leaves you wanting another sip. Here is a list of exclusive summertime favorites plus one of our all-time faves from the Italian Riviera, that are sure to help keep you cool during their long summer nights. Enjoy! -- Eric Broege

ENZO BREZZA

2013 BREZZA Langhe Chardonnay $22

We are continually amazed at the exceptional purity of Brezza wines. Enzo Brezza's innovative winemaking process creates this brilliant chardonnay; first, he crushes a selection of the best grapes, starts fermentation with wild yeasts, then inoculates the rest of the grapes. This speeds the process overall and results in beautiful floral aromas, fresh acidity, lively minerality --perfetto!

2013 ALESSANDRIA Langhe Favorita $22

Those in the know look forward to the summertime arrival of  Alessandria Favorita! Fresh pear and white peach, white flowers with a clean, crisp finish -- a delicious white for light pastas and fish! Pure, enjoyable, versatile elegance from Verduno!  

Quintessential Chillable Red 

2013 ALESSANDRIA Verduno Pelaverga $22  

Rare and unusual. Pelaverga, a grape grown only in the Barolo village of Verduno, makes an unusually delicious red wine fragrant with wild berries, black pepper and spices. Pomegranate and strawberry fruit, soft texture and ultrafine, sweet tannins. Caution - cravings may develop. 

2013 BRUNA Pigato "Russeghine" $28

FRANCESCA BRUNA

The flagship wine from this small, family-run estate in Albenga. Very elegant and fresh, round, silky mouthfeel, notes of pine needles & Mediterranean scrub. The Pigato grape is from old vines, 45+ years, grown in red clay. Matured 20% in oak barrel; 80% in steel. Only 5,000 bottles produced!   

CAMPANIA -- Surprising freshness from the south

LUIGI MAFFINI

2013 MAFFINI "Kratos" $25

100% Fiano. Rich texture, ripe orchard fruit, notes of toasted almond. Lush and fresh with nice acidity. Saline notes on long finish.

 

2013 MAFFINI Rosato "Denazzano" $16.99

100% Aglianico. Best harvest ever for this terrific Aglianico Rosato made from free-run juice. Lovely deep color, very fresh nose, great acidity, absolutely delicious and refreshing.

1998 GIUSEPPE CORTESE Barbaresco Rabaja $90

Yes, that's right -- 1998 Barbaresco Rabaja direct from the winery's cellar! One of our final stops at the Vinitaly wine fair in Verona was the Giuseppe Cortese booth -- frankly, we were blown away by several vintages of their Rabaja and Riservas. We were thrilled to be able to taste this rockin' 1998, and even more excited to find out we could order it and offer it to our discriminating customers!

Eric's notes during the tasting: "The 1998 Rabaja is a tremendous expression of a place like nowhere else on earth. Still very fresh with a lush texture, the '98 has big fruit, savory notes of leather, porcini, and truffles-- and the deep soul of Rabaja."  

LIMITED AVAILABILITY in both stores; email or call 978-369-2545 or 617-484-4560 to place your order! 

The Tessari sisters at SUAVIA-- Meri, Valentina & Ariana-- have continued their quest for greater distinction in the SOAVE region of the Veneto. The new, visually artistic labels, and their top of the line MASSIFITTI Trebbiano di Soave wine showcase the distinctive qualities of their vineyards in Fitta, their drive for quality, and their goal of making Soave Classico the new go-to Italian white!

2013 SUAVIA Soave Classico $14.99

100% Garganega.  Beautiful color and aroma, explosive  flavors of almonds, crisp green apple and pear. Very elegant texture, superb mineral character -- gorgeous white, OUTSTANDING VALUE! 

2011 SUAVIA Massifitti $35

The estate's masterwork from their treasured vines of 100% Trebbiano di Soave. Lovely soft pear and nectarine fruit, with underlying chalky notes. Super-fine, silky minerals. Beautiful! Aged 15 mos. in cellar and 15 mos. in bottle.

Gerard Prudhon

HENRI PRUDHON Burgundy: New Arrivals  

"Domaine Henri Prudhon is ... the most under-rated producer in all of Burgundy. The style is ultra-pure and completely classic. Moreover, the wines sell for very reasonable prices..." --Burghound

2011 HENRI PRUDHON St. Aubin Blanc "Le Ban" $35

"Pretty pear, rose petal and white peach aromas. There is good  richness to the generous, round flavors that possess an attractive sense of energy on the balanced finish." --Burghound

2010 HENRI PRUDHON St. Aubin Blanc 1er Cru "La Chatenierre" $45

Very classy, very limited; only 60 cases produced! "Attractively layered nose of pear, apricot, peach and anise-inflected aromas that introduce tautly muscular middle weight flavors that possess excellent volume and fine length on the citrusy finish. 90 pts." -- Burghound

red  

 "Les Frionnes" was the first red bottled by the estate in the 1980's; made from 45 year old vines. "A perfumed and beautifully elegant nose features notes of red pinot, raspberry, cherry and a hint of wet stone. There is fine detail and precision on the dusty and ever-so-slightly dry finish." -- Burghound  

"The quality that this domaine consistently achieves is nothing short of remarkable." -- Burghound    

Call 978-369-2545 or email. 

Founded in 1924, Cavas Recaredo is one of the few truly artisanal cava producers, hand-crafting their wines according to the family traditions. Surrounded by an ocean of industrial cava, Recaredo adheres to its labor-intensive, quality-first method, using 100% biodynamically farmed fruit. Non-dosage, hand-disgorged, 100% natural cork stoppers, aged in bottle, and vintage dated.  Tasting the Recaredo wines will open your eyes to this nearly lost world of artisan, quality cava.

RECAREDO 2008 Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva $40

55% Xarello, 30% Macabeu, 15% Chardonnay; produced in the Alt Penedes district. 9% of the base wine, from the Xarel·lo grape variety, is aged for 11 months in oak barrels; green apples, complex with a toasty, mineral touch; creamy in the finish with hazelnut hints and a fine bubble.

2012 RECAREDO "Miranius" $19.99

Still blend of Xarel-lo and Mabaceo. Dry, crisp, with tangy green apple notes and chalky minerals.  Silky palate, very long finish. 

Try this independent tradition --  in-stock now!