ITALIAN OFFERING
(mix and match any 6 or more bottles, extra 10% off)
2011 MONTE DEL FRA BARDOLINO - $12.99
Classic Venetian Bardolino from a Bicchieri-winning producer! Made from Corvina, Rondinella and Sangiovese, this is a perfect, everyday summer red wine that's wonderful with all the traditional Italian items. Pizza, pasta, chicken, and lighter meats will all match up well with this wine. It's full of soft strawberry and cherry fruit flavors and the wine is very light, soft, and easy to drink. Bardolino is to the Veneto the way Barbera is to the Piemontese: It's fruity and supple, with enough acidity to keep it interesting with all the local dishes. Tremendous value!
2010 FELSINA CHIANTI CLASSICO - $24.99
This is Chianti as it is supposed to be. Robert Parker rates it a 91, noting "beautiful, pointed and articulate. Sweet red berries, anise, flowers, spices and licorice are some of the many notes that flow from this gorgeous Chianti. The freshness and vibrancy are pure 2010."
2009 FELSINA CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA - $29.99
Even better. This is a tough producer to find locally, and we have to special order it, and get a special "direct import" price. The Riserva has 93pts from Robert Parker, who calls it "stunningly beautiful". This may be one for the cellar. It is rather muscular, with a great core of fruit, spice, leather and herbs.
2010 CARBONE AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE TERRA DI FUOCHI - $12.99 (reg $19)
"Land of Fire". Carbone is located in Melfi, on the lower slopes of Mount Vulture, an ancient volcano in the heart of Basilicata (southern Italy) blessing the area with a unique terroir: a lava soil, rich in potassium and extremely fertile. We've been looking to bring in a Aglianico from here that's fresh, earthy, laced with minerality. No wood. Outstanding Aglianico at a modest price. Stainless. Very black purple. Very expressive, dark spicy, black fruit with dark cherries. Supple entry with spicy, fresh, reserved and supple fruit.
2011 MORETTI TERRE DI GIANO ROSSO - $13.99 (reg $19)
From Umbria. Organic. 50% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot, 25% Ciliegiolo, 50% Ciliegiolo, 25% Sangiovese and 25% Merlot. Deep gright clear purple. Bright, vivid cherry nose. Supple, pure cherries in the mouth. Fresh and delightful. No wood.
Situated southeast of Montefalco in Giano dell'Umbria, Azienda Agraria Moretti Omero is owned and run by Omero Moretti. The origins of the property go back to just after the first world war, when in 1925 Moretti's grandfather Domenico, who had emigrated to Switzerland before the war, returned to Umbria and used his savings to buy his first olive grove. Today the 80-acre estate has more than 4,500 olive trees and 38,000 vines. This was the second winery in Umbria to go organic, doing so in 1992. Suggested Pairings: pasta with bolognese sauce, meat loaf.
2011 MANCINI VERDICCHIO CLASSICO - $12.99 (reg $16)
From the Marche, the only white wine in the offering. Stainless. A very cool shaped bottle, this has a fresh, pure, vivid "lime" fruit, zowsa!
Albino Piona Bardolino 2012 Chiaretto - $13.99
Pale antique rose with brilliant reflections and white rim. The bouquet is fairly intense, with red berry fruit and some mentholated accents, also some spice. Promising and young. On the palate it's bright, with lively sour berry fruit supported by bright acidity and by tannins that have a slight burr, and flow into a clean sour savory berry fruit finish. Pleasant and approachable.
and finally....
2005 PALLADINO BAROLO RISERVA S. Bernardo - $65 (reg $95)
A top estate reserve Barolo at a very attractive price; only 10 bottles. This is a "hoo-boy" wine for that special occasion or your cellar. Imported by the the Barolo Grill folks.
