BLOCKBUSTER VOLCANIC WINE FROM MT. ETNA

L'ARRIGO EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

     Our big annual Wooly Worm sale continues. Some items have sold out but cases of more than 35 wines from Argentina, France, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and the U.S. still remain. Many of these wines are highly rated, and all are priced at significant discount. Our sale will continue Monday through Saturday, so stop by and load up.

SICILIAN BLOCKBUSTER

When was the last time you were blown away by a wine from Sicily? Even if you once were, we bet it was not from the slopes of Mt. Etna. If you read Wine Spectator cover to cover, you would have noticed on the very last page of the Oct. 31 "Exploring Italy" issue a recipe for Porchetta, with which the chef recommends a Nerello Mascalese (that's a grape variety) wine. Coincidentally, and all the more so since this variety is one of Italy's most obscure, our latest "find" is a Nerello Mascalese. Folks, this wine is the real McCoy.           

2004 Benanti Serra Della Contessa Rosso (Sicily, $35.99). Wine Advocate 93 pts, (and worth every point): "Benanti's 2004 Serra della Contessa is a showstopper. This blend of 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio is made from 100-year old vines, many of which date to pre-phylloxera times. The wine is fermented in oak vats, then racked into French oak barrels for aging. It reveals notable intensity and purity in its expressive layers of ripe fruit, leather, minerals, menthol, licorice and smoke. Supple, finessed tannins frame the gorgeous finish. Today the wine is quite primary but in time it will likely develop into an ethereal beauty. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016." Supplies are limited.

L'ARRIGO EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

We're down to our last two cases of L'Arrigo extra virgin olive oil, which we direct-import from friends in Tuscany, just outside Florence. If you're running low, now's the time to stock up. Fear not for the future - we are in the process of finalizing our order for a pallet of their 2012 vintage oil, to arrive in March after first cold pressing this fall and settling over the winter. This year, they are making their oil available in 5-liter cans as well as in the traditional 350 ml. bottles. (One can of oil is equivalent to about 15 350 ml. bottles) The advantage of the 5 l. cans is that it is substantially less expensive by volume and you can keep the oil for an extended period without deterioration. Many of you live in Florida or other distant locations and can have L'Arrigo year round if you take a can of L'Arrigo home when you leave the High Country.

It will help us determine the mix of bottles and cans we need to order if those of you who are interested in buying the oil in cans let us know. If you would like to take your L'Arrigo in a can, please reply to that effect to this email.