Whites from Piedmont and Reds from the Loire Valley – Saturday, April 11, 4-7pm
April 12th, 2009Enjoy these versatile wines that pair beautifully with springtime, Easter meals – traditionally-made, hand-harvested from old, gnarly low-yielding vines, fermented with indigenous wild yeasts, minimal sulfur, unfiltered and made by responsible stewards of the earth – a great way to end Lent.Orthodox Easter is Sunday, April 19.
2007 Cascina degli Ulivi ‘Montemarino’ Bianco – Piedmont, Itay – $25.00
Golden straw color, pretty floral aromas, lavender, vanilla, caramel and butterscotch. Soft and rich, brazil nut flavors, touch briney and complex, floral, fascinating. Old-vine Cortese (some from over 100 year old vines and the rest around 40-50 years old) from a high hill in Gavi, aged 1 year in oak.
2007 Vittoria Bera and Figli ‘Arcese’ Bianco – Piedmont, Italy – $14
Light and fresh white blend of Arneis, Cortese and Favorita (Vermentino). It’s slightly perfumed but subtlety and has a frizzantino style…meaning it has a light amount of spritz.
2007 Domaine de la Pepiere ‘Cuvee Granit’ VdP – Loire Valley, France – $15.00
Loire Valley red table blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cot (Malbec) and Gamay. Delicious earthy flavors with light currant and berry fruit. Soft stony minerality, dusty tannins, fresh and elegant. Winemaker Marc Ollivier is pictured at left – talk about responsible stewards of the earth, this guy just reeks of environmentalism, doesn’t he?
2007 Le Clos du Tue-Boeuf ‘La Guerrerie’ – Touraine, Loire Valley, France – $22.50
Organic and bio dynamic blend of 60% Cot (Malbec) and 40% Gamay from winemaker Thierry Puzelat in the village of Touraine. Light, juicy red with very soft tannins and delicate rose and berry flavors. A hint of earth and herbs gives depth.
Winemaker Maxime Graillot was practically raised in the vineyards – this 100% Syrah is spicy and fabulous – a totally different experience from your basic Cotes-du-Rhone and a big step up. Crozes-Hermitages is spitting distance from the legendary villages of Hermitage. We got the last 2 cases so don’t get too attached!
Made from indigenous Sicilian varietals – Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio – from high altitude vineyards on the slopes of the dormany Mount Etna. It’s a fascinating red with bright red fruit flavors, crisp acidity, smoky and spicy notes as well as a hint of ash on finish.
One of Napa’s finest Cabernet Francs – a bit lighter and pepperier than a Napa Cab, but richer than a Loire Valley Chinon or Bourgueil.
