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Forza
Italia!! It's like coming home. We're going to show you the
future and past of great Italian winemaking. This month's release
consists of five wines, all of which come from Italy. Two of
the wines come from Tuscany, one from the exciting southern region
of Puglia, and two more from the northern regions of Piedmont
and Alba. We didn't plan an exclusive Italian box, however,
as the format of the club allows, these wines simply revealed
themselves.
Quite frequently, I explain to customers in the restaurant that
the Italian peninsula is one of the most exciting regions in
the world as far as winemaking is concerned. Great wines are
being produced from as far south as Sicily to the extreme northern
regions of Piedmont and everywhere in between. But unlike France,
for example, the wines in most of these regions do not have to
be manipulated in poor vintages. Instead, Italy presents varying
soil types, great microclimates and years of planting experience.
Furthermore, with the modernization of facilities, the wines
have become increasingly better every year. A perfect example
of this has been the explosion of super - Tuscan wines onto the
international scene. These wines, which are blends of non -
indigenous grapes or non - traditional blends are only the tip
of the iceberg, so to speak. The truly exciting winemaking is
happening in southern areas such as Sicily, Campania, Puglia,
Molise and Sardinia. In future releases, we will delve further
into these unknown regions of Italy. Have a wonderful summer
and we'll have more exciting wines for you in the fall!
If you have questions, comments or re-orders, you can reach us
via e-mail at ndellasantina@mindspring.com, fax:707-933-0737,
or phone: 707-935-7613 , and Rob's cell phone, 707-529-0158.
Salute
e Buona Fortuna!!
Robert and Nicole Della Santina and J. Thaddeus Brennan
Terra
di Tuffi, Teruzzi e Pethod, San Gemignano 2001- $18
Vino Bianco Per Favore!! The Vernaccia di San Gimignano of Fattoria
Ponte a Rondolino is considered the most brilliant example of
what top modern wine - making can do with a top medieval vine.
This reserve wine is called Terre Di Tuffi meaning tuffaceous
terrain because the vines come from the steep volcanic hillsides
of Tuscany's most famous hill town, San Gimignano. The wine
is also aged for four to five months in small French oak casks,
thus enhancing its fruitiness and complexity.
Enrico Teruzzi, the icon of Vernaccia, is the man who spearheaded
this appellation to international acclaim. Furthermore, he was
the first to introduce temperature control in Vernaccia production.
In the words of Italian importer Neil Empson, Enrico Teruzzi
"has achieved a perfect balance of depth and cleanliness;
of fruit, complexity and barrique; of tradition and international
appeal and, thanks to his revolutionary, minimal temperature
treatment of musts, exceptional continuity in quality, whatever
the vintage."
The wine is full - bodied with ripe fruit and a beautiful long
finish. It has aromas of apples, caramel, honey and dried lemons.
It pairs perfectly with appetizers and seafood, especially shellfish
and white meats. Salute!!
Gattinara,
Travaglini, Piedmont 1998 - $18
Tucked into the rugged terrain of the Alpine foothills, is the
wine - growing region called the Gattinara. These Nebbiolo vines
have been nurtured in this area of Piedmont for centuries in
ideal conditions created by the shelter of the Alps. Awarded
DOC in 1967 and DOCG in 1991, Gattinara is a tiny region of only
90 hectares, with the lowest yields in Italy. The Travaglini
estate possesses 52 of those hectares, and has been producing
this rare and amazing wine since 1958.
Gattinara is viewed in Italy as the great aristocratic Italian
wine as well as a pearl in the winemaking world. The wine is
aged for two years in Slavonian oak casks. Furthermore, a great
wine like this could not end up in a normal bottle. Thus, Travaglini
thought to create a particular bottle that is a work of art.
The shape of the bottle is also intended to retain the sediment
while decanting older vintages.
The wine itself exhibits unmistakable characteristics that make
it unique: incredible deep color and a bouquet of rose and violets
with hints of liquor, spices and forest fruit. I hope you will
truly enjoy this unique gem in the world of wine. Pair it with
roasted meats, wild game or pasta in a red sauce. Salute!!
Notarpanaro,
Taurino, Puglia 1997 - $13
This vino Pugliese is the perfect example of the future of Italian
winemaking. Puglia is home to a prolific production of both
wine and table grapes. The output of wine is the most voluminous
in Italy. If Puglia were a country, its production would rank
seventh in the world. In recent years, however, an emphasis
has been placed on premium wines and Puglia is forging a reputation
based on excellent bottlings of dry balanced reds, whites and
roses rather than staggering exports of bulk juice.
Francesco Taurino has assumed full control of this estate since
the death of his father, Cosimo, who did so much to promote the
wines of this region in the heel of Italy's so called boot.
Fifty acres of new vineyards have been added with plans for an
additional seventy-five. Furthermore, a new winery has been
constructed in celebration of Cosimo and his dedication to the
wines of Salento.
The wine is a blend of 85% Negramaro and 15% Malvasia Nera.
Moreover, it spent over three years in French oak, one third
of which was new. It has a distinctive earthy nose of creosote,
scorched earth, pepper, spice, black cherries and licorice.
The wine is full - bodied, cleanly made and well balanced, with
as Robert Parker notes, "abundant glycerin, power, and richness."
He just happened to give the wine a score of 90 points. This
wine is a perfect foil for leg of lamb or stewed wild game. Salute!!
Crognolo, Tenuta Sette Ponti, Tuscany 2000 - $25
Here it is, the future of Italian winemaking as shown by this
up-and-coming estate. The estate of Sette Ponti lies in the
heart of the Chianti zone, fifteen miles northwest of the city
of Arezzo just past the village of San Giustino Valdarno. The
Via del Monte, known locally as the Via dei Sette Ponti, leads
into a beautiful hidden valley and to the estate. The name Sette
Ponti, or "seven bridges," refers to the seven bridges
crossing the Arno River on the road from Arezzo to Florence.
Crognolo is named after the wild bush, Cornus, which grows on
the estate. The blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot from
vines of an average age of 25 to 35 years yields a refined, elegantly
stylish wine with fruit forward character. The wine has incredibly
dense color and exhibits in the nose as well as the palate, ripe
flavors of wild cherries, black fruit, leather and vanilla.
Furthermore, the wine is well balanced with ripe tannins and
a good acid structure. This wine is perfect with grilled meats
especially beef or lamb. Enjoy!!
Barbera D'Alba, "Fonda Pra", Lano 2000 - $18
This is definitely not your typical Italian Barbera that was
sold in the U.S. ten years ago. Gone are the days of astringent,
acidic and tannic Italian Barbera. Gianluigi Lano has brought
this magnificent grape to a new level. He produces wines in
the most natural ways possible by avoiding the use of herbicides
and pesticides. Furthermore, he green harvests a portion of
his crop, thus reducing his yields and increasing the intensity
of flavor in his wines. Interestingly, Lano does not bottle
the first hundred and the last fifty liters of juice that is
pressed in order to preserve the intense purity of his wines.
The 2000 Fondo Pra comes from two hillside thirty-year-old vineyards,
one in the Altavilla di Alba zone (between Barbaresco and the
city of Alba) and one in the San Rocco D'Elvio di Alba (a zone
of Barbaresco). After fermentation, the wine is then aged for
twenty - two months in small French oak barrels. The wine possesses
a luscious and velvety mouth - feel. The ripe dark fruits in
the wine are framed but not overwhelmed by the lovely hints of
vanilla and hazelnuts from the oak. This wine is perfect with
red meat or heavy stews. Salute!!
Re - Order Form
Wine
4 bottles 6 bottles case
Terra di Tuffi, Teruzzi e Pethod, San Gemignano 2001- $18
Gattinara, Travaglini, Piedmont 1998 - $18
Notarpanaro,
Taurino, Puglia 1997 - $13
Crognolo,
Tenuta Sette Ponti, Tuscany 2000 - $25
Barbera D'Alba, "Fonda Pra", Lano 2000 - $18
Pesanella "Super Tuscan," Castello Di Monterinaldi,
Tuscany 1993 - $15
Castello Di Monterinaldi, Tuscany 1993 - $15
Merlot, Ronchi Di Manzano, Friuli, Italy 1997 - $6
Rosso Di Savona, Sassotondo, Maremma, Tuscany 1999 - $16
Riesling, "Vin D'Alsace," Wunsch et Mann, France 2001
- $12
Gigondas, "Les Espalines," Patrick Lesec Selections,
France 2000 - $18
Syrah, Lauterbach Cellars, Russian River, Sonoma 2000 - $32
Red Bordeaux, Chateau Cantenac Brown, Margaux, France 1999 -
$25
Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Mak, Coonawarra, Australia 2000 -
$17
Rosso Di Montalcino, La Palazzetta, Flavio Fanti, Tuscany 2000
- $24
Tikal, Corazon, Argentina 2001 - $24
San Vincenzo, Roberto Anselmi, Veneto - 2001 $9
Rivola, Abadia Reduerta, Sardon de Duero, Spain 2001 - $14
Celebre, Ata Rangi, Martinborough, New Zealand 1999 - $29
Cabernet Sauvignon, Atalon, Napa 1999 - $25
Marquis, Chateauneuf Du Pape, France 2000 - $16
Joseph's Hat, Ashanti, South Africa, 2000 - $15
Brentino, Maculan, Veneto 2000 - $14
Pinot Bianco, Torre Rosazza, Veneto - $18
Ribera Del Duero, Valderiz, Spain 1998 - $22
Pinot Grigio, Montresor, Verona 2001 - $11
Merlot, Villa Pillo, Tuscany 1997 - $14
Chateau Camou, Baja, Mexico 1998 - $32
Dolcetto, G.D. Vajra, Barolo 2000 - $16
Cote Du Rhone, Renjarde, France 2000 - $11
Salitage, Australia, 1999 - $17
Tormaresca, Antinori, Puglia 2000 $10
Rasteau, Mistral, France 1998 $14
Malbec, Santa Julia, Argentina 2000 $10
Mapemma, Argentina 2000 $31
Palazzo Della Torre, Allegrini, 1999 $17
Vina Alarba Grenache 2002 $8
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