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Viva Italia at Cork & Bottle
Posted by perle0 on 2006-12-04 18:54:24
(7884 views) 
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[Events]
[Louisiana] |
 Viva Italia at Long Last
"What’s it all about? Integrity--there simply is no quality in wine without integrity"
–-Jens Schmidt, Owner, Montecastelli Selections
This past summer, Jon and Laurie of Cork & Bottle made a trip to the Montecastelli Wine Fair in Tuscany to find some new discoveries (we know, it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it!). Montecastelli is a Tuscan-based company that works with Italian wineries focused on estate-grown wines made organically and biodynamically--in other words, wines that are painfully pure and true to region and type. Although the air conditioning was in short supply, the food was good and the wines were incredible.
Over 40 producers featuring about 300 wines were tasted over three days. The producers were charming (and some of them even spoke English); needless to say, the wines were amazing. Jon and Laurie left the fair just dying to get their new discoveries back to Cork & Bottle, and since July they’ve been waiting for them to show up. Waiting. For nearly 6 months. The good news is that the wines are starting to arrive and the nearly 6-month wait for these new discoveries did nothing to diminish the excitement about them. The following wines are some of the highlights of the trip; they are now in stock in both stores and available for purchase on-line.
Happy Shopping! |
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Parusso
Think of the talent of Angelo Gaja without the attitude and price tag, and there you have Marco Parusso. Gambero Rosso writes of Parusso, "The range of wines offered by Marco and Tiziana Parusso stands out as one of the most impressive in the entire Langhe. . .it is the overall level of their quality that amazes." We add that they are amongst the finest examples of Barolo and Barbera we have ever tasted. The unoaked Dolcetto is light and easy, the Barbera is lively, balanced, and full of fruit, and the Barolo... well, the DOC Barolo is a HUGE wine, and the single-vineyard Mariondino was simply stated in Jon’s tasting notes as "Buy as much of this incredivle wine as you can." Unfortunately, with only 250 cases coming to the U.S., we didn't get much.
2004 Parusso Barbera d'Alba 'Ornati” $26.99
2001 Parusso Barolo, $51.99
2001 Parusso Barolo 'Mariondino' $74.99
2005 Parusso Dolcetto d'Alba 'Piani Noce' $19.99
La Rasina
What a wonderful character Paolo Caciorgna at La Rasina is! Although he is a modest and soft-spoken guy, he was never without an ear-to-ear smile, and that’s because he knows his wines are amongst some of the best, most pure examples of Sangiovese Grosso produced in Montalcino. La Rasina is a pure Brunello, with 100% Sangiovese Grosso. Paolo makes what our importer calls the "Burgundy of Italy." The wines are satiny and luxurious, loaded with black cherries, herbs, and smoke. La Rasina are aristocratic wines made by a plain, down-to-earth person, and they are the purest examples of Brunello you’re likely to find.
2000 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino $49.99
2001 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino 'Il Divasco' $79.99
2004 La Rasina Rosso di Montalcino $23.99
Ronchi
Giancarlo Rocca’s winery Ronchi is located in the middle of one of the most famous crus of Barbaresco, called "Ronchi," right next to Montestefano. His vineyards are all steep hillsides, ideally located, full of stones. His Dolcetto and Barberas are dynamic wines, full of fruit that are begging to be on the dinner table!
2004 Ronchi Barbera d'Alba 'La Terle' $21.99
2004 Ronchi Dolcetto Rosario $19.99
Col Vetoraz
Perhaps it was the heat, but these were some of the most enjoyable wines of the fair. Paolo de Bortoli's Proseccos are amazing sparkling wines that are not sweet, yet aren't too acidic or thin like some examples of Prosecco can be. This is Prosecco at its very best...and the price is right.
"Col Vetoraz is situated in one of the best areas for growing Prosecco, and is among the leading local wineries for quality....the Brut is one of the best Proseccos of this type, and the elegant range of aromas, a trademark of all Col Vetoraz products, is reflected in its balanced flavor."—-Gambero Rosso.
2005 Col Vetoraz Prosecco Extra Dry $16.99
Nicodemi
Founded by Bruno Nicodemi, the property has now passed into the hands of the family's second generation, Allessandro and (the stunning) Elena Nicodemi, pictured above. This brother-and-sister team have decided to abandon the typical style of vine management and grape growing in the Abruzzo area in favor of a lower-yield method of growing. The result are wines that pay off handsomely for the price. Their Montepulcianos are silky, elegant, and long on the palate, and taste like they should cost twice the price. A great example of tradition and innovation combining for a winning result. GREAT VALUES!
2004 Nicodemi Montepulciano d’Abruzzo $17.99
2004 Nicodemi Notari Rosso (Montepulciano) $22.99
Other Wines of Interest
2005 Ca'd'Gal Lumine Moscato d'Asti $17.99
2005 Paradisio Vernaccia di San Gimignano $12.99
2005 Laila Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi $13.99 |
E-mail: info@corknola.com
Phone: 225.344.1414
Web: http://www.corknola.com |
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