International Wine Club - June 2012
Learn the finer points to many of our Wine of the Month Club. Our club wines are expertly researched and selected for quality, value and uniqueness and every one has an interesting history. Here are some of the wines we are offering this month:
Scoprire - Italy
2011 Sangiovese Del Rubicone IGT
The strongly individual characteristics of Emilia-Romagna wines make them northern Italy's most eccentric. They are different, on the whole, from the wines of their neighbors. In Romagna, wines are made primarily from the native Sangiovese, Trebbiano and Albana grapes. Albana di Romagna, which became Italy's first DOCG white wine in 1987, is usually dry and still with a distinctive almond undertone and finish. The king of Romagna wines, though, is Sangiovese, usually a robust red with pronounced fruity flavors, reminiscent of the great variety of produce and fruits gracing the area. Scoprire Sangiovese is made with 100% Sangiovese grapes from the Rubicone river valley. The Rubicone IGT is named for the Rubicone River that flows from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic Sea through the southern portion of Emilia-Romagna. The river valley and the adjoining hillsides provide optimal growing conditions for the Sangiovese grape. Grapes are carefully selected and gently crushed. The must is left in contact with the skins for approximately one week. It is then transferred to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks where fermentation takes place over a ten day span. Following fermentation the wine is cold stabilized and bottled. Scoprire then releases the wine in the spring following the harvest. It's a bright ruby color, medium bodied, dry but fruity wine. It has a powerful nose of bitter cherries and a lively palate, with good depth of cherry fruit, crisp acidity and decent structure. The wine may be light on weight but it is long on flavor. The ideal pasta-and-pizza red. An uncomplicated smooth and easy-drinking Italian red wine with delicate aromas and flavors of red fruits and soft tannins. Ideal with crusty tomato and mozzarella pizza. It can also be served slightly chilled as an accompaniment to dining “Al Fresco” on a warm summer evening.
Tamellini - Italy
2010 Soave DOC
For years Gaetano Tamellini was content to grow grapes, which like nearly all of the countless Soave growers, good and bad, sold his production to the Soave Co-op. This massive cooperative monopolizes all but a handful of the DOC production. Convinced that his hillside vineyards deserved better and encouraged by the consistently fine offerings he had always bottled for home use, Tamellini took the great leap of faith. He joined the elite rank of only 15 growers (at the time, there are now 20) in all of Soave who bottle their own individual estate wines. Hence, a star was born. With the assistance of Paolo Caciorgna, one of Italy’s greatest white wine makers, Gaetano and his brother Pio Francesco turn out formidable Soave offerings. Even before the Tamellini Brothers' debut vintage, importer Marc De Grazia knew a good thing when he saw it. Moreover, his decision to have Paolo Caciorgna oversee each step of the vinification process and his own willingness to import single vineyard Soave, has paid off handsomely. From 16 hectares of vineyards, Tamellini produces excellent Soave, and Soave Superiore. The 2010 offering is made of almost all Garganega with a light touch of Trebbiano di Soave, often referred to as Verdicchio by the locals. When chilled way down this wine tastes of lemon and pear and finishes crisp. But as it warms a bit in the glass, the wine changes slightly as the dose of crisp lemon decreases and is replaced by melon and pineapple. So chill the wine to fit your style. While certainly this wine could be drunk all alone, it would pair up nicely with seafood, cheeses, fresh fruit, or pasta.
Weinkeller Walter Glatzer - Austria
2008 Blaufränkisch Carnuntum
In the little-known Carnuntum region immediately east of Vienna, Glatzer splits his production neatly down the middle between white and red varietals. He's conscientious in the vineyards, green harvesting when necessary and opting to bring in the grapes by hand, even with terrain receptive to mechanical harvesters. The whites are clean and tight, and some of the best out of Austria. The reds: Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, and St. Laurent, are juicy, and delicious. The 2008 Blaufränkisch originates from lesser parcels in the Carnuntum, harvested at the end of September. Softly-textured and juicy, its abundant, jam-like black raspberry fruit is mingled with resinous notes from barrel. This preserves a tart suggestion of fruit skin and incorporates deep nuttiness and an unmistakably saline, chalky minerality that keep it interesting and lively through an imposingly long finish. Drink now through 2015 and serve with BBQ or sausages.
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