In This Newsletter:
Campania Sale
Collector’s Corner: Montevertine
Italy’s Under-The-Radar Source for Power, Value, and Charm
Stock Up & Save On:
Campania
Campania Sale
Collector’s Corner: Montevertine
Italy’s Under-The-Radar Source for Power, Value, and Charm
Stock Up & Save On:
Campania
Campania, one of Italy’s oldest wine regions, has been famous for its wines since the Greeks settled it. Located near Naples, there are numerous references to the quality of the wines in Roman writings. Yet despite its history, lauded grape varieties, and world-class wines, it is considered an obscure region today.
Campania’s crown jewel is the indigenous red wine grape Aglianico. Though they are aromatically different, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Aglianico is a thick-skinned red variety that creates full-bodied wines with rich tannins, ample acidity, and plenty of aging potential. The DOCG region of Taurasi, a subregion of Campania, it’s the place to look for the best examples. And among these, our favorite is Cantine Lonardo.
Sandro Lonardo makes some of the best values in powerful, Italian red wine. Based in Taurasi, he works primarily with Aglianico to craft wines that combine power and intensity with site-specific nuance that rival the best wines in Barolo and Brunello at a more modest price.
Lonardo’s Taurasi wines are made from ancient Aglianico vines planted at 1300 feet above sea level, grown organically in a tall pergola in ancient volcanic ash with a base of limestone and clay. The very best lots are kept separate and released as single vineyard bottlings.
In the winery, he limits the use of barrique and new wood, yet the wines aren’t rustic monsters. There is a unique freshness and approachability, especially given the reputation of the grape and the warm climate it calls home. Give his reds a try and explore our other Aglianico offerings from Campania.
Looking for whites? Campania has your back there, too. We offer classic whites crafted from Greco and Falanghina. Greco, here grown on clay- and volcanic ash-rich soils, offers perfumed and mineral whites that are light and crisp. The exotic perfume calls to mind preserved lemons, orchard fruit, and a nutty hint, with ripe pineapple and papaya notes in warmer years. Falanghina is also an aromatic white, which exudes layers of heirloom citrus, spice, and pine. Both grapes offer delicious pairings with seafood, roast chicken, pasta in a cream sauce, or woodfired pizza. They’ll elevate your weeknight sipping without breaking the bank, especially during our three-day sale.
Campania’s crown jewel is the indigenous red wine grape Aglianico. Though they are aromatically different, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Aglianico is a thick-skinned red variety that creates full-bodied wines with rich tannins, ample acidity, and plenty of aging potential. The DOCG region of Taurasi, a subregion of Campania, it’s the place to look for the best examples. And among these, our favorite is Cantine Lonardo.
Sandro Lonardo makes some of the best values in powerful, Italian red wine. Based in Taurasi, he works primarily with Aglianico to craft wines that combine power and intensity with site-specific nuance that rival the best wines in Barolo and Brunello at a more modest price.
Lonardo’s Taurasi wines are made from ancient Aglianico vines planted at 1300 feet above sea level, grown organically in a tall pergola in ancient volcanic ash with a base of limestone and clay. The very best lots are kept separate and released as single vineyard bottlings.
In the winery, he limits the use of barrique and new wood, yet the wines aren’t rustic monsters. There is a unique freshness and approachability, especially given the reputation of the grape and the warm climate it calls home. Give his reds a try and explore our other Aglianico offerings from Campania.
Looking for whites? Campania has your back there, too. We offer classic whites crafted from Greco and Falanghina. Greco, here grown on clay- and volcanic ash-rich soils, offers perfumed and mineral whites that are light and crisp. The exotic perfume calls to mind preserved lemons, orchard fruit, and a nutty hint, with ripe pineapple and papaya notes in warmer years. Falanghina is also an aromatic white, which exudes layers of heirloom citrus, spice, and pine. Both grapes offer delicious pairings with seafood, roast chicken, pasta in a cream sauce, or woodfired pizza. They’ll elevate your weeknight sipping without breaking the bank, especially during our three-day sale.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Campania
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Campania
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Monday, June 2nd at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Campania
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Monday, June 2nd at 9 am Pacific.
We offer ten in-stock Campania options on sale now, including:
Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina, Campania 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “Textbook. Falanghina 101. Bitter lemon, tonic, strewn fennel seed, pistachio and a pithy stone fruit pucker at the seams. Dutifully fresh, impeccably poised, far from profound, but dangerously easy to drink. Drink now.”
Feudi di San Gregorio Cutizzi, Greco di Tufo DOCG 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 15 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “Packaged in a ribbed glass bottle, this is a delightful wine that offers both elegance and accessibility. The Feudi di San Gregorio 2022 Greco di Tufo Cutizzi is just the ticket for a plate of raw fish with spicy wasabi sauce or tuna tartare. Made only in stainless steel, it has the subtle power and firmness to support generous aromas of pear, quince and honeydew melon. The wine’s mineral signature is very developed. An ample 120,000 bottles were made.”
Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Rosso Irpinia 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “There are darker tones of purple and black fruit and some savory chocolate flavors as well in the 2015 Irpinia Aglianico Serpico. This is an ambitious and deeply layered wine that peels back to reveal more spice, tar and volcanic ash hidden deep within its core. I would suggest some more bottle age with this wine, however, as the mouthfeel is sharp and etched in its youth. The wine needs a little more time to flesh out and put on more volume. Serpico goes through an 18-month aging regime in medium-toast French oak. Some 15,000 bottles were made. Drink 2020-2035 (Oct 2019).”
Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Rosso Irpinia 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Available in a dark, frosted bottle, the Feudi di San Gregorio 2016 Irpinia Aglianico Serpico has taken the proverbial turn toward tertiary aromas, or at least an initial turn, showing pressed blackberry and blackcurrant surrounded by tarry smoke, campfire ash and toasted spice. The 2016 vintage will be remembered for its power and its inner elegance, and those are exactly the traits that have carried this wine so far, and that will continue to shape its bottle-aging trajectory. There are dusty volcanic tones on the close, and the tannins are dry over a mid-weight mouthfeel. Only 8,000 bottles were made.”
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Coste, Taurasi DOCG 2011 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Deep ruby. Floral nuances complicate the red and dark berry, ink, sweet spice and flinty aromas and flavors. Dense and seamless, showing a multilayered personality and remarkable complexity of flavor. Finishes very long and with repeating, lingering hints of ink and flint.”
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Vigne d’Alto, Taurasi DOCG 2012 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Perfumed and loaded with finesse, this single-vineyard wine opens with enticing scents of violet, ripe black-skinned fruit, new leather and baking spice. Made with 60- to 100-year-old plants, the smooth, delicious palate delivers succulent Marasca cherry, plum, licorice and nutmeg framed in velvety tannins, making it one of the more elegant expressions of Taurasi out there. A mineral note energizes the lingering finish. Drink through 2032.”
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Taurasi Riserva DOCG 2011 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 21 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “The 2011 Taurasi Riserva pulls you close and holds your attention firm with its deeply alluring bouquet of crushed black cherries, plum sauce, autumnal spices, woodland herbs and hints of animal musk. This fills the palate with rich, pliant textures and ripe red and blue berries, as nervous acidity maintains wonderful freshness, and sweet notes of cinnamon, clove and tobacco form toward the close. There’s plenty of tannic grip here, yet it’s balanced by the 2011’s mix of opulent, concentrated fruit and contrasting sour citrus tones that resonate for what feels like a full minute. Even as you contemplate the experience, minerals, hints of iodine and rosy inner florals can still be sensed upon the palate. Make no mistake, this is a full-throttle expression of Taurasi, but it will win the hearts of collectors who enjoy a bigger and old-school style.”
Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo “T31”, Taurasi DOCG 2012 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The new T31 is from 100+ year old ungrafted vines on a mix of limestone and volcanic soils, elevage 3 years in tonneau with another 5 years aging in bottle.”
Luigi Tecce Poliphemo Vecchie Vigne, Taurasi Riserva DOCG 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $95, that’s $90.25 at 5% off and $85.50 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “A spicy mix of crushed black cherries, cloves, mint leaf and smoke form a seductive display as the 2015 Taurasi Riserva Poliphemo Vecchie Vigne slowly blossoms in the glass. It’s silky and pliant upon entry, quickly gaining a more tactile feel, as tart berries laced with sour citrus and minerals saturate the senses. The sheer mass and concentration here is something behold, yet more impressive is how harmonious it remains, as vibrant acidity battles fine tannins for supremacy. The end result is a finale that’s structured yet leaves the mouth watering for more, as violet florals, cocoa and an inner animal muskiness slowly fades. In my opinion, the 2015 vintage has firmly placed Luigi Tecce on the map in Taurasi.”
We don’t usually have much to say about Montevertine’s wines: those that know, know. These are iconic Tuscan reds from Chianti, but you won’t find a DOC or DOCG on the label: the estate left the consortium in 1981 rather than include Trebbiano in his wine. The wines consistently wow critics and fans alike, including in the 2020 and 2021 vintages.
In Stock Now:
Montevertine (Montevertine Rosso) Toscana IGT 2020 750ml $99 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Montevertine (Montevertine Rosso) Toscana IGT 2020 1.5L $249 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Montevertine shows a generous, open-knit presentation with dark fruit, blue flower and delicate mineral highlights. The wine is 90% Sangiovese with small additions of Canaiolo and Colorino. It shows a medium-rich core of fruit but also offers a filigree of background nuances that renders it all the more enticing and interesting. The is a true beauty, showing the subtleties and nuances that can be achieved with native Tuscan grapes in a warm vintage.”
Arriving Soon:
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2021 750ml $245 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2021 1.5L $625 pre-arrival special, 1 magnum available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2021 Le Pergole Torte is a real stunner. Rich, deep and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2021 is captivating from the very first taste. In bottle, this is quite a bit more reticent than it was as a barrel sample, which, in my view, is a positive. Even so, readers should be prepared to cellar the 2021 for a number of years at a minimum.”
In Stock Now:
Montevertine (Montevertine Rosso) Toscana IGT 2020 750ml $99 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Montevertine (Montevertine Rosso) Toscana IGT 2020 1.5L $249 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Montevertine shows a generous, open-knit presentation with dark fruit, blue flower and delicate mineral highlights. The wine is 90% Sangiovese with small additions of Canaiolo and Colorino. It shows a medium-rich core of fruit but also offers a filigree of background nuances that renders it all the more enticing and interesting. The is a true beauty, showing the subtleties and nuances that can be achieved with native Tuscan grapes in a warm vintage.”
Arriving Soon:
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2021 750ml $245 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles available
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2021 1.5L $625 pre-arrival special, 1 magnum available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points “The 2021 Le Pergole Torte is a real stunner. Rich, deep and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2021 is captivating from the very first taste. In bottle, this is quite a bit more reticent than it was as a barrel sample, which, in my view, is a positive. Even so, readers should be prepared to cellar the 2021 for a number of years at a minimum.”
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Donnhoff
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Donnhoff
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Donnhoff
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Donnhoff sale ends Saturday, May 31st at 9 am Pacific.