Tag Archives: italian

Wine of the Day: Three Friulian Whites from I Clivi 6-15-16

I Clivi di Ferdinando Zanusso ‘San Pietro’ Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2014 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special

I Clivi di Ferdinando Zanusso Ribolla Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2014 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special

I Clivi di Ferdinando Zanusso RBL Brut Spumante, Friuli-Venezia Giulia NV 750ML ($27.95) Buy Now: $24 special

Fruili Colli Orientali, old vines, organic viticulture, small producer, no malo or oak: Italian white wine in its pure nature, like Boticelli’s Birth of Venus. Ferdinando Zanusso has been making his I Clivi wines for some 25 years now, with devotion to the land, the Friulano and Ribolla grapes, and the traditions of Friuli. The results resonate with character, elegance, and precision. My one-word description of these wines: lithe.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Cocchi Americano Aperitivo NV 5-11-2016

Cocchi Americano Aperitivo, Piedmont ($19.95) Buy Now: $16.60 special

“Cocchi Americano is easy to love: it’s a balanced blend of sweetness, bitterness and refreshing herbal notes. This is my favorite aperitif to enjoy chilled on its own or with seltzer and lime. Its base wine is Moscato di Asti, which imparts floral aromas. Its bittering agent is gentian and cinchona bark.” -Suzanne

Import note “Made to the same recipe since 1891, this extraordinary aperitif wine has long been a staple of Asti. On a base of estate-grown Moscato di Asti is infused a blend of herbs, fruit and spices, most notably cinchona, gentian and citrus, and laid down for a year before being released. In Piemonte it is served chilled with ice, a twist of orange peel and a splash of soda to bring out all its natural aroma and fragrances.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco 2013 4-26-16

Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2013 ($29.95) Buy Now: $26 special

Why we love it: Aromas, for one. Uniqueness and transparency, too. A perfect marriage of two truly different grapes. I’ve often sold it on the basis of it being the nicest-smelling wine I’ve ever had. Tropical, bright, and bewilderingly fresh. Great accompaniment to simple foods or as a skeleton key during a potluck dinner. A yardstick effort for natural wine and for Sicily-at-large. Sheesh! -Tyler

Vinopolnote: A bright, fresh, and aromatic blend of Albanello – native to the Ragusa area near Vittoria – and Zibbibo – otherwise known as Muscat de Alexandria – one of the oldest genetically unmodified varietals still in existence.… Read the rest

Bruno Giacosa Falletto Barolo DOCG 2005

April 2016

Falletto di Bruno Giacosa Falletto, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) Buy Now: $149 special

Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”WA

Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005.”… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: San Maurizio Saro Djablo 3-26-16

Feudo di San Maurizio Saro Djablo Valle d’Aosta, Italy 2010 750ML ($34.95) Buy Now: $28 special

I cannot get enough wine from Valle d’Aosta, and this wine is no exception. Fragrant and layered, it’s technically a multi-vintage blend of co-fermented varietals. The blend is surprisingly harmonious, considering it consists of Barbera, Freisa, Ciliegiolo, Dolcetto, Gamay, Petit Rouge, Fumin, and Premetta.

The vines sit 3,000 feet above sea level in that northwestern corner of Italy I’ve long wanted to visit. In the glass, the wine is a bit of a feat. Sure, it’s neither the most precise nor wholly elegant. It’s terribly fun to drink, however, with lovely swirls of spice, berry fruit, and earth. Throw a log on the fire, pop the cork, and have fun with it – chill it, decant it, have some with a cool new recipe.… Read the rest