NEW WINE 1/20/10

New By the Glass

I Favati, ‘Pietramara Etichetta Bianca’, Fiano di Avellino, Campania 2007
-I Favati’s Fianos are known for their smokey/flinty qualities. The Etichetta Bianca is their older vines (20yrs) and higher selected (they have a ‘Pietramara’ which is just highly selected and a normale Fiano too). Also aged in large oak.
-Fuller creamier texture with really flinty minerality. Really elegant very white burgundy like.

Terre del Principe ‘Fontanavigna’ Pallagrello Bianco, Campania 2008
-Northern Campania where Pallagrello Bianco is grown (indigenous white grape of the area).
-Medium to light bodied, lots of white flowers and lemon curd, soft fruit.

Bibi Graetz, ‘Grilli del Testamatta’, Toscana 2007

(80% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, 10%Colorino)

-Bibi Graetz is a newish winemaker from northern Tuscany (near Lucca). He is an artist and a little eccentric- his label ‘Testamatta’ means hotheaded referring to his passion and energy.
-This is his higher end Sangiovese tuscan blend.

-Rich cherry fruit with nice bright edge, dark tobacco, tobacco leaves, little earthiness/forest floor. Medium plus to full bodied (gets fuller as it opens).

Elena Fucci Titolo Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata 2004

-Elena Fucci is a younger woman (mid twenties) who has taken over her father’s estate. Very small family fun producer. At a really young age she has got a lot of recognition and has gotten tre bicchiere the past 3 or 4 vintages.

-Aglianico del Vulture is much earthier and more mineral than the Campania Aglianicos. Tend to have an earthier structure and dustier texture and tannins. Volcanic loamy sand soil and Basilicata is much cooler than Campania.

-The Titolo is truly one of the regions best- full bodied; dark dark fruit; really smokey and mineral; lots of dark earth; dusty texture; gripping tannins.

New By the Bottle:

Corte Rugolin Valpolicella Ripasso
-Normal valpolicella blend (corvina, rondinella, molinara) with 20% of the grapes dried making it a ‘ripasso’.
-Medium plus bodied with juicy dark berry fruit; blackberries and cherries. Warm and luscious texture with nice herby spice and tannins on finish.

Boroli Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Piemonte 2004

-The Boroli’s have a long history in Piemonte and have been running family businesses since the early 1800’s – first textiles and then editorial and since 1990 wine. Castiglione Falletto Barolos tend to have the ethereal soft fruit of the neighboring La Morra but also the strength and tannins of the Serralungas. In oak for 24 months. Classic Barolo with dusty red fruit, tar, black tea, austere start and then strong earthy full finish.

Bruno Rocca Barbera d’Asti
-Family run winery in Barbaresco- have grown grapes for 4 generations but started producing own wine in the 1970’s.

-All stainless Barbera; medium bodied; warm stewed berry pie fruit; dark earth and little tar; polished elegant consistent structure; fresh acidity on finish.

Chionetti ‘Briccolero’ Dolcetto di Dogliani, Piemonte
-Dogliani is the oldest region for the Dolcetto grape- its an appellation devoted to Dolcetto and most producers only make Dolcetto (not as a side project off of Barbaresco etc). They tend to be much more mineral, herby, and serious than the juicier Dolcetto d’Albas. Chionetti is one of the most well known and respected Dogliani producers- his Dolcettos are serious.

- Medium bodied, dark black and blue fruit, dark slatey mineral, little fresh green herb, soft tannins on finish.


Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Toscana

(85% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Canaiolo & 5% Mammolino)

-They the BEST vin santo – world reknown. This one is 85% Prugnolo Gentile, 10% Canaiolo, and 5% Mammolino. Aged in oak for 18 months.

- Full bodied with rich dark cherry fruit almost cherry syrup; dark foresty earth, strong balanced tannins. Definitely earthy but not as earthy as the last vintage- more round and dense.


Poderi Foglia ‘Concarosso Riserva’ Galluccio, Campania:

(70% Aglianico & 30% Pallagrello Nero)

-Second label of Vestini Campagnano whom are responsible for keeping serious wine making alive in northern Campania. Dedicated themselves to preserving the production of Pallagrello bianco, pallagrello nero, and casavecchia. The Poderi Foglia/concaross idea is to blend those ancient grapes with other Campania grapes like Aglianico. This is 70% Aglianico and 30% Pallagrello Nero and being riserva style is much more intense than the concarosso normale we’ve had before.

-Very full bodied; really dark black inky fruit; dark dark earth and tar; strong tannins; black pepper; rich intense texture and finish.

-Ehren, SPQR Wine Expert