Newsletter
March 18, 2022 – April 17, 2022
Morellino di Sangiovese
2020 Morellino di Scansano (Fattoria Le Pupille)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
The Fattoria Le Pupille estate, owned and operated by Elisabetta Geppetti, is a pioneer in the Maremma, Tuscany’s southern coastal region. Here the Sangiovese takes on a juicy, peppery flavor that is a full-throttle match with a spicy tomato sauce. The 2020 is rich in fruit along with an earthy, baked finish.
Felici Verdicchio
2020 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore (Andrea Felici)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Lamole I Fabbri
2019 Chianti Classico ‘Lamole’ (Susanna Grassi -
I Fabbri)
Sale Price $23.99 – $244.70 case of twelve
In Ian D’Agata’s Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs, I Fabbri’s Lamole is considered a benchmark Chianti Classico. The site, Lamole, is conjectured to be the birthplace of Chianti. This 2019 is an extraordinary Sangiovese with deep cherry fruit, fragrant licorice, and a cool minty finish. Ideal with a spicy ragù and pappardelle.
Maffini Aglianico
2019 Cilento Aglianico ‘Kleos’ (Luigi Maffini)
Sale Price $21.99 – $224.30 case of twelve
Luigi Maffini’s 2019 Aglianico is detailed, spacious, and delicious. Kleos is a not-too-heavy, not-too-tannic Aglianico from the warm climate of Cilento, south of Naples. This plummy and minerally red is perfect for spicy sausages, bitter greens, and pasta, but also would not be out of place with a grilled swordfish.
Agnanum Falanghina
2020 Falanghina Campania (Agnanum)
Sale Price $17.99 – $183.50 case of twelve
Oddero Barbera
2019 Barbera d’Alba Superiore (Oddero)
Sale Price $14.99 – $152.90 case of twelve
Piedmont does produce some very expensive wines, such as Barolo and Barbaresco, but one can’t argue with the quality and price of the Dolcetto and Barbera from some extremely fine producers. We have enjoyed many a bottle of Oddero’s Dolcetto, but hadn’t purchased their Barbera since the 2016 vintage. But we are pleased to now have the 2019. At $14.99 this is stunningly good, with a big nose of fruit and flowers followed by spicy forest floor and brambly fruit. A fantastic wine to enjoy with a mushroom risotto.
Listed prices are honored through April 17th, 2022. We will not honor mistyped prices. Vol. 46, No. 4
Because of the severe frost in France in 2021, we hurriedly purchased another pallet of the 2020 Touraine Le Grand St. Vincent. Thanks to the cooperative winery Coteaux Romanais for delivering a textbook Sauvignon with citrus fruit and a flinty, dry finish. Perfect with a goat cheese and arugula salad.
This domaine is located just outside the city of Tours and makes a classic Demi-Sec Vouvray. The vines are planted in a combination of chalk and flinty clay, which gives this off-dry Chenin Blanc its delicious minerally flavor. Have this with an Easter ham and asparagus.
A new generation of winemakers are focusing on terroir-driven wines in Chile, a country with a winemaking history dating back the 1500s. A standout is Pedro Parra, whose mission is to showcase wines from southern Chile’s Itata Valley. Historically isolated due to geography and lack of infrastructure, the Itata Valley proved to be an ideal region for pre-phylloxera vines to flourish. The Imaginador is sourced from Cinsault on vines as old as 70 years in vineyards that are at least 200 years old. The region’s eucalyptus trees come through along with brambly red fruit, violets, and a hint of smoke. This is a red wine where the fruit takes a back seat to other aromas and flavors. Enjoy with a lamb stew with tomatoes and white beans.
There are some super serious Grüner Veltliners coming from storied vineyards along the Danube. This is not one of them. As the name indicates, this is a convivial Liter of pleasing dry white wine. Sonnhof Social Club is a collaboration between four organic growers in the Kamptal region. This is a medium-weight white with zesty apple and pear fruit and a bone-dry finish. A great wine to have with sautéed fish and new potatoes. 
By now Jean Manciat is an old friend. We first visited his property in the 1990s, and he has stayed true to form with his excellent hand harvested and naturally fermented Mâcons. The Franclieu cuvée is from a single vineyard of old vines just up the hill from the winery. 2020 was a warm and dry vintage, and the Chardonnay came in at harvest with more concentration and less acidity than usual. While he likes some oak aging on his Old Vine bottling, this wine is a product of stainless steel fermentation and aging. This results in beautiful, unimpeded fruit and mineral characteristics. Delicious now, but will age and improve for several years. 
It was a challenge even before the pandemic to find Burgundies in the $20 range, and so we are excited to be able to offer the Chevalier d’Eon from Dampt Frères. The domaine is located just outside of Chablis and run by three brothers. Their 2018 is a balanced Pinot Noir filled with raspberries and cherries with a savory and spicy finish. Deep and smooth, this red will serve as a classic partner to a roast chicken, but it will also be lovely with any artichoke dish.
Frank Heyden was in town recently, which reminded us how much we like his wines. It also reminded us that we had 20 cases of this great value Riesling in our cellar. He describes this wine as his dry-style Riesling, as it has more weight and concentration than the usual Kabinett. Still, it has Riesling’s gorgeous and pristine fruit aromatics with great length of flavor. A lovely wine for scallops. 
2021 Chenin Blanc ‘Petit’ (Ken Forrester) 
2019 Bordeaux Rouge (Château Bel Air) 