THIS QUARTER'S RED SELECTION
The wines from the Settimo estate are made by Aurelio’s daughter Tiziana. Apart from her Nebbiolo vines, she grows nearly one hectare of Dolcetto. Tiziana’s approach is traditional and authentic, there are no new barrels here! The wine sees a short, 7-day fermentation on the skins and goes through frequent punching down and pumping over of the must. It goes through malolactic fermentation in a concrete tank.
This strikingly ruby-hued red shows cherries, strawberries, currants, and a hint of almond. On the palate, it’s fresh and juicy. It’s the perfect all-purpose spaghetti red.
2018 Ca’ Lojera Cabernet Sauvignon Monte della Guardia
Ambra and Franco Tiraboschi are well-known for their fantastic white Lugana wines, but they also have some hillside vines in the Monte della Guardia area where they grow Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This 100% Cabernet is the grape au naturel. It’s all steel tank-fermented, just pure Cabernet Sauvignon as it was meant to be. Distinctly Old World, this displays the elegant side of Cabernet, with a zippy palate and herbal notes. This is cab for turkey, but will crush it with a burger as well.
Situated in the rolling hills of Abruzzo along Italy’s Adriatic coast, Torre Zambra calls the commune of Villamagna home. The brand makes several different bottlings, and Colle Maggio represents the entry-level for their more serious line. Rhône-like in character, its aromas are of plums, dark berries, oak spice, earth, and forest floor. It’s versatile enough to enjoy on its own or paired with heartier fare. I like this wine with filled pasta and chicken broth.
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2019 Tour de l’Isle Luberon
Tour de l’Isle’s Robert Rocchi works with a handful of growers with some prized vineyards in the southern Rhône Valley. He makes the final blending decisions with these respective growers at their estates. The fruit for Robert’s Luberon is sourced from a vineyard in the village of Ménerbes, in the heart of Luberon. It has been certified organic since the 2016 vintage.
This one’s for those of us who love a layered, perfumy bouquet of dark berry fruits, cherries, and spice. It’s mostly Syrah and Grenache, with a little Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan blended in for added complexity. It’s a great cocktail wine; that fruitiness persists through the finish. Grilled chops will pair here also, especially the fattier the better.
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Bergerac is not far from Bordeaux – actually, it’s about an hour and a half east of Saint-Émilion. Since it’s located further away from the ocean, one typically finds the same grapes/blends that are used in making the wines on Bordeaux’s Right Bank. 60% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon make up this medium-bodied, bistro quaffer.
There’s no oak involved here, so what you get is pure, juicy red and purple fruit. There is a lively feel to the wine, as its freshness keeps the fruity flavors alive through to the finish. The handy screwcap enclosure makes it easy to tote around to parties and small gatherings. This is perhaps the most outstanding cab value we have ever sold. Dynamite!
The Ferraton family took a giant leap forward when in 1998 they teamed up with their friend Michel Chapoutier. Chapoutier helped them convert to organic farming and biodynamic practices.
The Côtes-du-Rhône Villages distinction is a mark of high quality, as there are 22 specific villages whose names are qualified to be counted in this subset of wines. The grapes are destemmed, pressed and vinified in concrete vats. Maturation also takes place in vats. The wine has a dark fruit profile, with aromas of blackberries and black currants. The palate is lush and savory, with just enough brightness to maintain balance. The dark purple fruit will linger long after the finish. This is much bigger than you might imagine. The 15% alcohol is real (real tasty)
