An amazing group of Italian producers from Dalla Terra portfolio

Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or  Earth whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who gave to man his nourishment of grain. But after her there came the son of Semele, who matched her present by inventing liquid wine as his gift to man. For filled with that good gift, suffering mankind forgets its grief; from it comes sleep; with it oblivion of the troubles of the day. There is no other medicine for misery.

Euripides

 

 

And Wine is the only medicine that I need!

We have a study in Italian wines this week here at the store and the first tasting may be the best with six of Italy’s top producers here at Progresso Plaza.  I know we said that the German tasting is the last one that we will do outside in the Grotto but this tasting will also be an outside/inside tasting where we have stations set up in the courtyard as well as inside the store.

The fee for this event is $55 + tax and due to the unknown conditions of the weather we have to limit the amount of tasters to 35, for reservations call 954-523-9463. 

An amazing group of Italian producers at Wine Watch
 from the portfolio  of Dalla Terra
Thursday, May 7, 2015

 

ADAMI - Franco Adami & Enrico Valleferro

Solid roots of effort and tradition have given the life-blood to wines exuberant, and full of fruit. Following grandfather Abele and father Adriano, the youngest generation, Armando and Franco have brought to the house of Adami a refined technological approach to the art of producing some of the best spumante wines of the Valdobbiadene. The direct involvement in the success of their Prosecco production is demonstrated in Franco’s current leadership of the Valdobbiadene Consorzio. This is how the family expresses the values of their land: sound work, respect for human relationships, a sense of hospitality and continuity between past and present. An estate, and above all, a family.

ADAMI BOSCI GICA PROSECCO VALDOBB N/V                   
List $19                 Sale $16.72                          Case $163

Bosco di Gica was the name of an ancient forest in Colbertaldo di Vidor. The wine shows youthful aromas of fruit and blossoms, and a delicate, dry palate. It is wonderful with lighter disse featuring vegetables or fish, but it makes a superb aperitif as well.

 

ADAMI GARBEL PROSECCO DOC TREVISO N/V                   
List $17                 Sale $14.96                          Case $174

Garbèl in the ancient local dialect means "crisp and dry". This wine has a fine, delicate bead, youthful, fruity aromas, and a palate that is smooth, rounded, and dry. It is an extremely versatile sparkling wine, to be enjoyed at any time of day.

 

ADAMI PROSECCO VIGNETO GIARDINO 2013     
List $25                 Sale $22                                Case $255

The Vigneto Giardino, owned by the family since 1920, is the finest estate vineyard. Its wine competed as far back as 1933 in the 1ª Mostra dei Vini Tipici d'Italia (1st Exhibition of Italy's Traditional Wines). Dry and particularly fruity, well-balanced, with a rounded, light-bodied palate, it is a superb aperitif, but enjoyable as well when sipped at meal’s end, either by itself or paired with fresh fruit or tea biscuits.

 

ADAMI COL CREDAS 2014            
List $25                 Sale $22                                Case $255

The name Col Credas refers to Credazzo, a hill complex in Farra di Soligo, whose soils are marked by rich deposits of clay (creda, in the local dialect); Col Credas is one of the “Rive,” hillslope vineyards that are sometimes unbelievably steep. This single vineyard cru boasts a superb nose, spacious, well-balanced, and intense, laced with delicate floral notes of wisteria and acacia blossom. The palate progresses to an elegant finish remarkable for its crisp dryness.

 

Aia Vecchia - Elia Pellegrini

Aia Vecchia is the name of an old building which is today the centre of a company deep in the Tuscany countryside between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci. This is an area where the particularly favorable microclimate and ideally suited soils make possible the production of very high quality wines. The particular position gives the vines very much light, both direct sunlight as sunlight reflected by the sea. This in general allows an early harvest.

The property consists of 69 hectares of open ground: 48 are vineyards, 30 of which are under the Bolgheri DOC. The planted varieties are Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, which are used to produce Lagone and Sor Ugo. The Morellino di Scansano is produced in the estate of Magliano in Toscana (Grosseto) which consists of 10 hectares planted with Sangiovese and Merlot grape varieties.

Both properties are owned by the Pellegrini family, grape growers in the area for several generations.

AIA VECCHIA LAGONE 2012        
List $15                 Sale $13.20                          Case $153

In the glass, the wine is deep ruby with purple hues. On the nose, the wine is delicate with notes of cherry, vanilla, raw beef and herbs. On the palate, it is dry, structured and elegant with flavors of plum, ripe cherries, wild berries and a hint of spice, followed by a lengthy and smooth finish that begs for food.

 

AIA VECCHIA SOR UGO                 2011      
List $39                 Sale $34.32                          Case $398

In the glass, the wine shows colors of red garnet accompanied by a bouquet of cherries, menthol and a hint of rosemary. On the palate, the wine is round and rich without being overpowering. It is spicy on the mid-palate and lively on the back-end, with flavors of black current, licorice and coffee, followed by a long-lasting finish that is slightly minty and boasts a juicy mouth-watering sensation.

 

AIA VECCHIA VERMENTINO        2014      
List $13                 Sale $11.44                          Case $133

In the glass, the wine is straw yellow with pale green hues. The bouquet is fresh with zesty aromas of freshly cut grass, grapefruit and hints of salt air. On the palate, the wine has a creamy and round mouthfeel with bright acidity accompanied by hints of limestone and a slight earthiness. The finish is lengthy, dry and refreshing

 

Casanova di Neri - Giacomo Neri

Casanova di Neri was established in 1971 when Giovanni Neri acquired a large estate within Montalcino. Over the years the continuing goal has been the search for land believed to be optimal for growing high quality grapes. There are now 48 hectares of vineyards (120 acres) divided amongst four distinct sites. Improved quality in the vineyards has led to more attention in the winery from vinification to the careful selection of casks for ageing but always with the maximum respect for tradition. Today the property is operated and wines made by Giacomo Neri.

“Our greatest pride is our vineyards: their high quality and their history.”
– Giacomo Neri

 

CASANOVA NERI BRUNELLO CERRETALTO 2008 
List $291                               Sale $256.08                       Case $2,968

Offspring of our homonymous vineyard and of our estate's best grapes, this wine is kept in the winery for 6 years. It undergoes a traditional vinification in our style but not before a rigorous selection by which every imperfect grape is discarded. Cerretalto is only produced in the years of maximum grape quality. Complex and potent it is also capable of maintaining throughout the years its unique fineness. Extremely long aging capacity.
Ruby red. Hints of red fruits, spices and an unmistakeable characteristic mineral vein. Prolonged and profound taste. Serve at a temperature of 16° - 17° having opened the bottle a few hors previously or decant delicately.

 

CASANOVA NERI BRUNELLO TENUTA NUOVA 2009         
List $90                 Sale $79.20                          Case $918

Born of vineyards with unique characteristics that produce Sangiovese grapes and give a wine of great distinction and unique structure, potency and fineness. Captivating and complex in its fragrances, profound in its width yet able to express in delightful flavours, in the style of our estate. It lends itself to a lengthy evolution through the years but also drunk young it will give great satisfaction. Ever since its first harvest in 1993 it has had constant amazing recognition from the world press.
Ruby red with garnet reflections, hints of maraschino cherries, violets and red frits. Great fineness in the mouth with a tannin still young yet great quality. Long elegant and persistent. Serve at a temperature of 16° - 17° having opened the bottle a few hours previously or decant delicately.

 

CASANOVA NERI BRUNELLO MONTALCINO 2010              
List $65                 Sale $57.20                          Case $663

Selection table for bunches, de-stemming, selection table for individual grapes. Fermentation without addition of yeasts and maceration in open temperature controlled conical vats for 3 to 4 weeks. Aged in oak barrels for about 42 months and 6 months bottles in bottles

 

CASANOVA NERI PIETRA D ONICE IGT 2010         
List $85                 Sale $74.80                          Case $969

A wine born from our cabernet sauvignon in the vineyards south of Montalcino where a combination of careful farming practices, the right ratio of vines, the unique microclimate and soil components have resulted in a wine of exceptional analytical values. It stands as an interpretation of this variety in Montalcino, the fruit of a vineyard project eager to confront itself with an "international" grape variety. A profound red wine, with a complex, a superb aromatic chiaroscuro the uniqueness of the territory in its richness of flavours, its fulsome tannins perfectly melded in the smooth persistent length of its taste. Particularly elegant and with great fineness, it is the fruit of a high- level vintage that led to the harvest of grapes with the perfect level of ripeness.

Ruby red with violet reflections, hints of red fruits, black currents. Great potency and fullness in the mouth but well balanced with its fineness and acidity. Long, elegant and persistent. Serve at a temperature of 16° to 17° having opened the bottle a few hours previously.

 

CASANOVA NERI ROSSO SANT ANTIMO 2013     
List $24                 Sale $21.12                          Case $245

This Rosso from the Sant’Antimo appellation is the winery’s entry-level wine, made from 95% Sangiovese Grosso & 5% Colorino.

The Sant’Antimo DOC was created in 1996 in the Montalcino area to give producers more options for their super-Tuscan wines (red wines made from traditional Italian grape varieties as well as international varieties). Until the new DOC, a producer’s only option was to label this sort of wine a vino de tavola or table wine.

 

Badia a Coltibuono - Emanuela Stucchi

The “abbey of good culture” was established in 1051 By San Giovanni Gualberto, founder of the Vallombrosan order and patron saint of the foresters, rangers and parks. The Vallombrosans may have been the first to cultivate Sangiovese in Tuscany. The name Coltibuono implies a duality of purpose. An ancient badia, or abbey, holds a special place in the history of Western Europe. During the Middle Ages, these abbeys served not only as places of worship and spiritual refuge, but also as centers of learning, engines for economic growth, and laboratories for agricultural development. The monastery was active from 1000ce to 1810 when Napoleon annexed most church property in Tuscany. Some he gave away to friends or as political favors, some he sold. Thus, there were two owners between the time of the secularization and the abbey’s purchase by the Stucchi’s ancestors in 1846. Roberto Stucchi and his siblings are seventh generation stewards of the property. The philosophical approach is to maintain both the integrity of Sangiovese and the unique terroir of Chianti Classico through organic farming practices, clonal diversity and restrained use of new oak barrels. They continue to work with pioneering Tuscan oenologist Maurizio Castelli.

COLTIBUONO CHIANTI CETAMURA 2013              
List $12                 Sale $10.56                          Case 122.40

The color is bright ruby, the nose unveils layers of iris, violet, tobacco, black pepper and marasca cherry. The taste is well balanced, tightly knit with supple tannins, mineral notes, a mouth cleansing fresh acidity. Warm and persistent. - See more at: http://en.coltibuono.com/badia-a-coltibuono-1/wine/badia-a-coltibuono-classico/2012#sthash.1XvS16m7.dpuf

 

COLTIBUONO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA DOCG 2012  
List $15                 Sale $13.2                            Case $153

The Badia a Coltibuono Riserva, our most classic wine, is made exclusively from autoctonous grapes. It is loved by wine aficionados worldwide and is considered to be a true emblem of the Chianti territory.
As a testimony to its long history and traditions, the estate is the proud possessor of a unique patrimony of old Riserva wines which date back as far as 1937. Unfortunately wines preceding this vintage were lost during the Second World War.

 

COLTIBUONO CHIANTI CLASSICO EB 2012            
List $22                 Sale $19.36                          Case $224

The full potential of the Sangiovese grape finds new expression in a wine inspired by the great traditions of its place of origin.

‘Cultus Boni’ brings together the quality of the Sangiovese grape, its dominant component (80%), with the expressiveness of the Colorino, Ciliegiolo and other traditional complementary varieties.

 

COLTIBUONO SANGIOVETO 2009            
List $65                 Sale $57.20                          Case $663

‘San Zoveto’ which later became ‘Sangioveto’, was the name commonly used in the past in Chianti for the Sangiovese varietal.
The Sangioveto di Coltibuono was created to honour a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. It is only produced on better vintages.

 

COLTIBUONO CHIANTI CLASSICO RESERVA 2009               
List $38                 Sale $33.44                          Case $388

Intense, deep ruby red color with subtle glimmers of garnet.  The wine shows a splendid, full nose with hints of blackberries and pleasant notes of tobacco and spice. In the mouth, the wine is soft with an elegant, fresh finish and a persistent, generous acidity in the aftertaste.  Full of mature tannins and fruitiness.

 

COLTIBUONO VIN SANTO DEL CHIANTI CLASSIGO DOCG               2007      
List $43                 Sale $37.84                          Case $439

Garnet color with amber hues along the edge. Aroma of plum jam, seasoned leather, with spicy notes and a hint of oak. Full-bodied, lush, with an intriguing mix of balsamic notes, candied citrus, and spices

 

POLIZIANO - Federico Carletti

Our wines evoke the historic tradition of the land, but at the same time speak eloquently to the modern world. Theirs is a developing narrative: born in the early 1980's, they retain their original labels, but have matured and evolved over time, always with the objective of uncompromising quality. The heart of our wines comes primarily from Sangiovese grapes, known locally by its historic name, "Prugnolo Gentile."

POLIZIANO IN VIOLAS CORTONA              2010      
List $31                 Sale $27.28                          Case $316

The formation of the DOC Cortona in 1999, the immediate affirmation of the region's suitability for international vines, and the friendship of the Aliotti Tommasi family, owners of premium lands, were all decisive factors in the initiation of Poliziano's enological project in Cortona. Convinced of the distinctive potential of the Merlot cultivated in the Pliocene clay of Cortona, we began bottling "In Violas" in 2006.

 

POLIZIANO LE STANZE DEL POLIZIANO 2009        
List $63                 Sale $55.44                          Case $643

One of the great, modern reds, we named this wine Le Stanzein honour of the poet Angelo Ambrogini, known as "Poliziano".Produced from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Le Stanze has a style that is classic Bordeaux "a la Tuscany".It allows us to cater to international tastes while remembering the traditional value of Montepulciano and its place in the production of great wines with strong ageing potential.

 

POLIZIANO MORELLINO DI SCANSANO  2013      
List $17                 Sale $14.96                          Case $173

Morellino possesses the warmth and intensity so typical of wines produced near the sea. At the same time it entices with pleasing enjoyability, fully expressing its character as a highly versatile wine.

 

POLIZIANO VINO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2013       
List $15                 Sale $13.20                          Case $153

Rosso di Montepulciano achieved the DOC classification in 1989. It can be produced by simply downgrading grapes that are classified as Vino Nobile.In our Winery however, we decided not to compromise.We selected a number of vineyards with particular characteristics in order to obtain a wine that is young, fruity, full-bodied but not hard; a selection that has allowed us to classify our Rosso di Montepulciano as the "Second Wine" of the Poliziano Winery.

 

POLIZIANO VIN SANTO DI MONTEPULCIANO DOC 2011
List $30                 Sale $26.40                          Case $306

The grapes are dried on straw mats for about four months, then are pressed at the end of January. The must is matured in small wooden barrels, called “caratelli” where it remains at least seven years to mature along with the "mother" (precious "ingredient" that every company jealously preserved, a starter culture of yeasts that includes a small amount of finished Vin Santo from previous years production).

 

POLIZIANO VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO SELEZIONE "ASINONE" 2010       
List $63                 Sale $55.44                          Case $643

After years of continual experimentation, we identified the best potential for quality in the vineyards of "Asinone".The Nobile "Asinone" is the highest expression of our production and the most complete synthesis of tradition and oenological innovation. Produced from Sangiovese grapes, this wine has an unmistakable style and distinct character, but it is, nevertheless, capable of holding its own in relation to international tastes.

 

SELVAPIANA –  Federico Giuntini

Selvapiana is a traditional Tuscan estate located in the Chianti Rufina zone, and is situated east of Florence on 600 acres devoted to vineyards and olives. This esteemed producer has 181 years and five generations of history in classic Chianti Rufina winemaking.

The estate was purchased in 1827 by Michele Giuntini Selvapiana. Today’s Managing Directors, the sister and brother team of Silvia and Federico Giuntini A. Masseti, continue the family’s work to claim prestige for Chianti Rufina, working closely with Franco Bernabei, who has been the consulting oenologist at Selvapiana since 1978.

Selvapiana's reputation is based on producing red wines of considerable longevity and expression of terroir. The winery’s production focuses on vintage Chianti Rufina, featuring two particularly fine crus: the Chianti Rufina Riserva Bucerchiale, and Fornace, a blend of the estate's Sangiovese and international varietals.

 

SELVAPIANA CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA BUCERCHIALE   2010     
List $37                 Sale $32.56                          Case $378

Made from 100% single-vineyard Sangiovese from old vines, many dating to 1968, on the Bucerchiale vineyard. Long maceration on the skins for 20 to 25 days with daily pump-overs provides superb flavor extraction and color concentration. After malolactic fermentation the wine is matured in barriques and medium-sized oak casks for 15 months and then blended together in steel tanks before bottling, then refined in bottle for an additional ten months before release.

Rufina's soil of galestro, or schist, mixed with limestone and clay, combined with its proximity to the Apennines and vineyards at 750 to 900 feet, provide a microclimate favorable to longer ripening fruit with a higher acidity. This vineyard-designated Riserva is distinguished by aromas of dusty rose petals, smoke, crushed rock, and earth. On the palate, savory spices and dried red fruits dance along a structured mid-palate along with a resounding finish.

 

SELVAPIANA CHIANTI RUFINA 2012       
List $18                 Sale $15.84                          Case $184

95% Sangiovese and 5% a blend of Canaiolo, Colorina, and Malvasia Nera. Vinified in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks, 2-5 days of maceration. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in large French oak casks for 10 months. All of the vineyards are farmed with organic methods, harvested and vinified separately. Fermentation takes place with only indigenous yeasts.

 

SELVAPIANA FORNACE IGT 2009              
List $37                 Sale $32.56                          Case $377

Fornace is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese that spends 15 months in French oak, 30% new.
Good deep red-ruby. Almost grapey dark berry aroma complicated by roast coffee and sweet oak. Creamy-sweet, rich and pliant on the palate, with herbal red berry and cocoa flavors. Finishes with a sweet pipe tobacco nuance and mounting tannins. (Stephen Tanzer's IWC - July/August 2012)

 

SELVAPIANA PETROGNANO TOSCANA 2011       
List $21                 Sale $18.48                          Case $20

60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot it should come as no surprise that this remarkable IGT

 

SELVAPIANA VIN SANTO 500ML2007     
List $42                 Sale $36.96                          Case $428

A genuine 'meditation' wine made from typical Tuscan grapes such as Trebbiano, Malvasia and Sangiovese that have been left to dry for 4-5 months. When the right degree of concentration has been achieved, the grapes are pressed, producing a maximum 20% yield of must, which is left for about 5 years in small sessile oak barrels called caratelli.
Menu

Charcoutierie Plate
Selection of Olives, Shaved Veal Carpaccio, Capicola, Salami and Pork Bellyterrine

Mixed assortment of Crostini:
Vegetable:  Harpke Farmes Heirloom tomato with sage and Roasted Garlic   Fish: Snapper puttanesca

Seared Tuna Lollypop with Citrus Ponzu Pickled Ginger with Wasabi Cream

Wild Mushroom marscapone Flatbread with fresh basil and lemon zest