This wine has a nice medium ruby tint in the glass, with a bit of brick red in the pour. The nose has plum and blackberry aromas, along with those of tobacco and purple flowers. The palate has a grip that won't turn loose, extremely firm tannins and wholehearted acidity. The overall impression is that of a savory wine that begs to be paired with steak, the fattier the better.
One of my recent wine club selections was the 2023 Cantina Massara Pelaverga di Verduno. Yes, Lou finds the best wines for his wine club. If he selects it, I know I'll like it.
The Italian Pelaverga grape variety is pretty rare. Only about seventy-five acres of it are still under cultivation, and Lou says only eleven growers even bother to cultivate it. All of those growers are located in or near the Piemontese commune of Verduno.
Only grape growers in Verduno are allowed the privilege of putting their denomination on the label: Pelaverga di Verduno. Outside of this area, a Pelaverga grower would have to call it simply a vino rosso. These growers do grow Nebbiolo grapes and make very fine Barolo wines that get all the glory, says Lou. But Pelaverga is considered a special grape in Verduno, part of the area's heritage that deserves to be preserved.
As a side note, Lou describes the origin of the grape's name, with an apology for anyone who might be offended. I'll just say the name stems from the Italian "pela," which means "to peel," and "verga," which translates as "rod." Let your imagination run wild.
The 2023 Cantina Massara Pelaverga di Verduno comes from the chalky, sandy soil of three different vineyard sites in the village. Steel tank vinification takes eight days, and the wine stays in the tank to age for six months. Alcohol sits at 13.5% abv and the wine sells for around $35.
This wine has a light ruby red color. Its nose is bright and elegant, with aromas of pomegranate, cherry, and an herbal note that smells a bit like rosemary. The palate shows cherry, raspberry, and spice aromas, all cloaked in a delightful earthiness. The acidity is racy and fresh. The finish lasts awhile, and brings in a note of cherry candy.
The Castelvero Piemonte Barbera 2020 was grown in the Monferrato hills. Alcohol gets up there, to 14% abv, and the price was $10 at my local Whole Foods Market. I bought it use in my slow cooker short ribs meal, but it serves well as a sipper, too.
This wine colors up a medium-dark cherry red. Cherry and raspberry aromas dominate the nose, with plenty of fruit that outlasts the savory aspect. The palate is also fruity, and the tannins are quite firm. There is a savory streak that runs through the palate, but it is not strong enough to wipe out the fruit.
Miami-based importer Mack and Schühle find great wine and pass it along at a fair price. Founded in 1939, the company expanded to the Miami office about a decade ago. They produce wine in Italy and Spain and distribute other wines globally.
Mack and Schuhle say that Riva Leone was a "man of unique character and personality who was an ambassador for the special wines of the Langhe all throughout Europe in the early 20th Century." They are proud to help carry his legacy in wines which they say "uphold the winemaking traditions of Piedmont for a new generation of wine lovers across the world."
The 2021 Riva Leone Piemonte Barbera 2021 was vinified in steel tanks, where the wine achieved malolactic fermentation. It was then aged for 12 months in American and French oak. The wine's alcohol level sits comfortably at 13% abv and it sells for a mere $12.
This wine is medium dark garnet in color. The nose is full of brambly cherry and raspberry aromas laced with spice and oak. The palate is fruity and spicy with a generous supply of tannic grip. A long finish carries a bit of sweetness along after the sip. Great with a meat sauce pasta or with sweet Italian sausages.
Royal's Director of PR and Manager of Wine Education Gabriel Geller says that this year "brings an abundance of exciting releases to complement every course" of holiday meals.
Geller says that the newly arrived Lovatelli wines are a treat. The line from Piemonte includes a Primitivo ($16.99), a Barbera d’Asti ($24.99), and an Orbaio Rosso blend ($29.99), as well as two vermouths ($24.99). The Lovatelli Barbera D’Asti clocks in with alcohol at 14% abv. It is mevushal.
This wine is quite dark in the glass, almost indigo with a violet hue around the rim. The nose is heavy with black fruit - plums, blackberries, black raspberries. The palate is loaded with those fruit flavors, as well as savory notes of earth, leather, cigar and allspice. The tannins are firm and ready for a steak. The acidity is mouthwatering.
The 2022 Matteo Soria Moscato d’Asti Cascinetta is made from 100% Moscato Bianco grapes, grown in the Asti Spumante DOCG of Piedmont - specifically in the hills of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato. Alcohol is barely there, at 5% abv. The wine sells for less than $10.
The wine is straw-colored and has a beautiful nose - sweet and floral, with ripe peach and pear notes. The fizziness adds a lively and festive note while the palate brings the same fruit found on the nose. Acidity is decent, but there is more pleasure from the bubbles than the freshness. It's a delicious wine - simple, but sweet and lovely.
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Those who followed in his footsteps have held the quality high. They have been doing wonderful things with Nebbiolo grapes for well over a century, and it doesn’t appear that they plan on stopping anytime soon.
This Barolo wine has a medium-dark violet color, with a sort of brick red tint to it. Aromas of plums, blueberries, cassis and flowers come forth on the nose. The palate is black fruit and earth, with a peppery note and a firm set of tannins. A savory aspect rides along with the fruit, and there is a fine acidity which will make for some delicious pairings with food.
Aging makes the difference between a Nebbiolo wine and a Barolo, which is also made from Nebbiolo grapes. The Barolo will age in wood for about three years. Winemaker Giorgio Lavagna brings the Ebbio in at an alcohol level of 13.5% abv. It sells for around $25.
This 2019 wine is ruby red, but with a tinge of brick around the edge of the glass. The nose is full of ripe cherry and some very fresh spices, cinnamon and nutmeg. The palate shows full red fruit with a hint of orange peel and a minty herbal slant. The tannins are smooth and the mouthfeel is full. As always, Nebbiolo is a pleasure.
The Brandini estate vineyards are Barolo-classified and run by Piero Bagnasco and his daughters, Giovanna and Serena. Winemaker Beppe Caviola oversees production. The 2020 Filari Lunghi - it translates to "long rows" - is made entirely of the Dolcetto grape farmed organically in the Dolcetto d'Alba DOC in Piemonte. Fermentation and aging happens in stainless steel tanks, and the wine is released about six months after harvest. Alcohol is somewhat restrained, at 13.5% abv, and the wine sells for around $22.
This medium dark wine is plenty aromatic. There is big fruit first - blueberry, blackberry, black cherry - met with cinnamon, nutmeg, forest floor, a whiff of smoke and a splash of tar. The palate is robust, to say the least. That dark fruit is there to lead the way, with spices in tow and a strong tannin profile that is more than ready to attack a hunk of beef. This wine is demanding on its own, but at its best when paired with a meaty dish.
The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and was aged for a year in steel and a year in the bottle. There was no exposure to oak at all. Alcohol hits 14% and the wine sells for about $12 - and it's quite a bargain.
This medium-dark wine has a very fresh nose, dark and full of blackberry fruit aromas. The palate puts me in mind of some of the darker Cru Beaujolais wines. It also makes me think of unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina. This Albarossa grape wine was aged a year in steel and a year in the bottle, so it is fresh and youthful - a very fun wine.
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This one is all Moscato. The wine is actually a partially fermented grape juice. Sweet on the nose, sweet on the palate - with a bit of fizz thrown in to make it feel more like a party. This is a wine for gulping by the pool, not a wine for ruminating upon.
Here are a few pink wines found by Mack and Schühle which would fit nicely on anyone's porch or patio.
Mosketto Frizzante Rosato NV
This fun, pink wine comes from the Vino d'Italia appellation, from grapes grown in Piedmont. It's a blend of 80% Moscato and 20% Brachetto grapes which the distributor says is produced in a "modified Martinotti method." Fermentation is stopped to keep the alcohol low and the fruit fresh. Alcohol content is only 5.5% abv - a real summer sipper - and the wine retails for $12.
This wine is very sweet, very low in alcohol and as drinkable as it gets. There is no brain-stumping complexity here, just sweet, simple sipping pleasure. The Moscato/Brachetto blend is a wine of Italy, one that shows sweet floral aromas and sweet peaches on the palate. Acidity is fairly low, but the wine pours frizzante and will be suitable for spicy or salty dishes.
The appellation is Vin de France - I don't have any more specific sourcing for the vines - and the organic grapes are 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. The wine has alcohol at 13% abv and a sticker price of $14.
This beautiful, pale salmon-colored wine has a nose which is just as gorgeous - melon, cherry and strawberry aromas dominate, with a little herbal angle in the mix. Herbs become more focused on the palate, which carries a nice tartness along with the racy acidity. There is a grapefruit flavor draping the red fruit and adding to the freshness. It's a really great, and complex, rosé.
The importer says the wine is released each year in time for the French celebration of Springtime, the Fete des Fleurs or Festival of Flowers. The grapes involved are 40% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 10% Carignane, 10% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre and 2% Rolle. It was aged on the lees, or sur lie, carries alcohol at 13% abv - possibly as low as 11.5% - and it sells for $19.
The 2017 Riva Leone Barbaresco comes from Italy's Piedmont region, where the Barbaresco DOCG is located. The wine was made completely from Nebbiolo grapes. The wine was aged for one year in American and French oak barrels, then half the wine was aged that way for another 12 months. Alcohol ticks 14% abv and the retail price tag reads $25.
This fine Italian wine has a medium ruby tint. Its nose is dark, full of plum, black cherry, strawberry, flowers and earth notes. The fruit really comes through on the palate, along with some oak spice. The acidity is racy, the tannins firm. It is perfect for pairing with mushroom dishes, and it will also pair nicely with your holiday feast.
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The 2020 Tenuta Montemagno Ruber Grignolino d'Asti is made entirely of the Grignolino grape. The folks at Montemagno say it's "one of the oldest indigenous varieties in the Monferrato," in Italy's Piedmont region. It was apparently known in the Middle Ages as Barbesino, but the name actually comes from a word meaning seeds, since these grapes are full of them. Alcohol sits at 13.5% abv and the wine retails for about $14.
This wine has an extremely light garnet color and a nose of flowers, strawberries and earth. The palate is full of bright red fruit that’s a bit tart, but it's the tannins that will leave you gasping - extremely firm, with a razor's edge acidity. This is not to say it's unpleasant - quite the opposite, in fact. It is a very distinctive wine - one that may possibly have to grow on you. Try it chilled for starters.
The wine was first produced in 1999, and was vinified in stainless steel before being aged in big wooden vats (tonneaux). Romina says 30% of the wine has oak treatment, because she doesn't like too much wood in the wine. Alcohol hits almost 14.5% abv and the wine sells for around $15.
The nose is beautiful on this wine - perfumed blackberry, strawberry and plum. It has some noticeable sweet oak spice with a good whiff of vanilla. The palate brings flavors of red fruit with a slightly tart edge to it and a very good acidity that is lip-smacking. There is a savory undercurrent that I find irresistible. The finish lingers quite a while.
Lot 752 is a Gavi wine from northern Italy's Piemonte region. The area centers around the commune of Gavi, in the province of Alessandria, quite near the border with Liguria. Hughes says "Chablis and Pinot Grigio drinkers will love" this wine, made from the Cortese grape, vinified to 12% abv and selling for $15. He says the wine has been made the same way for nearly two and a half centuries.
This pale wine has an explosive nose which jumps up from the glass. Aromas of minerals are here - lemon, orange peel, apricot, wet sidewalk, along with a floral aspect. There is a pale, yellowish tint to it in the glass. The palate shows citrus and salinity, with a mighty fine streak of acidity racing through it. Pair it with shrimp, crab or any kind of seafood, really. Delightful.
Mosketto Frizzante Bianco
This one is all Moscato. The wine is actually a partially fermented grape juice. Sweet on the nose, sweet on the palate - with a bit of fizz thrown in to make it feel more like a party. This is a wine for gulping by the pool, not a wine for ruminating upon.
Mosketto Frizzante Rosato
Combining Moscato and Brachetto grapes, this one is a little more tart on the nose, but with the same sweet palate.
Mosketto Frizzante Rosso
All Brachetto here. The wine is much earthier than the previous selections, and actually quite tasty.
The Mosketto wines are imported by Mack and Schuhle of Miami.
