Mmm, Thanksgiving Day! I think I’m still full. I hope all of you in the U.S. were able to enjoy a fine holiday dinner yesterday, in spite of the lingering impact of the pandemic and the rising costs of fuel and food.
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Neil Duarte has some recommendations for you for sparkling wines from Italy — from Trentino-Alto Adige, which is mostly known for its white wines. Read article.
Scarpetta Timido Rosé Vino Spumante Brut ($14.99) is a crisp, dry, pale-pink sparkling wine from Friuli-Venezia Giulia in northeastern Italy. Its dry, crisp flavor with subtle notes of berries made a great accompaniment to Thanksgiving dinner, and it would be a fine partner with latkes, too.
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Check prices and find vendors for Scarpetta Timido/a> on Wine-Searcher.com.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link to find dozens of other wines from Scarpetta.
Vereinigte Hospitien 2015 “Schloss Saarfels” Mosel Riesling shows a clear and very pale gold color. Its typical older Riesling aroma blends “petrol” and ripe apples. Dry and tart and medium-bodied on the palate, it wakes up the taste buds with bright acidity. White fruit, spice. and stony mineral notes last in a very long finish. Gains remarkable complexity as it warms in our glass. Don’t serve it too cold!
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Sadly, Vereinigte Hospitien 2015 “Schloss Saarfels” is no longer available in the U.S. It was a selection from The California Wine Club’s International Series in 2017. Check in with The International Series for other finds from small, artisanal wineries around the world. Read article.
“Taking a glass of Valpolicella, the Colonel … drank a little of the light, dry, red wine which was as friendly as the house of your brother, if you and your brother are good friends.”
That is the voice of Ernest Hemingway, speaking fondly of this tart, fresh Italian red wine.
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Allegrini Valpolicella offers an excellent representation of the region’s red wines. It’s a clear, attractive garnet color, not too dark, and lifts up appealing floral scents of wild roses and the violets. The initial floral impression gives way to red-berry and dried-fruit aromas, leading into a fresh, bright mixed-berry flavor shaped by sharp, food-friendly acidity with a lightly velvety mouthfeel.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Allegrini Valpolicella on Wine-Searcher.com.
Read more about Allegrini and browse vendors and prices at this Wine-Searcher link.
Follow this Wine-Searcher link to find listings for dozens of wines of Valpolicella and vendors who offer them.
Curious about Amarone? Learn more about this powerful red from Valpolicella and check out top wines and vendors at this Wine-Searcher link.
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Neil was only able to visit the Piedmont winery Pertinace by ZOOM during the pandemic, so when he got to Italy last month he dropped by in person right at the start of harvest to taste more of their wines. Read article.
Why, yes, we can go back into the Bordeaux aisle of our friendly local wine shop again. The tariffs are over! But be careful! Bordeaux has long been scary ground for the budget-conscious.
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Chateau Tour de Tourteau C&irc;tes de Bourg is a typical Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. Its aromas speak of intense currants and cranberries, with back notes of dried cherries and a hint of licorice. Red-fruit flavors carry over on the palate, firmly shaped by a sturdy mix of mouth-watering acidity and drying tannins.
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Other than a few bottles of a limited and pricey 2000 vintage, Wine-searcher.com lists few sources for Chateau Tour de Tourteau Côtes de Bourg. However, you can follow this Wine-Searcher link to browse vendors and prices for dozens of other Côtes de Bourg wines. Read article.
Think about vintage wine, and you might envision a wealthy wine enthusiast lovingly fondling dusty bottles and ruminating on their relative worth. But for most of us, does vintage even matter?
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Perrin “Nature” Côtes du Rhône is made with certified organic grapes, as the name “Nature” implies. It’s a field blend of Grenache and Syrah in undisclosed proportions. It’s very dark reddish-purple with a garnet edge. Grenache shows itself in a delicious raspberry aroma with subtle black and white pepper shyly hiding in the background. Juicy and ripe on the palate, its flavor blends red berries and dark cherries in a good but not overbearing acidic structure.
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Perrin “Nature” Côtes du Rhône on Wine-Searcher.com.
Learn more about the Côtes du Rhône and browse dozens of vendor offerings for the region at this Wine-Searcher link. Read article.
