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Last Week's Tasting
Southern Italian Gems
July 21, 2021
Peter writes, "Last week combined a lot of interest and a lot of fun. We began the whites with the 2019 StattiCalabria Greco. Good start."
He continues,
Everyone liked the flavors and balance and nice texture. Good value. The 2019 Gulino Pretiosa Albanello from Siracuse Sicily upped the ante. It showed vibrant fruit with a unique spicy salinity. Tasters were happy to discover the rare Albanello grape variety. Things got even more interesting with the equally rare 2017 Librandi Efeso Mantonico from Calabria. In addition to the citrus and peach aromas, tasters also found cinnamon and saffron. The flavors are full-bodied. This one sold out.
We began the reds with the 2015 Librandi Duca San Felice Gaglioppo Riserva. Some tasters had this wine in the past and were very happy to see it again. This showed rich fruit, flowers, and spice. Everything was well integrated in this quiet, balanced red. 2017 Feudo Montoni Perricone del Corefrom the central mountains of Sicily was an elegant expression. The wine showed deep red fruit with spices and polished tannins. For most, it was their first taste of the Perricone grape. We finished with the 2015 Caravaglio Nero du Munti. This dramatic wine is made with Corinto Nero grapes grown inside the volcanic caldera on the island of Lipari. It is rich, with smokey cherry and spiced minerality.
Most of these wines are unique and rare. One person called it a compelling tasting. We'll take that.
White
2019 Statti Calabria Greco: Bright straw. According to Alberto, this wine is emotional and powerful but safer, like racing an Alfa Romeo Duetto. Why not? You will more likely find rich melon and citrus with a nutty finish and balanced palate. Very Very Good Plus 18.99/bottle, case 15.99
2019 Gulino Pretiosa Albanello: Straw, green highlights. Elegant, fresh, and balanced with flowers and chamomile. Melon and citrus fruit with some pear. Saline and spicy almond finish. Very Good Plus to Excellent 21/bottle, case 18.99
2017 Librandi Efeso Mantonico. Deep straw. Okay, the only dry white with a saffron aroma. Limestone minerality with citrus, peach, green herb, rosewater. Refined and balanced acidity. Excellent 26.99 Sold Out
Red
2015 Librandi Duca San Felice Gaglioppo Riserva: Ruby red. Plums, cherries with hints of flowers, and spice. Notes of tobacco and leather with substantial, well-structured velvet tannins. Very Good to Excellent 19.99/bottle, case 16.99
2017 Feudo Montoni Perricone del Core: Ruby red. Fresh, fine, and elegant. Violet, plum, deep red fruit with spices cocoa licorice and carob. Round on the palate with polished tannins and a long spicy finish. Excellent 28.99/bottle, case 24.99
2015 Caravaglio Nero du Munti: Deep ruby. Smokey cherry, deep red fruit. Herbs and spices with pomegranate and fresh minerality in the finish. Tastes like a really good Sangiovese with a Salvador Dali mustache Excellent 27.99/bottle, case 23.99
12 or more at the case price discount
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