Italian Summer Wines
July 18, 2009Saturday 4:00pm until 7:00pm (or until it's gone)
$5 per person
2008 Tommasi 'Chiaretto' Rosato $14.95
Italy, PiedmontThese family growers are truly blessed by Mother Nature here in the village of Pedemonte where the environment provides perfect conditions for grape cultivation. Tommasi Viticoltori is a family business founded in 1902 which has grown impressively from one tiny vineyard to 135 hectares of magnificent hillside. Now the business is run by the fourth generation across the exceptionally well situated estates dedicated to producing high quality wines such as Soave, Custoza and Bardolino.
Grape varietals: 60% Corvina Veronese, 30% Rondinella, 10%Dindarella
Maturation: 4 months in stainless steel tanks
Dream of floating along the Venetian canals while you savour this balanced and elegant rose! Delightfully dry with a perfumed aroma of redcurrants and a ravishingly refreshing, gentle finish.
Recommended with appetizers, soups, fresh cheeses.
Siema Bianco $9.95 750ML, $13.95 1.5L
Italy, PiedmontA crisp Chardonnay/Arneis blend. Fresh, fruity, melon, peach, citrus, light.
EXCEPTIONAL VALUE!
2007 Bricco dei Tati Barbera $9.95
Italy, PiedmontEmanuele Gaiarin, a native of the coastal Veneto region of Italy, and Mary Beth Gaiarin, a native of Washington, D.C., founded Siema Wines, a U.S. importer and distributor of fine wines from small, family-owned estates from all over the world. Each summer, Emanuele, Mary Beth and their two boys travel throughout Europe scouting wineries. In the summer of 2006, they purchased a modest vineyard of 1.5 hectares (3 American acres) perched on a hill in the heart of Piedmont (Barbaresco DOC). The farm house, considered "new" by Italian standards, is about 200 years old and some of the vines in the vineyard are almost as old as the house. The cantina and cellar is dug into the hill, under the house. The previous owners and their ancestors made organic Dolcetto, and Barbera wines for as far back as anyone in the village can remember. In the cellar are eight 7,000 liter cement tanks and a 100 year old grape press.
This is a young, fresh, lively Barbera with a persistent and attractive bouquet of black cherries and a bit of spice on the palate. It has few tannins which is typical of the Barbera varietal, and a medium finish. Delightfully approachable, it is great with medium to strong cheeses, barbecue and game.
Siema Rosso $9.95 750ML, $13.95 1.5L
Italy, PiedmontA lovely blend of Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo grapes, this is a wine with bright, red cherry fruit flavors and soft tannins.
EXCEPTIONAL VALUE!
2007 Begali Valpolicella Classico Ripasso $16.95
Italy, VeronaThe 2007 Begali Valpolicella Ripasso tastes just like what it is – a "baby Amarone". Made from 65% Corvina, 30% Rondinella 30% and 5% from a bunch of local grapes we've never heard of. The grapes are picked late, soaked and pressed, and then fermented dry. In December the wine is pumped into vats containing the pommace (grape pressings) from Amarone production and allowed to ferment a second time, gaining color, dark fruit flavor, and an extra degree or so of alcohol. The wine is then aged for another year in large wood barrels and then in bottle before release.
It's really delicious. Aromas of dark black cherry, plum, cocoa powder and a hint of tar jump out of the glass. In the mouth the wine is both dark and fresh, rich and refreshing. Loads of dried cherry, plum, and a hint of apricot fruit wrapped up with more tar and cocoa powder. The tannins are very fine and ripe and the wine finishes complex, fresh, and dry. A great wine for grilled meat!
Wine Spectator says... "A good traditional-style Valpolicella, with grape skin, damson and light floral and mineral aromas and flavors. Medium bodied, with medium, fruit-coated tannins and a minerally finish." (This wine comes from the town of Romeo and Juliet!)
