We’re having a bit of a love affair with Italian wines and we’re not going to fight it. From the coast to the mountains, from the most Southern point to the most Northern, there are treasures of beautiful wines to discover, and we are thrilled to be able to share them with you. We hope this uncharacteristically warm Fall has you soaking up the days and savoring the wonderful things in life, like great company and wine to name a couple.
Cheers,
P. & E. Mullins
2019 Bisson Cinque Terre Bianco “Marea”
Liguria, Italy
We obviously are fans of Enoteca Bisson as we’ve shared the Glera, Ciliegolo and Bianchetta Genovese U Pastine with you. He is one of the finest winemakers in Liguria and when we got our hands on two cases of his Cinque Terre white, we knew we had to save it for wine club. Very few cases are exported to the states as most is consumed there in the beautiful cliff towns of the Cinque Terre. This is a blend of local grape varietals, 60% Bosco, 20% Vermentino and 20% Albarola. This wine is a clear pale yellow in the glass. The nose is subtle but beautiful with notes of lime leaves, lemon balm, dried apricot, and honeydew melon. The palate is wow, beautiful, its rich with a silky texture and full bodied but at the same time delicate too. You can almost taste the rocky wet cliffs above the ocean with the salinity. The finish is clean with green apple skins.
2019 Di Giovanna Camurria Orange
Sicily, Italy
“Camurria” is Sicilian for “trouble”, and we think it might be because it opens the door for us to dig orange wines. Orange wines are essentially a white wine made with skin contact (maceration) as the skins of the grapes is what gives the wine color. Not only does it give color though, but it also lends weight for more body, texture and more complex flavors and aromas. This 100% Grillo is harvested by hand and grown organically with the hot Sicilian sun, the cool winds of the Mediterranean Sea and the minerally terroir of the volcanic soil. It is fermented spontaneously, macerated for 5 days on skins and goes through malolactic fermentation in stainless steel. It is aged on its lees in neutral barrels and then is bottled unfined and unfiltered. In the glass this is a bright orange tone with an opaque hue. On the nose we get a nuttiness like almonds & marzipan, also a little dill. The palate is tart, and finish dry with some tannins. There are citrus notes and peach pit. Only 6,400 bottles made.
2019 Rouge de Vallée La Kiuva
Vallée d’Aosta, Italy
Up in the most northwest region of Italy, along the French and Swiss border, among the Western Alps you will find Pied de Ville a small co-op that consists of just 60 growers. Each grower farms their small plot organically and it is all overseen by the co-operative’s agronomist much like they do in Burgundy to ensure quality. Made from a blend of indigenous alpine varietals, 70% Picotendro 30% Gros Vien, Neyret, Cornalin and Fumin. In the glass this is a pretty light ruby red in color. It has aromas of red cherries and a deep whiff of leather. It is a light bodied wine that has crisp notes of cranberries and a hint of spice. It is balanced with smooth tannins and finished long and clean. Total production is just around 8000 cases.
