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Nestled in the gently rolling hills of Tuscany in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone lies the family-run estate of Rocca delle Macìe.  Rocca delle Macìe. Photo courtesy of Rocca delle Macìe. The late Italo Zingarelli, a well-known actor who was also at age 28 the youngest movie producer in Italy, decided to pursue his true passion and lifelong dream of producing wine. His youngest son, Sergio said, “It was my father’s dream to have a winery.”  Italo Zingarelli (1930-2000) Photo courtesy of Rocca delle Macìe. In 1973 that dream was realized with the purchase of the “Le Macìe” estate. At the time Italo acquired it, only two acres out of 230 acres were under vine. The 14th-century farmstead was in disrepair along with acres of neglected vines. Working together, Italo and Sergio replanted the vineyards and restored the farmstead. More property was purchased and a state-of-the-art cellar was built and modern winemaking equipment was installed. Today, the family has six estates throughout Tuscany comprised of 1500 acres with a total of more than 500 acres under vine and 54 acres of olive groves. Le Macìe, Sant’Alfonso, Fizzano and Le Tavolelle estates are located in the Chianti Classico area. And Campomaccione and Casa Maria estates are located in the Morellino di Scansano area (Maremma). Italo instilled his love and passion for wine and the Tuscan land in his three children, Sergio, Fabio and Sandra. Sergio is quoted as saying, “My father Italo managed to infuse us with his great passion for the Tuscan soil and for the art of making wine. In short, he gave us the desire and the enthusiasm to continue to write that never-ending story that links wine to the lives of human beings. With his cast-iron will, he taught me that to get an idea off the ground takes determination...” In 1984 Sergio assumed responsibility for estate’s worldwide distribution and in 1989 he was appointed Company President. Sergio’s wife, Daniela works with him in running the business. Sergio has been a member of the Executive Board of the Chianti Classico Consortium since 1995 and in 2012 he was appointed President. In 2015 he was confirmed for another three years.  Sergio Zingarelli Photo credit: Penny Weiss I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Sergio a few months ago at a winemaker luncheon for a vertical tasting of six Rocca delle Macie’s historic cru wines made exclusively with grapes grown in their Fizzano estate vineyard.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Fizzano Farm was purchased in 1984 and spans across 150 acres with 88 acres under vine. The grape varieties grown here are the iconic Sangiovese as well as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Miocene deposits with a sandy-loamy texture and pebbly soils make up the soil composition. The vineyards have an excellent southern exposure at 985-623 feet above sea level and the mild Mediterranean climate contributes to maintaining the balance of the grapes acidity, sugar and aromas.  Fizzano Farm Photo courtesy of Rocca delle Macìe. Our vertical tasting began with three library wines. Library wines are portions of a vintage that have been set aside in the vintner’s cellar as part of their private stock to be enjoyed at a later date. It is not uncommon to store a few cases from each vintage. This area of the cellar is referred to as “the library”. Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva di Fizzano 1995, 1999 and 2005 are made with 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. They are library wines that still make a statement. The 1995 vintage still exhibits tannins along with soft, red dried fruit and earth. The 1999 vintage is rich with plum, blackberries and hints of cherry. The 2005 vintage is remarkably ripe with red berries, spice and hints of espresso.  Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva di Fizzano 1995, Photo credit: Penny Weiss Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Riserva di Fizzano 2011 is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot. Gran Selezione is a new classification above Riserva for Chianti Classico DOCG as of 2014. Grapes must be harvested only from the winery’s vineyards along with upgraded requirements for alcohol, extract and a minimum aging of 30 months. The 2011 vintage is quite aromatic with a palate of ripe dark berries, dark cherry, spice and refined tannins. SRP: $39.99 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Riserva di Fizzano 2013 is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot. Dark berries, plum, spice, dark cherry, clove and a touch of chocolate grace the palate. SRP: $39.99 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Riserva di Fizzano 2015 The blend for this wine is 93% Sangiovese and 7% Colorino. Although Colorino is used primarily to add color to the wine, the grape has elevated tannin levels that can contribute to the complexity of the wine. This wine is very aromatic with lush berries and spice. The palate offers rich, ripe red berries, plum, cherry, spice, anise and vanilla. I look forward to tasting this wine again in a few years SRP: $39.99 In addition to the vertical tasting, we sampled four more wines that made my palate quite happy.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot. Aged eight months in the barrel. The palate offers fresh ripe fruit, berries, dark cherry, soft tannins and a hint of herbs. SRP: $16.99
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged two years in French oak. Ripe dark berries, spice, anise, soft tannins and a touch of herbs. SRP: $26.99 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Sergio Zingarelli 2013 is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino. The best grapes are sourced from Le Terrazze Vineyard. The wine is aged for 18 months in French oak. Vibrant aromas of floral, dark fruit, toast and earth lead to a palate of berries, plum, cherry, spice, pomegranate, anise and dark coffee beans. Smooth tannins and beautifully structured. SRP: $99.99 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Sergio Zingarelli 2014 is 100% Sangiovese. The best grapes are sourced from Le Terrazze Vineyard. It is aged for 20-24 months in French oak. This wine has a rich palate of plum, blackberry, raspberries, cherry, juicy tannins and spice. It is beautifully balanced and elegant. I asked Sergio if climate change has affected the vineyards and if so is there a difference in the wines produced. Sergio replied, “Climate changes didn't affect our vineyards but mostly the way to manage them. Our vineyard manager, of course, needs to spend more attention on the long-term forecast in order to avoid any negative influences on the canopy and of course on the grapes. Fortunately, we have now to our disposal new and more accurate technical equipment that can be used to predict and to control the balance between the growth of the vines and the quality of the grapes. Of course, the wines change if we have a hot and dry harvest or a colder one, but we are trying to keep the same style and philosophy every year.” Sergio talked about his biggest challenge in the vineyards. “We work very hard since the year 2000 to reduce or not use any chemical treatments. We can make this possible using different weather stations, with very hard work in the vineyard and using different viticulture strategies. As per example, the use of "mating disruption" to confuse some different insects with pheromones in the vineyards; the use of antagonists of some insects to control others one. Another challenge is to not use any chemical herbicides since 2000, using only mechanical removal of the herbs under the vines; maintain as best we can a stable balance in the vigor and quality of grapes ratio using only organic fertilizers and a very specific program of cover crops serving as the specific goals and nature of the soils of the different vineyards.” It was a great afternoon of exploring and tasting this impressive lineup of Rocca delle Macìe wines. All of the wines that we tasted are beautifully crafted. And as Sergio said, “The wines must be elegant and give expressions of the vineyard”. Sergio has done just that! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] If wondering what wine to serve at holiday time, you might want to add this lovely Tempranillo from Spain to your shopping list. This wine makes a bold statement, but it is light enough to pair with traditional holiday fare.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss CVNE (pronounced coo-nay) is an acronym for Compania Vinicola del Norte des Espana, one of Rioja’s most iconic wine producers. CVNE expanded their territory to include a 182-acre estate in Ribera del Duero in northern Spain with the focus of bringing their Rioja elegance to the rugged Ribera del Duero region. The Bela winery was built here in 1999 and is located in the village of Villalba del Duero, in the province of Burgos. Vines were planted with mostly Tempranillo in 2002 at an altitude of 2674 ft. The climate leans toward continental with a complexity of soils throughout the region. Soils for this wine are calcareous clay and sandy loam.  Map courtesy of wine-pages. Bela, Ribera del Duero DO 2017 is 100% Tempranillo. This wine is aged for six months in American and French, new and one-year-old oak barrels.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Intense aromas of dark fruit, floral, baking spice and a touch of earth set the stage for this terroir-driven wine. The palate is layered with dark berries, dark cherry, plum, spice, anise and a hint of minerality. Vanilla and pepper linger on a long finish. This is a graceful wine with soft tannins and brimming with character. It is an easy wine to pair with a wide range of cuisine. Alcohol: 14% SRP: $19 I served this wine with mustard and brown sugar-crusted salmon, roasted brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. It was a beautiful pairing and my palate was very happy!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] Around this time last year, I reviewed Ferraton Père & Fils La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage and Samorëns Côtes-du-Rhône Red 2015 vintages.  Photo credit: Ferraton.fr Ferraton Père & Fils is a producer and négociant of wine throughout the Rhône Valley. Twenty percent of Ferraton production is estate wines with grapes sourced from the domaine’s 37 acres in the Northern Rhône’s Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph appellations. The rest is sourced from sustainably farmed fruit in both Northern and Southern Rhône appellations all of which are biodynamic and certified organic.  To learn more about this producer and the Rhône Valley, please click ‘Ferraton Père & Fils’ or Rhône Valley on the menu at right. The 2017 vintages of Ferraton Père & Fils La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage and Samorëns Côtes-du-Rhône Red are quite pleasing to the palate and light enough to be enjoyed with a variety of cuisine.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss La Matinière Crozes-Hermitage 2017 is 100% Syrah. Crozes-Hermitage is the largest appellation in the Northern Rhône and is known for its exceptional Syrahs. The climate here is moderate-continental and a bit cooler than the Southern Rhône but still it is far enough south to produce earlier ripening grapes. The grapes for the La Matinière are sourced and blended from a mix of estate and neighboring vineyards in the Mercurol and Beaumont-Monteux districts of central and southern Crozes-Hermitage. Glacial alluvial deposits with rounded pebbles, stones and gravel soils along with potassium residue can be found here, which contribute to fleshier, rounder wines. This wine is partly matured in oak barrels for 12 months before bottling.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This wine begins with lovely floral aromas mixed with strawberry, cherry and baking spice. The palate offers an array of red fruit such as raspberry, pomegranate and sour cherry. It has a nice balance to it that finishes with hints of pepper, cherry and vanilla. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $26 Samorëns Côtes-du-Rhône Red 2017 is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. Grapes are sourced from vineyards situated on the left bank of the Southern Rhône with flatter terrain that consists of stony soil including limestone, clay and sand. The climate is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm, dry summers.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This terroir-driven wine bursts open with aromas of berries, floral and spice. The palate offers juicy red fruit with flavors of blackberry, dark raspberry, anise and spice with a tart plum skin finish. It is the perfect combination of fruit and savory.
Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $16 With the holidays fast approaching, you won’t go wrong with adding these wines to your shopping list and dinner table. Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] International Sherry Week is from November 4 – 11. And there are so many styles of sherry to celebrate with.  Photo credit: sherrywines-losvinos Sherry is a fortified wine produced in Andalucía, located in the southwest area of Spain. With over 40,000 hectares of vineyards in Andalucía, more than half of the wine produced here is in DO (denomination de origin) areas. Sherry can only be made from Palomino, Muscatel and Pedro Ximenez white grapes.  To learn about the terroir of Andalucía and how sherry is made, please click on the link below that will take you to a story on my website. http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2017/10/day-606-sherry-fest.html Borrowing from the above story, let’s take a quick look at all the sherry styles available. Fino de Jerez is the youngest (usually 3-5 years old) and the driest of sherries. The wine ages under a layer of flor (yeast). This layer of flor protects the wine from being oxidized and it also consumes all the sugar in the wine, creating a dry sherry. Fino only comes from Jerez and El Puerto de Santa Maria. Manzanilla is another dry sherry that is just like Fino, except that Manzanilla comes only from the coastal town of Sanlúcar. Both Fino and Manzanilla have more wine salinity than the other styles. They will complement fish and shellfish. Amontillado is an aged Fino or Manzanilla. Once the layer of flor fades the wine begins to oxidize and takes on a new character. It can be fortified up to 18%. The color is darker and it is less briny, but nuttier and richer on the palate. These wines pair well with white meat and game. Palo Cortado is an interesting sherry that begins as a Fino or Manzanilla but for no known reason it unexpectedly loses its layer of flor too soon. Once the flor dies, the wine takes on oxygen and requires further fortification. In other words, it does “its own thing”. This wine has richness but is crisp as well. Oloroso (‘scented’ in Spanish) intentionally never develops flor. Aging through oxidation of up to 40+ years produces a full-bodied, aromatic, dark and rich wine. Oloroso contains the most amount of alcohol in sherry with levels of 18% to 20%. This is a great wine for hearty entrees, meats and stews. Pedro Ximenez (PX) is an intensely sweet wine and the sweetest of the sherries. The grapes are dried in the sun allowing the juices to concentrate before pressing. This is a rich wine that oozes raisins, nuts and fig. Cream Sherry is usually a blend of Oloroso, PX or Moscatel but can come in a variety of styles. This is a semi-sweet wine that is aromatic, dark in color with classic notes of nuts and caramel. I’m starting the celebration with the following styles of sherry.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Tio Pepe Palomino Fino DO Jerez Xérés This sherry is made with 100% Palomino grapes harvested from Jerez Superior vineyards that are considered the best area of the DO. The wine remains for a minimum of 4 years in American oak casks following the traditional Solera system under the flor. It has a pale lemon color with heady aromas of sweet honeysuckle, almonds and bread. However, this is a very dry sherry with complex flavors infused with almonds and a hint of yeast that lingers on the palate. Due to its savory nature, this sherry will intensify the flavors of many foods and pair well with seafood, cheese, meats and Asian cuisine. Serve well chilled and enjoy! I paired this sherry with smoked cheese, briny cherry tomatoes, spiced nuts and an assortment of olives. Alcohol: 15% SRP: $20  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Harveys Bristol Cream DO Jerez Xérés This sherry is a blend of 80% Palomino and 20% Pedro Ximenez grapes. It is a unique combination of Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherries that have been aged separately in the Solera system, averaging between 3 and 20 years of age. It has an intense burnished-brown color that offers intoxicating aromas of dried fruit, raisins, nuts and toffee. The palate is layered with raisins, caramel, fig, toasted almonds and a creamy mouthfeel. This is a nice sherry to drink as an aperitif or serve with desserts, cheese and fruit. Serve well chilled. And if you’re not sure if the sherry is cold enough, the thermochromic label turns blue when the sherry is ready to serve! I poured this sherry over vanilla bean ice cream. It was heavenly! Alcohol: 17.5% SRP: $15  Photo credit: Penny Weiss What style of sherry will you be pouring in your wine glass to celebrate International Sherry Week? Please share your stories and photos with me!
Until next time, Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] I had just arrived home from a trip to the Franken wine region of Germany with my palate still singing the praises of the wines I tasted. To my delight, there was a bottle of Riesling from the Mosel wine region waiting for me at my doorstep.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Although the Mosel region is a few hundred miles to the west of where I was visiting, a German Riesling is always a treat no matter which of Germany’s 13 wine regions it comes from. And this particular Riesling was no exception!  Weingut St. Urbans-Hof is located in the village of Leiwen in the Mosel Valley. It is considered one of Germany’s premier estates with 40 hectares of vineyards making it the second largest family-owned and operated winery in the Mosel. Nicolaus Weis founded the winery in 1947 and his grandson Nik Weis has been owner and winemaker since 1997. I have written several stories and reviewed a number of wines from this producer that can be accessed on the menu at right. The Mosel Valley enjoys a continental climate with warm summers and long growing seasons that contribute to the ripening of the grapes, helping to create heightened flavors and low alcohol levels. Riesling grapes for the St. Urbans-Hof Bockstein Kabinett are harvested from a single vineyard consisting of 40 to 60-year-old vines from the Mosel region’s Saar Valley. Bockstein VDP Grosse Lage is a historic 136-acre site with only six producers growing vines here. Nik Weis owns 25 of these acres in the best, original section. The vineyard sits on a very steep 50 degree, south-facing slope with soils consisting of hard gravelly slate rock that have a powdery surface that is easily absorbed by the vine’s roots giving the wine lots of minerality.  Bockstein VDP Grosse Lage Vineyards Photo credit: MoselFineWines VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) is a national German association of wine producers committed to top-quality wine production. Under their classification system, VDP Grosse Lage is considered Top Class designating the very best vineyards of Germany within which the finest parcels have been demarcated. These wines are considered especially expressive with significant aging potential.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss St. Urbans-Hof 2018 Bockstein Kabinett 2018
This 100% Riesling is pale lemon and jumps out of the bottle with intense aromas of minerality/slate, soft fruit, citrus and hints of floral. A palate of refreshing peach, green apple, grapefruit, honeysuckle and minerality are the prelude to a beautiful dance between sweet and saline. This is another terroir-driven wine that clearly shows the talent of the winemaker, Nik Weis! Serve as an aperitif or pair with fish, white meats, salads and spicy food. Enjoy this wine now or it can be cellared for up to 30 years if stored properly. Alcohol: 9% SRP: $26 Within the next few weeks, I will be writing about my trip to the Franken wine region in Germany. I will introduce you to fabulous wines, cuisine and fairytale towns to explore! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] The leaves are beginning to change color and some of them are already sprinkling to the ground.  It is officially autumn, however I’m not quite ready to put away my sandals. And, I’m certainly not inclined to shelve my white and rosé wines. In fact, if you have kept up with my stories, then you know I tend to drink these wines all year round. To welcome the fall season, I decided to open a crisp rosé from Michel Chapoutier’s Domaine de Bila-Haut vineyards located in the region of Côtes de Roussillon, Languedoc.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss To learn more about Michel Chapoutier, please click on the link below or peruse the Categories list to the right of this page. http://thewineknitter.com/the-journal/category/bilahaut Domaine de Bila-Haut “Les Vignes” Pays d’Orc Rosé 2018 is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Cinsault that is fermented and aged in tanks. Up until the 2018 vintage, Michel, ever the artist and experimentalist, also used 5% Syrah in the blend, but he has phased it out completely.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This coral-colored wine has subtle but inviting aromas of floral, citrus, red fruit and minerality. The palate offers a soft array of berries, rose, herbs, minerality and a hint of watermelon. This is a dry and refreshingly crisp wine with just a trace of citrus on the finish. Drink as an aperitif or serve with light pasta, seafood, sushi and salads. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $15 Although I’m taking inventory of my red wines and getting ready for those cold winter days ahead, my refrigerator will always be stocked with white, rosé and sparkling wines!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] Although it is not as widely known as some of its more famous neighbors, Le Marche (pronounced Mar-kay) wine region should be on your radar. Le Marche is located on the eastern side of central Italy, nestled between the Apennine Mountains to the west and the Adriatic Sea to the east.  There are approximately 60,000 acres of vineyards in Le Marche with varied terroirs throughout. Warm and cool climate zones exist in this region due to the influence of the mountains, rivers and the Adriatic Sea. Calcareous, clay and limestone-rich soils can be found here and are excellent for growing grapes such as the white grapes Trebbiano and Verdicchio that Le Marche is best known for. In fact, Verdicchio has been growing here for over 600 years. Sangiovese and Montepulciano red grapes grow well here as well. The majority of wines in Le Marche are sold as IGT Marche title (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), but the region also has DOC and DOCG titles as indicated on the map below.  Map is courtesy of Federdoc. This past week I was introduced to the wines of Velenosi Winery located just outside the town of Ascoli Piceno. The dynamic Angela Velenosi co-founded the winery in 1984. Angela had no experience, land or capital, but she did have a vision. Her energy and passion led her to become one of the largest family-owned wineries in Le Marche region with a production of 2.5 million bottles per year and over 25 wine labels. Today Velenosi Winery represents all the appellations throughout Le Marche wine region and Angela is known as “the lady of Le Marche”.  Angela Velenosi Photo credit: Velenosi Winery I had the opportunity to taste five wines from the Velenosi portfolio. Passerina Brut NV is made with indigenous 100% Passerina grapes grown in the vineyards of Ascoli Piceno at an altitude of 200-300 meters above sea level. The grapes are hand-harvested and the wine is produced using the Charmat Method. This is a lively, aromatic sparkling wine with soft fruit and flowers on the nose. A palate of citrus, flowers, light fruit, a hint of bread dough, fine bubbles, lively acidity and creamy texture make this wine a delight to drink. Alcohol: 12% SRP: $15.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC Classico 2018 is made with 100% Verdicchio grapes grown in the oldest and original area of Castelli di Jesi, (Marche’s largest DOC area). Verdicchio means, “little green one”. The wines tend to be straw-colored with pronounced green hues and aromas of green fruit. This is a lovely dry wine with floral, fruity and saline aromas that segue onto the palate with green apple giving it the right amount of tartness. The vibrant acidity and a finish of lemon zest make this any easy wine to pair food with. SRP: $15.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Pecorino Offida DOCG Villa Angela 2018 is 100% Pecorino hand-harvested from the vineyards of Ascoli Piceno and Offida at 200-300 meters above sea level. The name Pecorino translated means, “little sheep”, not to be confused with the cheese of the same name. As the story goes, local sheep ate these sweet grapes and considered them a treat. This wine has lots of floral and fruit aromas. The palate shows tropical fruit, spice, fennel, fresh minerality and vibrant acidity. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $15.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Lacrima di Morro DOC Querciantica 2018 is 100% Lacrima di Morro d’Alba harvested from vineyards in the municipalities of San Marcello –Ancona. An interesting note about this grape varietal is that after 25 years it stops producing grapes and needs to be replanted. One of its main characteristics is a “rose and violet flavor”. This wine has sweet aromas of floral, strawberry and cherry that segue onto the palate with soft tannins, spice and dark cherry. This is a beautifully structured wine that is light enough to pair with a vast assortment of cuisine. Alcohol: 12% SRP: $15.99 Rosso Piceno DOC Superiore Roggio del Filare 2015 This wine is a blend of 17% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese grapes. Grapes are handpicked from vines that are 50+ years old in the vineyards of Offida and Ascoli Piceno at 200 meters above sea level. This wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak. A beautiful and elegant nose of floral, spice, strawberry and cherry leads to a palate of dark fruit, plum, spice and soft tannins. This is a very expressive wine that is full-bodied and well balanced. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $35  Photo credit: Penny Weiss All of the above wines are expressive of the terroir, exhibiting powerful aromas and complexity but light enough to enjoy with most food or as an aperitf. They are all reasonably priced wines that go a long way in value.
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] Over the Labor Day Weekend, I sampled a few vintage wines from our restaurant days in New York City. Some of the wines didn’t warrant a second sip, and a few others were worth taking notes on. And then, there was this.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Most Pinot Noirs are not known for their longevity and are best enjoyed within a few years of bottling. However, there are a few Pinot Noirs that stand the test of time and this is one of those wines. Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot is a family run business that dates back to the seventeenth century during the reign of Louis IV. The Confuron family has always been vignerons specializing in vine selection and propagation. Yves Confuron runs the estate today along with the help of his brother, Jack, who is an oenologist. Their parents still work the vines as they have always done for the past fifty years. The family vineyards are spread throughout the Côte de Nuits located in the northern half of the Côte d’Or wine region in Burgundy, France.  Map credit: terroir-france.com In addition to their village level wines, the estate has an impressive array of premier cru and grand cru sites that include the famous Vosne- Romanée Les Suchots of which they are one of the largest holders. For the most part, vines in all of their vineyards average around 65 years of age. Within the Côte de Nuits are two Grand Cru vineyards, Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny, where some of the most famous and expensive Pinot Noirs are produced. Vosne-Romanée is a small commune that has been producing notable wines for thousands of years. Les Suchots is located within this commune and it is the largest Premier Cru climat in the Vosne-Romanée appellation. Climat refers to delineated plots of land that have specific climatic and geological conditions. The climate here is balanced between the warm sun and cool winds that help to develop rich fruit complexity and good acidity in the wines.  Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru-Les Suchots 1998 The bottle showed a small amount of wine evaporation (ullage), but the cork was good so I used the Coravin system to extract a glass of wine.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This 100% Pinot Noir had a beautiful garnet color with tawny around the rim. The heady aromas of floral, kirsch, spice and red fruit, notably cherry, were encouraging. Before the wine had time to open my palate was treated to red berries, spice, earth and gripping acidity. After twenty minutes the fruit and spices were more pronounced. I tasted cherry, raspberry, spice, mushrooms and anise. This wine still has an impressive complexity to it and expresses the terroir beautifully. It made me fall in love with Pinot Noir all over again! Alcohol: 13% I’m looking forward to uncorking this bottle very soon!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] As you may have surmised from previous stories, I love Susana Balbo Wines. So, when I recently received four bottles of her CRIOS brand, I was quite pleased.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss For those of you who aren’t familiar with Susana Balbo Wines, here is a quick recap from my last story about her. To read more about Susana, the winery and wine reviews, please click on the ‘Categories’ menu to the right of this page. Susana Balbo is the founder and owner of Susana Balbo Wines located in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza in western Argentina close to the Andes Mountains.  Susana Balbo Winery Photo credit: Susana Balbo Wines Due to the close proximity of the Andes, the vineyards are subject to a hot, dry climate during the day and cool alpine winds in the evenings, thus allowing the grapes to develop and ripen slowly while reaching full tannic ripeness and maintaining their acidity. Susana is not only the most well known Argentinian female winemaker globally, but she is also the first female enologist in Argentina! With over thirty years of experience in the wine industry, Susana has built an impressive career and produces some outstanding wines. From an early age, Susana strayed from wanting a traditional “female” education by electing to study nuclear physics in Bariloche. However, her parents would not let her leave Mendoza to pursue this path. So, Susana made a decision to follow the family’s wine business and in 1981, she graduated from Don Bosco University with a degree in enology, becoming the first female enologist in Argentina and challenging the male-dominated wine industry in Mendoza. Susana’s career began at Michel Torino winery in the Salta province where she made her first wine in 1983. It was the first vintage of Torrontés from Salta. She then continued on to work at many other well-regarded wineries and also worked as a consultant winemaker for national and worldwide wineries before “birthing” Susana Balbo Wines in 1999. Her first vintage was released in 2002. Susana’s two children are an integral part of the business. Her son José joined the team in 2011 as winemaker and her daughter Ana joined in 2012 as marketing manager.  Susana, Ana and José. Photo credit: Susana Balbo Wines Susana produces four brands of wine that include CRIOS, Susana Balbo Signature, Nosotros and BenMarco. The CRIOS brand was created by Susana as a tribute to her son and daughter. CRIOS in Spanish means “offspring”. To quote Susana Balbo Winery, “CRIOS wines express Susana's love and dedication to her children, José and Ana. Today, Susana's CRIOS have grown and matured, just like her children who now work with her at the family winery.” The grapes for this brand are harvested from specific areas in Mendoza and Salta where grapes are optimal for the fruit-forward style of CRIOS. CRIOS Torrontés 2018 is 100% Torrontés hand-harvested from vineyards in Cafayete (Salta) and Uco Valley (Mendoza) regions at an elevation of 5,600 ft. Cafayete region has sandy-loam soils and the Uco Valley is known for its complex mix of soils that include stones, sand and limestone.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This wine is pale lemon with green hues. A lovely floral bouquet is infused with citrus and a hint of pear. And the palate offers a refreshing blend of acacia, pear, citrus, green apple and crisp acidity. This is a perfect wine to serve as an aperitif or serve with seafood, light pasta and Asian cuisine. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $15 CRIOS Rosé of Malbec 2018 is 100% Malbec hand-harvested from vineyards in the Uco Valley region at an elevation of 3,700 ft.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This Rosé has a vibrant coral color with subtle notes of strawberry, peach, red cherry and a hint of vanilla on the nose. This is a dry, refreshing and lively wine with crisp acidity. Soft notes of strawberry and sweet spice linger on the palate leading to a creamy finish. Serve as an aperitif or pair with fish, salads and light appetizers. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $15 CRIOS Malbec 2018 is 100% Malbec hand-harvested from vineyards in the Uco Valley region at an elevation of 3,700 ft. This wine was aged for nine months in French oak.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This wine has a rich purple color with juicy aromas of violets, cherry, plum, berries and spice. Notes of plum, cherry, pomegranate and spice tease the palate with a delightful finish of mocha and pepper. Tannins are nicely balanced with acidity. Serve with grilled meat, tuna, hearty stews and aged cheese. Alcohol: 13.9% SRP: $15 CRIOS Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon hand-harvested from vineyards in the Uco Valley region at an elevation of 3,700 ft. This wine was aged for nine months in French oak.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This wine is deep red bordering on purple with aromas of plum, floral, spice, dark berries and sour cherry. A lush palate of dark berries, plum, espresso and sweet spice ends with a lingering finish of anise and pepper. A nice balance of bright acidity and soft tannins rounds out this wine. Serve with grilled meat, fowl, hearty stew and spicy cuisine. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $15 The handprint logo that is on each CRIOS bottle is of three overlapping hands representing the generations involved in making this quality wine. It also symbolizes Susana’s love for her children and acknowledges hands as powerful tools in accomplishing a mission together.  Family working together, producing wine out of love and a passion for quality and the land…it doesn’t get any better!
Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] One might not think of Merlot when it comes to Tuscan wine. Perhaps this is due to the influence and popularity of Tuscany’s largest and best-known Sangiovese-dominant wine region of Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is the most planted grape variety in all of Italy, and according to Italian Wine Central statistics of 2015, Merlot is ranked number seven. Merlot is one of several major grape varieties used in the production of Super-Tuscan wines but it is also produced as a 100% varietal in the Tuscany region. Sorting through yet another recent delivery of vintage wines leftover from our restaurant days, I came across a bottle of Marchesi de Frescobaldi “Lamaione” 2000, a 100% Merlot.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss The Frescobaldi family has been part of Tuscany’s winemaking tradition for 700 years. From generation to generation they have passed on their tradition of cultivating the best of Tuscan diversity and production of fine wines. With seven estates spread throughout Tuscany, Frescobaldi’s main focus is sustainable farming in addition to developing and enhancing the diversity and maintaining the identity of each estate’s terroir.  Map courtesy of Frescobaldi The Merlot grapes for the Marchesi de Frescobaldi Lamaione were sourced from Frescobaldi’s Castelgiocondo estate located southwest of Montalcino. Vineyards are planted in clayey terrain rich in limestone and mineral elements at an altitude of 300 meters (984 ft.), facing southwest on sunny slopes with well-drained soil and an arid climate.  Photo credit: Frescobaldi Marchesi de Frescobaldi “Lamaione” 2000, Toscana IGT This 100% Merlot was aged in 90% new and 10% single-use French oak barrels for 24 months and then aged for another 12 months in the bottle.  Since I tasted this wine alone, I used my Coravin system to pour a glass so that I could share the rest of the bottle at a later date. As soon as I started pumping this garnet colored wine into my glass, delightful fruit aromas wafted up, always an encouraging sign! As the wine opened up aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, dried berries, sweet spice and vanilla were evident. My first sip told me that I was in for a treat. Although the wine was slightly past peak, it entertained my palate over the next hour with an array of flavors. I tasted black cherry, blackberry, cooked plum, spice, earth, pepper and a very nice finish of dried fruit and fennel. This wine had a good balance of tannins and acidity. I will definitely pop the cork on this bottle in the next week or so…this is a wine to share! Alcohol: 14.5% The majority of wines in this latest cache are reds, so I will be quite busy entertaining my palate over the late fall and winter season!  Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] |
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