Italy never ceases to amaze us with its endless quality and variety. This Saturday we’ve assembled yet another collection of rich, unique and delicious Italian wines. Come have a taste and find some new favorites.
2012 Tenuta di Corte Giacobbe, Soave $13
Garganega
The Dal Cero family has been producing wine for over three generations, with vineyards in the Veneto and Tuscany regions. Their Soave has delicate scents of flowers & fruits and strong pear and apple notes. The body is rich with white fruit flavors and almond notes on the finish and a long, persistent aftertaste.
2009 Montenidoli Vinbrusco $14
65% Trebbiano Gentile, 35% Malvasia Bianca
Montenidoli (mountain of the little nests) was abandoned and overgrown when Sergio Muratori and Elisabetta Fagiuoli arrived with their 9 children in 1965. Today, their 24 hectare estate of vineyards located in San Gimignano focuses on indigenous varietals using organic farming methods. The vinbrusco is free run juice from the Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes. It ferments in steel and ages on the lees to acquire body and softness. It’s full round fruit and big mouthfeel set the white apart. Was $20 Now $14
2011 Palazzo Malgara, Nerello Mascalese $13
Nerello Mascalese is indigenous to the slopes of the Mount Etna in the northeastern part of the Sicily. Extremely aromatic Palazzo’s Mascalese has aromas of violets along with wild strawberry and raspberry flavors and dry and very elegant tannins.
2009 Azienda Agricola Nottola, Rosso di Montepulciano $15
80% Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese) 15% Cannaiolo, 5% Mammolo
Located in the picturesque countryside of Montepulciano, Nottola was founded in 1992 and started making the traditional wines of the region at a great value. Their Rosso has aromas of dark berry fruits with hints of violet and a smooth body with notes of dark fruits harmoniously balanced with soft tannin.
2009 Pelassa, San Pancrazio, Barbera d’Alba Superiore $20
Located in Montà d’ Alba, in the Roero area of Piedmont, Pelassa owns 12 hectares vineyards focusing on Arneis, Nebbiolo & Barbera. The San Pancrazio is a cru Barbera with an intense bouquet, delicate with hints of ripe forest fruits & dark black berries. It is full-bodied & harmonious, balanced with tannins well blended in a generous and persistent body. Dark, concentrated fruits linger through the finish. The wine received 4 stars from Decanter.
Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5. No matter what day you stop by we always have something open to sample.