The cold weather got us thinking of Amarone. And once we got thinking we remembered lots of great wines from Alto Adige, Fruli and Veneto.
Whites
Vincenzo Toffoli, Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG Extra Dry $15
Glera
Vincenzo grew up working the vineyards until 1964 when he was able to buy some of them and start making his own wines. Now most of the work has passed on to his sons. Their Prosecco is clean and fresh with a nice sparkle.
2014 Putzenhof, Kerner Alto Adige $12
This delicious Northern Italian grape is a cross between Riesling and Schiava. It has a full silky body with layered flavors of pear and quince. Was $19 now $12
2017 Terlato, Pinot Grigio $12
From Friuli, this PG has aromas and flavors of apricot custard on wet stone. Wired acidity keeps it fresh and clean. The mid-palate introduces Asian pear and mandarin orange, enhancing the wine’s crispness through the finish. Was $18 now $12
2018 Pieropan, Soave $15
85% Garganega, 15% Trebbiano di Soave
Ample & floral aromas with notes of elderberry, apple, pear & lemon verbena on a background of almonds and nuts; fresh, elegant & well balanced on the palate, with a long finish. Was $19 now $15
2016 Conte d’Attimas-Maniago, Ribolla Gialla $15
Ribolla Gialla has grown in the Eastern Hills of Friuli since the fourteenth century. The wine has .a fine and pleasant fragrance releasing a clean and flowery bouquet. The flavor is full with a correct acidic balance. The characteristic acidity lends an appealing freshness and enhances the natural fruitiness (green apples).
2019 Italo Cescon, Pinot Grigio $17
The wine with a bit of grape vine tied around the neck. The Ceson has intense aroma with slight hints of nutmeg, peach, and acacia. A dry, fresh wine with strong, fruity overtones and orange peel.
2016 Colutta, Pinot Grigio $20
Colli Orientali vineyards are influenced by the breeze from the Adriatic. This Pinot Grigio has effusive aromas of apple blossoms and quince with underpinnings of bitter almonds. It is intense with rich and refreshing flavors.
2019 Colterenzio, Sauvignon Blanc Prail $23
From the Südtirol region of the Alto Adige, The Prail has notes of elderflower, gooseberry and delicately scented herbs. The grapefruit, lemon and fennel seed character is impressive on the nose and palate. The wine has a medium-to-full body and bright acidity with a lemon rind aftertaste.
2018 Terlano, Terlaner Classico $25
60% Pinot Bianco, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Sauvignon Blanc
This really captures the mountain freshness of this Alpine region and the minerality of the stony soils of this appellation, and marries them with extremely attractive citrus fruit and just the right amount of creaminess. Long, very pure finish.
Orange
2019 Fratelli Cozza Figlia Della Notte, Ramato Pinot Grigio $11
Ramato (Italian for “auburn” or “copper”) wines are produced by macerating Pinot Grigio grape must with its skins. The skins’ pink hue give the wines color. Look for aromas baking spice, dried fruit, tropical fruit and herbs with good structure and tannin.
Lighter Reds
2016 San Pietro, Schiava $11
95% Schiava, 5% Lagrein
Simple but appealing on the nose and palate, it offers a lightly spicy raspberry and cranberry scent and tart red-fruit flavor shaped by crisp, food-friendly acidity. It doesn’t seem tannic at first, but some astringency becomes more apparent with subtle red berries and a hint of stony minerality in the long, clean finish. Was $15 now $11
2019 Valle Iscaro Schiava, Also Adige $14
A lighter Northern Italian red that is perfect for summer. Pleasant, fruity aromas characteristic of Schiava. The flavor is harmonious with light scent of almond.
2018 Erste + Neue, Kaltereresee Leuchternburg $16
Schiava (Vernatch)
A light-bodied red with lots of cherry flavors and soft tannins from the German-speaking part of the Tyrolian Alps. This is a single vineyard wine made from Venatsch (Schiava) the smaller berried cousin to the Edelvenatch.
2018 Cantina de Negrar Valpolicella Classico $11
Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara
Juicy red berries and red fruit aromas explode from the glass accompanied by summer berries, exotic spices and a hint of earth. Seductive, smooth yet full body lingers on the palate with a velvety finish.
Bold Reds
2015 Brunelli, Corte Cariano $15
Corvina
Made entirely with dried Corvina grapes, this has aromas of red currant, toast and a touch of eucalyptus. The medium-bodied palate shows black cherry, licorice and tobacco alongside polished tannins.
2014 Couluta, Refosco $20
From Friuli, this Refosco is intensely favored and wonderfully aromatic, yet not heavy or overwrought, it has dark berry and woodland flavors and aromas of cinnamon and herbs. Bold and powerful it has structured and defined tannins and invigorating acidity. Not fruity and sweet, like far too many New World reds, its bone dry and lengthy.
2017 Couluta, Cabernet Franc $20
This is Cabernet Franc from Friuli. The fragrance grassy with a hint of raspberry and blackberry. The flavor is grassy, dry and tangy, vanillaed. Very pleasing.
2014 Allegrini, Palazzo della Torre $19
70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese
Allegrini owns this estate where they make this “baby Amarone”. A small percentage of the grapes are left to dry out until December and then added to wine. Aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit and exotic spice are front and center on this delicious red. On the fresh palate, tightly knit, polished tannins carry mouthwatering black cherry, blackberry compote, mocha and cinnamon.
2016 Zeni, Marogne Ripasso $18
60% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 10% Molinara
Vinous, full-bodied, with hints of black cherry and well-ripened fruit. Rounded and velvety on the palate.
2015 Corte Volponi, Valpolicella Ripasso $20
55% Corvina, 25% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella
Dried red and black fruit mingle with pepper spice, minerals/earth, leather and light tar. It’s a nicely balanced wine, well-made wine. Was $25 now $20
2017 Grion, Veneto Cabernet Sauvignon $20
The nose has an intense bouquet and end made of floral and fruity notes, among which violet and cherry. Nevertheless, there are also more complex aromas such as leather and coffee. In the mouth it shows a wine with a great body and the excellent structure and above all the excellent harmony.
2014 Scoula Grande, Amarone $38
Corvina, Molinara
Deep, dark, intense, with pleasant slight granite shades. A sequence of perceptions of cherry, plum, and black cherries under liquor and toasted almond; interesting final notes of coffee, tobacco and cocoa.
2013 Zeni, Amarone $50
70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 10% Molinara
A crowd-pleasing red for its balance, medium body and appealing notes of plump cherry, fig cake and melted licorice, with hints of herb and cocoa powder, and soft, dusty tannins on the finish. 97pts from Decanter
2013 Domíni Veneti, Vigneti de Jago Amarone $58
70% Corvina, 15% Corvinone, 15% Rondinella
Take one look at this dense, black-red wine as it sits in the glass, sniff its dark, alluring, exotic treasure-cave of aromas, taste its explosive carnival of flavors and you might be forgiven for thinking that it’s five years younger than it really is. This is a sensational Amarone, full of smoldering fires at dusk, of confit fruits, of African incense spices and of dried citrus peels and zests, mouth-filling and dazzling — and with years left on its clock. — 97 pts Decanter..
2014 Brunelli, Amarone della Valpolicella $25 375 ml
60% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 10% Corvinone
An incredibly concentrated nose which exudes crushed redcurrants, blueberries and red cherries along with hints of sweet spices from the oak. Take a sip and you’ll notice the full body, soft mouthfeel and luscious wild berry flavors which are carefully balanced by the fresh acidity.