Monthly Playlist for March
Tutti Vini Italiano!! 6 delicious offerings from The Boot comprise March's playlist and are sure to make you want to sing operatic!!
Easy to order - just click on the link at the bottom...as always - all
selections are available separately or by the case, too
2011 FALCHINI CHIANTI COLLI SENESI
More and more this delicious Chianti is becoming our go-to version for everyday usage. Made by a prolific Vernaccia producer. ($12)
Where It's From: Tuscany, specifically then hills around Siena.
Grape(s): 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo.
Aromas and Flavors: Red cherry, sage, and spices. Appealing with plenty of heartiness and backbone.
Food Choices: A simple ragu made of tomato and meat. Or as our Mafioso friends would say, good gravy, served over penne.
Music Choices: Here Comes The Sun' from The Beatles or is it Here Comes The Tuscan Sun??
2012 CORTESE DOLCETTO D'ALBA
A workhorse and flavorful offering that carries beautifully to the dinner table. Cortese is a prolific Barbaresco producer and their Dolcetto is very serious in its category. ($16)
Where It's From: Piedmont’s Barbaresco region
Grape(s): 100% Dolcetto
Aromas and Flavors: Plum, violet, prominent mineral. Lots of zip yet with plenty of refinement and sophistication from its site.
Food Choices: Antipasti featuring Proscuitto or Carpaccio. Will also pair well with hearty seafood preparations.
Music Choices: ‘Hail To The Thief' from Radiohead. So cerebral but so likable.
2010 SELLA & MOSCA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA
Take a trip to the island (no not that island) with this full-on red from one of Italy's terrific offshore producers. ($14)
Where It's From: Sardinia
Grape(s): 100% Cannonau, also known as Grenache
Aromas and Flavors: Licorice, strawberry, fine herbs and sea breeze scents. Full, heady and no shortage of power.
Food Choices: Lamb and more lamb. North African-inspired cuisine with this wine doesn’t exactly suck either
Music Choices: 'A Fistful of Dollars’ soundtrack by Enrico Morricone who was credited as Dan Savio.
2013 VILLA MATILDE FALANGHINA
As the Spring exquinox approaches it's time to shift wine gears. This is a remarkable value white wine from a top-level Southern Italian producer and one not to miss! ($12)
Where It's From: Campania, just outside of Napoli
Grape(s): 100% Falanghina
Aromas and Flavors: Lemon-oil, herbs, oyster shell, peach pit scents. Brisk and bursting with sneaky viscosity.
Food Choices: One of the ultimate Italian seafood wines. Try with clams over pasta in olive oil and herbs. Alaos anchovies or sardines work, too.
Music Choices: ‘Aja’, the classic Steely Dan release simply because like this wine, it’s so damn cool.
2012 ZENATO VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO
There's always something so slurpable and cuddly about Valpolicella that's done with classic vinification versus the Ripasso style. ($14)
Where It's From: Veneto, where the Venetians aren’t blinds
Grape(s): 85% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta
Aromas and Flavors: Cherry pie, almond, roses and subtle earth. Uplifting red with succulence and tanginess
Food Choices: One of my favorite pizza wines but also great with stewed chicken with green olives, potatoes and vegetables.
Music Choices: Cadillac Ranch’ by Bruce Springsteen because it is direct and so likable.
A most intriguing and haunting selection from a region where German is primarily spoken with Italian being the second language. Mountain red if there ever was one. ($16)
Where It's From: Sudtirol on the Austrian border. Alto Adige if you prefer Italian.
Grape(s): 100% Lagrein
Aromas and Flavors: Dark fruit, gnarly earth, sanguine, stones. Sinister, fruit melds in nicely with overriding minerality.
Food Choices: Classic lasagna done with a bechemel sauce. Also good with just about any ham, especially speck.
Music Choices: ‘Murder Ballads’ by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, perfect for Lagrein.
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