09.13.11 Italy I. Vini Rossi 1)Barbolini Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC, Emilia-Romagna, Varietal: Lambrusco-native wild vine that may have been first domesticated by the Etruscans. Compatible with the hearty cuisine of Emilia-Romagna Region: (NE) Emlia-Romagna is south of the Veneto and north of Tuscany. One of of 4 DOCS, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro (DOC 1970) is in the communes of Sassuolo and Castelvetro. This is grown in Sandy calcareous clay soils just south of Modena. Grasparossa di Castelvetro produces the the most full-bodied wines. grasparossa (red stalks) Style: -four styles: *frizzante: semisparkling spumante: sparkling amabile: semisweet dolce: sweet *Secco-traditionally locally favored style -subtle dried cherry flavors and crisp acidity NOTES: 2)2008 La Sibilla Piedirossa Rosato IGT, Campania Varietal: Piedirosso This light red is named for its “red feet” or red stalks and is used mostly as a blending ingredient and the majority of red wine in Campania Region: SW Campania is the “shin” of the boot of Italy. SW of Lazio and NE of Basilicata. North of Naples right on the coast of Campania is a very small grape growing area called the Campi Flegrei. Less than 3% of wine is DOC. Area known for its agricultural productivity which is counter to quality grape growing. Some parts of the region have up to four harvests a year. Producer: Ungrafted vines that all full ripeness at low alcohol levels. Style: Rosato : NOTES: 3)2007 Tenuta Sant’Antonio ‘Scaia Rossa’ IGT, Veneto Varietal: Corvina. Dark and spicy principle grape in valpolicella/amarone. Thick-skinned it forms the backbone of the blend with firm tannins and rich , smok, red-cherry scent. Region: (NE) South of Trentino-Alto-Adige, West of Friuli. Municipalities of Colonola (gravel) and Mezzane di Sotto (sand/calcareous soil) Producer: NOTES: 4)2007 Cavalotto Dolcetto d’Alba, ‘vigna scot’ DOC, Piemonte Varietal: Dolcetto “little sweet one” earliest ripening Piemontese grape.. Deep purple-violet color, low acidity full yet soft sweet tannins, juicy and forwardly fruity. Consumed young.. Aromas of violets, black fruits, tinge of licorice on the palate. Region: (NW) Piemonte. Dolcetto d’Alba DOC (1974) Parts of the Langhe hills east of the Tanaro river, extending to the sw, nw, and east of the city of Alba. Producer: Cavalotto (Tenuta Bricco Boschis). The Cavallotto family sources its grapes from the Bricco Boschis vineyard in Castiglione Faletto.. Dolcetto d’Alba is one of seven DOCS for dolcetto. NOTES: 09.27.11 Italy II. Vini Rossi 1)2007 Vercesi del Castellazzo Barbera, ‘Cla’, Oltrepò Pavese, Lombardia Varietal: Barbera fourth most planted grape in Italy. (2nd most planted red grape after sangiovese) Highly productive grape known for its soft tannins. Grape used to be lean and harsh, vinification has been refined to produce fuller bodied lush barberas. Region: (N) Lombardia: Montù Beccaria. Lombardy is bordered by Piemonte to the west and Trentino-Alto Adige to east. Switzerland to the North. “Oltrepò Pavese” (on the otherside of the Po river from the Pavia is an interesting DOC in southwestern Lombardy, bordering Piemonte. Producer: Style: NOTES: 2)2006 San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico, Toscana Varietal: Sangiovese “blood of jove” Native wild vine that is Italy’s most noble and widely planted. High aroma/acidity. Aromas of black cherries. Buttressed by scents of wood smoke, tar, and herbs. Tradtionally sangiovese was blended with canniaolo/white grapes large chestnut casks. Temperature controlled fermentation, small new oak barrels blended with cabernet and merlot. Region: (NW) Tuscany is coastal bordered by Emilia Romagna to the north. Umbria to East and Lazio to the south. Chianti Classico Zone (densely forested hills btwn Florence and Siena.). Just south of Florence (northern Tuscany). Gaiole (one of the first communes) is located in the East. Producer: Family owned estate (Martini di Cigala). Was a nunnery (900s), fortress (1100s) and a castle (1400s). Chianti Classico Consorzio (producer’s association whose symbol is the Gallo Nero or Black Rooster. Style: NOTES: 3)2008 Terre Nerre Etna Rosso (Nerello Mascallese), Sicilia Varietal: Nerello Mascallese (14th most planted grape). 80% min. 80 ?100 year old vines grown on the base of Mount Etna. Dark, spicy, perfumed red. Very similar to Pinot Noir. Region: Sicily is off the SW tip of boot (Calabria). Sicily has three things in abundance that red wine grapes crave, heat, light. And dryness. Mount Etna is on the West Coast. Cool, moist, nearly continental climate, a still active volcano. (volcanic soils). Producer: New estate owned by the de Grazia brothers (top Italian wine importers) NOTES: 4)2005 Luigi Ferrando Carema ‘Etichetta Bianca’. Piemonte Varietal: Nebbiolo also know as Spanna in Northern Piedmont. Named for the “la nebbia” (fog) that descends on hills of Barolo/Barbaresco every fall. ..Italy’s most noble red grape. Piemonte;s answer to Pinot Noir. Late ripening sensitive to adverse vintage conditions. Conditions. Uniquely perfumes and powerful. Min. 85% of blend (3 years aging two in bottle) for Carema. Region: (NW) Piemonte is North of Liguria.. East of France, South of Switzerland andValle d’Aosta. West of Lombardy. Small cluster of hills flanked by Dora Baltea River, northeast of Turin. Carema is on Piedmont’s border with Valle D’Aosta. Poor, gritty, glacial soils. More delicate, higher acid, perfumed than Langhe. Approach power of Barolo, Barbaresco in warm vintages like 2005. Producer:. Luigi Ferrando is considered to be the anchor of the Carema DOC. Rustic style nebbiolo. NOTES: