Category Archives: A Wine A Day

The $10 Italian white you wanted – Verdicchio

09/01/2018 adrianopiazza Leave a comment

Villa Bianchi

– Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi –

Grown on the hills of the Marche region in Italy, the grapes of Verdicchio thrive in the lesser known Castelli di Jesi D.O.C.

Whoa, just whoa!

This 100% Verdicchio impressed me, and for $10 a bottle, it is a lot of wine for your cash.

Chalky and smooth with hints of honey and flavors of apple, pear and a touch of lemon; with just enough acid to make you crave more without being overwhelmed at the same time. This Verdicchio has a a long finish and is not simple by any means.

As for Italian wine tradition, this wine is fantastic and inexpensive.

Grab a few bottles and enjoy it during the end of the summer and after. Low in alcohol and great with white fish and light pasta dishes, this wine is going to be your end of summer “crush”.

To drink by itself, chill it to fridge temperature and serve. You will taste it develop new flavors in your glass one minute after the other.

For the more technical info, the 6-30 year-old vines are located between 500 and 1000 feet above sea level, facing south, and the harvest is carried by hand in early September.

There really isn’t anything else to say- buy, drink and repeat.

Cheers!

As usual, I want to remind that I am not payed to talk about any wine.

A Wine A Day

A Wine A Day – Chartogne Taillet Champagne Brut Cuvee Ste. Anne

07/26/2018 adrianopiazza Leave a comment

Chartogne Taillet Champagne.

Because it’s Champagne, you know…

Champagne, or as I like to call it:

“The reason why even Italian started to like the french!”

Let’s face it, we all love Champagne. With a crisp, bright feeling and the flavors of a bakery in the morning.

For those who don’t know where this unique wine is made; well, it’s made in Champagne ( duh!) , a French region north-east of Paris. Very close to Belgium, this region is the northernmost limit of French viticulture.

Usually, a so-called assemblage (literally: assembling, but mix seems more appropriate to me) of different vintages and varieties ( Pinot Noir, Meunieur and Chardonnay) are blended to reach the consistent flavor the wine maker aims to achieve.

Enough with the teaching, let’s get to the reason why you are here, this wine!

This 40% Pinot Noir, 60% Chardonnay is an assemblage of a 2014 base, with reserve from 2013 and 2012. The vines are 32 years old on average, giving a vigorous juice.

A great introductory Champagne, it is chalky and has DRINK ME WITH OYSTERS written all over. The hints of ginger, red apple, cherry blossom, almond, and lemon make it bright and elegant.

The mousse (the ‘foam’ for those of you who don’t speak French) is pretty aggressive but not unpleasant at all; it’s just a wine with some character, and I loved it! All in all a great wine and for less than $50, just perfect.

Drink it now or age it, but for sure have one of these bottles handy at all times, you never know when you might need some bubbles in your life!

A Wine A Day

A Wine A Day – The Noble Botryotinia Fuckeliana Sauvignon Blanc 2011

02/16/2018 adrianopiazza 2 Comments

What a name…UH?!?!

Australia, the land that has given us Kangaroos, is now also giving us wines; and they are WILD!

This botrytized wine is interesting for the price, and surely something different form the usual Sauternes and Tokaji.

If you are wondering, botrytized wines are:

Wines affected by Botrysis Cinerea (a rare and special fungal infection that under certain climatic circumstances can develop into a “noble” gray rot). The fungus attacks some of the grapes randomly, while still on the vines, and drys them. This causes the grape sugars to concentrate and produce wines with lower alcohol levels and higher sweetness.

While surely missing the finesse of its two “big brothers” (Sauternes and Tokaji), this lusciously sweet wine is great to sip while eating gelato or when looking for a casual late evening treat pairing it with some medium body cheeses.

Low in alcohol (just over 10%), this late harvest sweet (VERY sweet – 194.5 g/L sugar content) wine is packed with flavors.

Tropical fruits (especially passion fruit), orange marmelade and an unfortunately not so high acidity to keep up with the minerality and herbacious hints are what you should expect from this wine. I find Botryotinia Fuckeliana overwelming when drinked by itself, but absolutely pleasant when paired with Asiago or Parmesan Cheese (36 months).

Adriano Piazza