Wines of the Week
Each week, we select a few wines from our shop for a 10% discount and some spotlight as to why we think they're so great!
2022 Passerina Colline Pescaresi, Ciavolich, Abruzzo, Italy - Chiara Ciavolich's wine holdings are in the heart of Abruzzo, benefiting from extreme diurnal temperature changes and fewer clouds due to nearby mountain ranges. Passerina grapes are harvested from the youngest vines planted in Loreto Aprutino in 2011, in loam-clay soils. They are hand picked to then undergo a soft pressing and then a cold static decantation, followed by cleaned must set in stainless steel vats with controlled temperature for fermentation, then aged in stainless steel for 3-4 months before bottling. The result displays a nose of preserved lemons, lime and green apples, with hints of herbs, followed by a medium-bodied palate, with crunchy acidity with more green apple emerging, framed by an increased minerality on the finish. It is a great pairing with shellfish, raw bar, and spicy cuisine.
2022 Cascina Val del Prete 'Prete Rosso,' Piedmont, Italy - Cascina Val del Prete is a leading grower in Roero, recognized for a commitment to natural farming and for traditional work in the cellar. Roero is a small wine district in the hills of Piedmont, known for its refreshing white wines made from Arneis, but also for its bold, fragrant reds made from Piedmont's signature red wine grape, Nebbiolo. Prete Rosso is, essentially, a field blend that varies year-to-year, featuring predominately Nebbiolo and Barbera, meant to be a fresh, light and lively red, served chilled. It shows aromas of chocolate, wild strawberry, lingonberry, with bright acidity, and a lifted, light body, finishing with more bright red fruits. A perfect accompaniment to Charcuterie, soft and fresh goat cheeses, and chicken pate.
2021 Barbaresco 'Asili,' Ca' del Baio, Piedmont, Italy - Barbaresco is one of Italy's greatest wine regions, usually mentioned with its more famous neighbor Barolo, both capable of the best expressions of the Nebbiolo grape. Asili is perhaps the most celebrated cru of Barbaresco, containing soils of bluish-gray calcareous marl, and a slight presence of clay and very poor in organic matter but rich in microelements such as magnesium and calcium. Azienda Agricola Ca' del Baio dates back to 1870 and is currently run by Giulio Grasso, following sustainable and eco-friendly methods, with native yeast fermentation and minimal added sulfites. The 2016 Asili shows a bright garnet red, with orange tinge color, with intense, fruity aromas of marasca cherries and hints of violet, framed by hints of black pepper, licorice, and tar, followed by a soft, dry and warm palate with formidable tannins, and finishing with big, and dark cherry flavor. This wine will reward patient cellaring, with secondary characteristics emerging over the next decade+. It is a great wine to pair with braised and stewed red meats, game, and mature cheeses.