Northern Italian Reds
Crazy cool Italian lineup. Big, classical wines with minerality and bright red fruits. First we will try a rare grape “Rossese” from the rolling hills of Liguria. Then onto a Nebbiolo from coastal Lombardy. And we finish with two “ripasso” wines from Valpolicella! Very cool. Come check em out!
@ Humble Vine
January, 3d
2-8 PM
Wine Tasting: $20
Punta Crena, Rossese “Vigneto Isasco” Liguria, Italy $29
Rossese is a somewhat obscure Ligurian grape. Grown in a unique red clay which brings uncommon roundness and wild Ligurian brush notes. This delightful, literally scrumptious, nimble red wine is made plantings as far back as 1984. Fruity, spicy and herbal with a minerality emblematic of the coastal air. Lighthearted and fun.
Nino Negri, Inferno Valtellina Lombardy, Italy $36
100% Nebbiolo aged for more that 20 months in small French barrels. Deep garnet in color with a well pronounced perfume of spice, dried flowers, plum and jam. On the palate the wine is full-bodied lush tannins and dry with elegant notes of berry and herbs.
Tenuta St Antonio, Mont Garbi-Valpolicella Superioire Ripassa Valpolicella, Italy $21
Classic grape blend from Valpolicella: Rhondnella, Molinara, and Corvina. Superiore designates a wine higher than normal from the area. Ripasso is when the “re-pass” the fresh wine through the pumice that is left over after the fermentation of the grapes. Rich and spicy with aromas of raspberry and cherry. Flavor is fruity, soft, caressing, fresh, savory and fairly tannic with a spicy aftertaste.
L’Arco Pario, Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso Valpolicella, Italy $50
From the Classico area in the Valpolicella. Combining the 3 classic grapes of Valpolicella makes complex fruit flavors of both dried and fresh fruit; wild raspberry, plum, prune, and dried apricot. The palate is giving and lush with a fine weight that brings cigar box, black pepper, and cinnamon spice notes. It has a surprising amount of depth and structure in a very approachable frame.
