We put together a line-up of superheroes- wines that come from humble beginnings and save the day with their uncanny abilities. Big bang for the buck, great to drink on their own or with food, and there’s even some X-ray vision- these wines are windows to their terroir. And since they’re here at the Wine Bottega you know they’re fighting for truth and justice, vanquishing the minions of evil (those wines spewed from the factories at the behest of masked marketing departments and shady multinational conglomerates). In times like these, we need some wines to take a stand. And like a good comic book, we can take comfort that you can still find something for a just a little bit of change that makes the troubles of the day fade away.

2008 Guy Allion Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, Loire, France

Guy and Cedric Allion manage this 57-acre wine farm nestled in the idyllic rolling hills of the Touraine appellation. As is customary, their cellar was dug out of the calcareous tufa that lies just beneath the shallow clay top-soil throughout this land. This soil structure not only provides the perfect conditions for cradling fledgling vintages, it is the source of the dominant underlying minerality of Loire Valley wines. The philosophy of the domaine is centered on producing quality wines using natural, traditional methods. They operate under the supervision of the independent Terra Vitis organization, which provides a code of organic practices for linerie all over France. Sauvignon blanc is the prized varietal of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume, though some of the best values can come from Touraine, and other less prestigious, outlying appellations of the Western Loire.

2007 Verget du Sud, Marsanne, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Provance-Rhone Alps, France

Jean-Marie Guffens is well known, even notorious, as an inspired and ground breaking winemaker most notably in the hills of southern Burgundy in the township of Macon. From here Guffens has created some of the finest and purest examples of Cote d’Or wines, from Chablis to Sant-Veran. In 1997 he and his family bought a property in the Vaucluse in the hills of the Luberon on the interior of the Provance-Rhone Alps department of southern France. The property had several hectates of vines planted mostly to marsanne and roussanne, two of the Rhone river valley’s most prized varietals. Guffens has embraced “new” technology by bottling many of his wines (even some of his Burgundy’s) under screw cap to ensure quality. 2004 was the debut vintage of these Provencal which were greeted with success in many foreign markets including the US. This marsanne is vinified in large open top barrels before aging in stainless steel. Showing the classic house style of Guffen’s wines this has characteristic almond paste notes with a refreshing acidity that makes this a perfect wine for a variety of fish dishes as well as French inspired chicken, pork and rabbit bistro style dinners with friends.

2008 Berger Zweigelt, Kremstal, Austria

Many of you have fallen under the spell of Austria’s flagship white wine, gruner veltliner. Now we want to welcome you to Austria’s flagship red grape, zweigelt.  This is a fantastic, easy-going, friendly wine.  We find ourselves reaching for it again and again.  Many pinot noir lovers have fallen for its value priced charm although I think it also has more of a syrah type purple fruit to it. Erich and Maria Berger are a young couple who are dedicated to making incredibly drinkable wines and they are doing a great job with their small 5,400 case production. Fortunately, not only is it delicious with its smooth dark fruit and spice, but its also a liter vs 750ml!  I never think one standard size bottle is quite enough, so happily this one gives you more! I love this with a BLT or Moroccan spice salmon.

2007 Comm. Armando Piazzo, Barbera, Alba, Piemonte

As many great Italian winemaking stories Piazzo too is a well run, small family winery located on the outskirts of the fabled town of Barbaresco. Armando Piazzo with wife Gemma Veglia began in the 1950’s to cultivate some of the finest grapes in the communes in and around Barbaresco and soon earned a reputation as one of the best grape growers in the region. In those days all of the fruit would be sold to local bottling houses and would end up directly in some of the regions quintessential restaurants. As time went on a new generation of winemakers with more modern aspirations came to lead this small company and soon turned their focus to their own proprietary winemaking. Today the fourth generation is at the helm and though they have steadily acquired more prestigious land holdings they maintain their outlook as a small, family winery focused on quality. Today Franco and Marina Piazzo make the wine, tend the vineyards as well as run a small bed and breakfast called Cascina Barac (likely worth a visit!). As you may know barbera is one of The Wine Bottega’s favorite grapes, offering tremendous versatility at the table and appealing to many different palate preferences. This is a simple and very delicious version that is sourced from several vineyards around Alba and in the nearby Roero hills, vinified in stainless steel/cement and aged for a few months in large format “botti”.

2008 Bodegas San Prudencio “Cueto” Rioja, Spain

Young winemaker Ruben Saenz has been described as the wunderkind of Rioja. After graduating from wine school, he began consulting at wineries throughout the region. He began making his own wine out of a rented facility in his mid-twenties, before finally buying the winery he now occupies two years ago at the age of 29. Some of his vineyards are in Montelaturce, the landmark mountain in Rioja that is the inspiration for his labels and the flag of the state.  These are some of the highest altitude vineyards in Rioja, which makes the task of hand-harvesting that much more taxing. This is a young, juicy style of Rioja that goes great with just about everything.

2008 Bodega Aconquija “Alberto Furque”, Valle de Uco, Argentina

Bobby Kacher has a great eye for seeking out hidden gem wineries. He typically focuses on France, but we were very excited to discover this new malbec at his tasting recently. Here is his information on this estate… “In 1995, Alberto Furque and his family purchased an old winery and vineyards in an area just south of Mendoza called the Uco Valley. The estate, known as Aconquija, is located in the small town of La Consulta and is being enthusiastically run by Carolina Furque, Alberto’s daughter. The Uco Valley is considered the sweet spot in the region of Mendoza. The dry climate has very cool nights, very warm days, and nearly 300 days of sunshine each year. The village of La Consulta and its vineyards average 3,000 feet in elevation. The vines are planted north/south on terraces in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The name Aconquija, which means “snow near the moon,” is named for the Western Hemisphere’s highest snow-covered peak in the Andes Mountains (22,835 ft). Carolina harvests much later than many other growers in the area, working with an agronomist to be sure that the grapes have achieved physiological ripeness. All hand-harvested, the fruit is de-stemmed and fermentation is temperature-controlled. Each grape type is fermented separately and maceration takes 15 to 20 days. The wines are aged in insulated concrete tanks.” I love the balance of dark fruit and spice in this wine - a hallmark of great malbec!