Kerri’s Pick
2006 Fattoria Selvanova “Vignantica” Aglianico, Terre del Volturno IGT
Caserta, Campania, Italy
Price:18
You might think that the region that brought us pizza and spaghetti would be content to rest on its culinary laurels, but fortunately they excel viticulturally as well! Whites such as fiano and falanghina shine, but it is the brooding red aglianico that is the star of the region. To orient you, we are in Campania, the lower shin of the boot. Heading north from Naples, the capital city, you will come to Caserta, which lies along a bend of the Volturno river, facing the Taburno massif. Here lies the estate of geologist, Antonio Buono. Given his “other” occupation, it is fitting that Fattoria Selvanova is committed to expressing the connection between the grape and the soil in which it is grown. Spearheaded by phenom Guido Busatto, a unique rising star agronomist/enologist, the estate’s philosophy is one vine, one bottle. The extremely low yields lead to wines of perfect comcentration and beguiling complexity. Never over done, just deliciously rich and succulent. The Vignantica is the estate’s “entry level” wine and is a perfect introduction to the aglianico grape. It’s bright fruit character makes it perfect to drink now with braised lamb or a stuffed pasta.
Matt’s Pick
2007 Occhipinti, Il Frappato
Sicily, Italy
Price: $40
Arianna Occhipinti is a brilliant young woman winemaker with a real knack for natural winemaking. The niece of the legendary Giusto Occhipinti, of the famed COS winery just a few kilometers away, Arianna has inherited both a sense of tradition as well as very natural winemaking practices. After only a few harvests under her belt she has quickly gained a cult following and for good reason, her wines are just magical. This wine became an instant favorite of mine over two years ago when I got the chance to meet and taste with Arianna, I was truly taken aback. Frappato has traditionally been used in blending with the richer, more powerful Nero d’Avola varietal to add freshness, aroma and spice to a wine. Here however, the visionary Arianna has created a pure Frappato that showcases this varietals truly amazing potential. Wild rose, fresh cut herbs and a bright tangy finish make this one of the most unique wines Sicily and The Wine Bottega has to offer. This wine is released in limited quantity, so be sure to check it out!
Mike’s Pick
2006 Domaine le Briseau “Patapon”
Coteaux du Loir, France
Price: $25.00
At first glance, this wine may turn people off just by the menacing clown/fool on the label. If you dig a little deeper, you find that this is made exclusively from the varietal pineau d’aunis, which is being systematically uprooted from its home in France’s Loire Valley, in favor of more popular varietals like sauvignon blanc, cabernet franc, etc.. In fact, Domaine le Briseau is one of the only estates that continues to feature it prominently. To me (and I realize I might be in the minority on this one), this is the perfect recipe for an extraordinary wine. Renegade winemakers struggling against the tide to prove everyone wrong about a wine that they are virtually alone in treasuring. I think this wine is beautiful, if atypical in its structure and aromatic profile. Give it a try, and see who is the more foolish.
Stephanie’s Pick
NV Az. Agr. Zucchi Lamrusco di Sorbara
Modena, Emilia Romagna, Italy
Price: $23.00
I knew what Spring Fever felt like. Now I know what it tastes like. At my very first Friday tasting, I met my very first Lambrusco—not your average mass-market fizz, the artisanal Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC from the Zucchi family of Modena, Italy—and it was love at first sight. Those ruby red bubbles alone are enough to make you forget that it’s been raining for the past three days. The nose is as giddy as it is sweet. And that energetic buzz you get from the very first sip—well that’s just Spring. In all its glory. Here at last.
