Sicilian Red from Mt. Etna- What is it, a Barolo or a Burgundy?

August 19, 2014 Edition

Last week we enjoyed a wine made by Antonio Sasa Called Etna Rosso, specifically the 2009 vintage. They only made 2000 bottles (167 cases), I just secured 12 bottles, which will arrive on Friday. Only 40 left after that. The vines are 100 years old and are pre-phylloxera. The grape varietal is Nerello Mascalese. The vineyard is miniscule, located atop Sicily’s Mount Etna. Antonio Sasa started with incredible mountain fruit which the Italians will tell you is most similar to Barolo and Barbaresco. When I tasted it I was expecting a Piedmont style how what I tasted was a complex Pinot Noir. I will tell you this wine is far more similar to great French Grand Cru Burgundy than it is anything else. The Italians will of course never compare their wines to anything but Italian, but in all fairness this wine has a nose of rose-petals, cherry and camp fire smoke. The color is Burgundy Red and the palate is lush cherries jubilee. The finish is very long with a combination of crisp acidity and finally a hint of ash contributed by the volcanic soil from Mount Etna.
Try this one with poultry, lamb and pork. I want to try it with a very marbled rib eye, if it is as robust as I think that will work really well. Drink now or for another 6 years minimum. Price $46.99 10% off 6 btls. 15% off 12btls.

Etna Reds Wine Spectator, Bruce Sanderson

Issue: February 28, 2014

ETNA’S VOLCANIC REDS

Among my most interesting and exciting recent discoveries are the red wines of Etna, in Sicily. This is the home of the Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes, grown in vineyards planted on the slopes of the active volcano of Mount Etna.

I had never tasted anything like these reds. Airy and electric, they were full of intense berry, peppery flavors with a core of tingling acidity and undercurrents of saline and mineral. Etna’s climate is more like that of northern Italy or northern Europe, courtesy of its altitude; thus, the reds of Etna are to other Sicilian reds what Burgundy is to Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Bandol.

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Jacques Copinet Champagne, Disgorged in June 2014

I was sampling the new release of the Multi Vintage Jacques Copinet Reserve, Gold Label Blanc de Blanc Champagne at the distributor. They blended 30 percent young wine with equal portions of reserve level wines from 2000, 2001 and 2002 which are aged in the cellar specifically to create this Copinet “Selection”. The nose is filled with crisp apple aromas and just a hint of limestone on the edge. The bubbles are tight and ever flowing. This release has wonderful effervescence. The flavor profile is complex which one would expect from Champagne made with cellar aged wines as its backbone. Citrus ranging from lemon to lime and finally tangerine are infused into bright apple flavors laced with hints of almond and pistachio. The layering is very complex yet the overwhelming freshness of the bottle is much of its appeal. The 30 percent young wine adds beautiful acidity, this Champagne finishes crisp and clean. The spice and limestone aspects of this Copinet are vibrant. It brings back memories of our visit to Jacques Copinet’s Champagne house last year where we enjoyed Jacques and family and of course his Champagnes.
Price $56.99

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Take Care

Lynda & Jim

August Specials!

2012 Clos du Gaimont Vouvray 2012- Loire Valley, France
Pale yellow in color, the nose reveals typical Chenin Blanc characteristics- floral aromas that are reminiscent of acacias with hints of dried fruit. Fresh notes of green apple and citrus fruit are backed by a mineral edge that leads to a rich, concentrated and well balanced, dry palate.
Price $20.99

2013 Chateau Teulon Roussanne -Côstieres de Nimes, Rhone Valley, France
Gorgeous, with lush mango, creamed pineapple and Cavaillon melon (Cantaloupe). Exuberant and perfumed, with notes of marmalade, buttered citrus and orange rind. Favorite
Price $13.99

Domaine Dominique Cornin Pouilly-Fuisse 2011- Burgundy, France
Lovely hand-harvested Chardonnay. Pale gold in color, with aromas of yellow peach lemon and anise leading up to a palate of exotic fruits and food-friendly acidity. Favorite
Price $20.99

Handley Estate Chardonnay 2012-Anderson Valley, California
The fruit we brought in from the Estate Vineyard contained very little tannins and higher sugars than in recent years, as well. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and some in oak. The resulting wine is complex, with crisp, bright fruit flavors and spicy overtones.
Price $20.99

Chinon La Cuisine Cabernet Franc 2011- Loire Valley, France
100% Cabernet Franc; Delicate yet aromatic traces of blackcurrant bud notes with a hint of toasted bread entice the senses upon first encounter of this elegant wine. The palate reveals tightly wound tannins that seamlessly intermingle with the finesse of the texture. Subtle fruity notes round out on the lingering, silky finish.
Price $22.99

2010 Proulx Marveille Red Blend- Paso Robles, California
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Petite Sirah, 7% Petit Verdot & 7% Zinfandel
Deep purple red in color with well-formed legs; dry, full-bodied that is balanced with a mix of current & black cherry with hints of licorice and sage. Big, rich, supple, lovely in the mouth. Lots of mostly black fruit with fine spice, rosemary, note of tobacco, hint of chocolate
that unfolds into a long, intense finish. Favorite
Price $17.00

Mark Herold Red Blend Flux 2010- California
A blend of 67% Grenache, 20% Carignan and 13% Syrah. It is powerfully vibrant with a surging ripe bouquet of plums, purple strawberries and black pomegranate that gives way to a core of dark cherries, cranberries and violets. Notes of black pepper, tea box, orange peel, and cotton candy combine with a hint of dried sage, suede and a creamy minerality. The entry culminates in an elegant strawberries and cream finish. Enjoy the 2010 Flux well into the next decade.
Price $25.99