Tenuta Santomè Prosecco n/v, Veneto

With ghouls and goblins lurking about, it is the perfect time to start considering what bubbly would be best for your upcoming winter holidays. At the Shoppe, we have seen a steady rise in Prosecco requests, perhaps because of its delicate, aperitif quality or its wonderful food affinity or even most, its affordability. Whatever the reason, Prosecco is a staple at our home and this holiday season Tenuta Santomè will be at the top of our list! Owned by the Spinazzè family, Tenuta Santomè is an extremely modern Veneto winery with close plantings and scrupulous grape selection in the vineyard and in the cellar. The property spans 60 hectares between the towns of Treviso and Venice with 30 hectares in their main estate in Biancade and the remaining property on ‘Grave de Papadopoli,’ a small island on the River Piave between the villages of Cimadolmo and Maserada.&# 160; With the assistance of famed Veneto oenologist Marzio Pol, this winery produces classic, elegant, Prosecco. Crafted in the traditional style of extra dry, this Prosecco is harmonious and refreshing with an enticing bouquet of acacia flower, green apple and citrus. With balanced acidity and weight, this sparkling wine is ideal with passed hors d’oeuvres or your ‘primi piatti’ of choice. It is true that the French have perfected Champagne but if you are searching for a lighter more delicate alternative that won’t break your budget, Tentua Santomè is the wine for you!

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Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf du Pape 2005

When it comes to the Rhône valley, I must admit that I am a bit of a traditionalist in regards to flavor profile and Domaine de Ferrand, lead by visionary Philippe Bravy, is extremely dedicated to preserving the unique traditions and special characteristics that Châteauneuf du Pape offers. Robert Parker, Jr. has called Philippe ‘one of the most serious of the young generation of vignerons in Châteauneuf du Pape’ and one of the region’s ‘up and coming stars.’ Perhaps it is the dedication and care that Philippe laboriously garners on his family’s scant 5 1/2 hectare domaine. While practicing organic farming techniques and strictly limiting yields on his extremely old vine parcels (some of which date to over 100 years in age), Monsieur Bravy is able to achieve superb ripeness of fruit and great complexity. The 2005 release of his Châteauneuf du Pape is primarily Grenache with a 10% cépage of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and several local white varietals. This red is altogether captivating with aromas of garrigue, licorice, black cherry, wild raspberry and smoked game. With a broad, generous palate, this is a serious wine through and through with layers of earthy, meaty, Provençal inspired fruit. In other words, this red is not for the faint of heart but for those, like myself, who appreciate the southern Rhône in all of its glory. Not to mention, this beauty, although currently drinking well, does have the potential to age gloriously over the next decade.


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O’Reilly’s Pinot Noir 2008

In this day and age, we are constantly searching for value priced wines that are as equally impressive as they are affordable and Owen Roe’s O’Reilly’s Pinot Noir 2008 is just such. David O’Reilly, owner and winemaker of Owen Roe, started with just a few barrels in a tiny winery he shared with Peter Rosback (sineann). He is now a formidable force in the Pacific Northwest. Some may call it the luck of the Irish but the fact of the matter is that David and his business partner Jerry Owen produce excellent wines from some of the best vineyard sites in the Pacific Northwest. The 2008 release is vibrant yet refined with all of the characteristics of a drinkable and approachable Willamette valley Pinot Noir. With bright red berry notes on the nose and a hint of forest floor and toasty oak, this red is silky and broad on the palate with delicate toasted oak and earth to complement the rich strawberry and raspberry fruit. This is the ideal everyday drinking Pinot Noir that showcases the wonderful food friendly acidity and earthy character that I have come to love from Oregon wines.

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Goisot Saint Bris

After several weeks of summer traveling, visiting family and friends along our attractive New England coastline, the cool weather has brought me back to my senses and my task of finding the perfect wines for the approaching days of Autumn. We recently tasted several extraordinary wines from the northern Burgundian producer Ghislaine and Jean-Hugues Goisot and although I usually keep my recommendations to one at a time, I feel compelled to endorse a white and a red from this notable grower! The Goisot family estate is traced to the 14th century and is located in the picturesque villages of Saint Bris and Irancy. With completely estate grown vineyards in the appellations of Saint Bris and Côtes d'Auxerre, all of Goisot's wine are vinified in the ancient village within the cellars, dating to the 11th and 12th centuries. In other words, this winery is as 'old school' as you can imagine and their wines reveal such a deceptive purity of character and expression that I was awe struck by their quality and precision. If you are unfamiliar with the wines of the Auxerrois, the wines of the Goisot will surely entice you!

Their 2007 Sauvignon Saint-Bris 'Exogyra Virgula' is classic Sauvignon Blanc (with Sauvignon Gris) from Burgundy's northernmost appellation of Saint-Bris. Much like its neighboring village of Chablis, this white has persistent minerality and focus due to the deep, chalky Kimmeridgien soils of the region. This white could easily rival any of the top bottlings of Sancerre with its bright, complex citrus fruits and vibrant acidity.

The 2006 Bourgogne Côtes d'Auxerre' Pinot Noir 'Corps de Garge' is also an amazing find. Although this region is planted almost exclusively to white varietals, this red shines on its own merit and Goisot's Pinot Noir is the best in the region, including the area of Chablis in that assessment! Similar to the wines from the villages of Mercurey or Givry, this red has a delicate smoky core with great Pinot Noir acidity and interesting depth thanks to the chalky soils of the town of Irancy. With a bouquet of violets, forest floor and red berries, the palate of this red is harmonious and yielding.

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Goisot 'Saint Bris' 2007 Sauvignon 'Exogyra Virgula'
Goisot Bourgogne 'Côtes d'Auxerre' 2006 Pinot Noir 'Corps de Garde'

La Serena Rosso di Montalcino 2007

There is obvious excitement currently for the 2004 Brunello di Montalcino offerings entering the scene but I would like to highlight a Rosso di Montalcino this week, more specifically, La Serena 2007. This estate has belonged to the Mantengoli family since 1933 and Andrea and Marcello started making high quality Brunello and Rosso in 1988. Originally, with a mere one-hectare parcel under vine, the family has increased their holdings to 8.5 hectares and has just recently completed an extremely avant-garde and environmentally friendly new cellar, designed by Marcello himself. In addition, the dedication and meticulous care of the low yield Sangiovese vines are reflected in every sip of their Rosso and Brunello. The Rosso, much like its big brother counterpart, is brimming with spiced blueberry, raspberry fruit tones and aromas of rose petal, tobacco and cherry. Thanks to 12 months of aging in French and Slovenian oak casks, tonneaux and barriques, there is a toasted oak quality and a silkiness to the tannins that is purely sublime. If this Rosso is any indication of the Brunello to come from the 2007 vintage, there will be much euphoria ahead. Pair this lively yet complex red with anything off the grill and you will be in for a lovely dining experience.

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Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis 2008

The word Arneis in the local dialect of the Langhe translates to 'little rascal.' This difficult to grow, stubbornly thin skinned white varietal which once played a role as an aromatic subordinate to the reds of Piedmont, much like Viognier to Hermitage in the northern Rhone, has been saved from extinction by a few Piedmont growers to which we owe a world of gratitude. Hence our discussion of Bruno Giacosa begins. Along with other notables as Aldo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa has solely built the superb reputation that Barolo and Barbaresco enjoy today. He has chosen to focus his white production on the little known esoteric varietal of Arneis. Being a meticulous craftsman who has the utmost respect for the land of the Langhe and its vineyards, would you expect anything less than extraordinary from his Roero Arneis? I think not! With unbelievably, unyielding aromatics, this white will have your attention at first sniff. The bouquet conjures scents of white acacia blossoms, fresh picked summer peaches, delicately roasted almonds and ripe apricots. Once you get past the intoxicating nose of this beauty, the palate continues to entice with lush, almost full-bodied fruits, reminiscent of pear, peach, apricot and citrus. Perhaps the most intriguing quality of this indigenous varietal is that although it is so thin skinned and fickle, its palate is deceptively full bodied and rich as if it undergoes malolactic fermentation, yet it does not. The triumphant finish of this Arneis lingers with minerality and focused acidity and a delicate hint of almond skin. I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoy this varietal and Bruno Giacosa's version is nothing short of amazing. Try this Roero Arneis and you will partake on a truly memorable white wine experience!


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Bodegas Uno Torrontes 2008

Located in the foothills of the picturesque Andes Mountains, the winery Bodega Uno  may be a bit unknown at present but their wines are so extraordinary and reasonably priced that their anonymity will soon be a thing of the past. Focusing on the indigenous grapes of the area, all of the wines we tasted were originally grown and great representatives of their respective varietals with bright focused fruit and delicate tannins. Today I would like to bring one of their white wines to your attention: Torrontés. Torrontés is the most characteristic and unique white varietal of Argentina and like Malbec, is responsible for the country's growing prestige in the international wine area. This wonderfully refreshing Viognier like varietal is exclusive to Argentina and in my opinion, the ideal alternative to the mundane white selections of summer. With enticing aromas of white flowers, orange citrus zest and stone fruit, this white is a mouthful of exotic flavors, ranging from citrus and peach, with delicate herbal notes and invigorating acidity. Pair its beautiful structure and clean edges with a myriad of foods, including seafood, cheeses, smoked meats or even spicy Asian cuisines. This very well may be the next Pinot Grigio phenomenon!

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