Posts belonging to Category Alto Piemonte



Happy Holidays New Year and Vaccine

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JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (OK – WE BLEW BY TURKEY DAY).

STILL IN TIME FOR XMAS AND THE NEW YEAR. LET’S DRINK, THINK AND CHAT ABOUT WINE.

Welcome to my friendly little wine blog new readers. Make sure you sign up as a subscriber so our super sophisticated will notify when there are new posts. In our 15th year (??). There is no cost to follow. No push ads or special discounts. Just the occasional post about anything on my mind that is somehow related to wine. Guest columns are welcome. Like the snickerdoodle recipe near the end! Click on the URL links to learn more.

The lineup for this post includes (i) Bota Box Wine (ii) the biannual delivery from Lyle Fass and (iii) FOUR wines tasted recently; all most likely from Fass.

Bota Box Wine https://www.botabox.com/global/wines.html. tBoW has not tasted this product. I can tell you it is wine in a 3 Liter box (ed. the big one). This is the Pinot Grigio. We Bota_3LPG_500mlPG_GroupShot-winewould taste this one. It is hard to mess up Pinot Grigio which is a grape we favor anyway. Jim Moore of Uvaggio has made a fab bottle forever with Lodi grapes. There is also a Cab and a Chard which tBoW would not taste anyway as he prefers (I am tBoW in case you wondering) other red and white grapes (long standing readers and accomplished wine snobs may weigh in here).

CHECK OUT 4 REASONS WHY ONE SHOULD BUY BOXED WINE (NOTE: this is not from the Bota site!):

“So, why is boxed wine better? [Link to article here https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/shopping-all/the-best-boxed-wines-to-buy-instead-of-bottles-in-2020/ar-BBYAYfS]

(1) “For starters, when you uncork a bottle of wine, you have around a week until it spoils.” [tBoW: in my house if a bottle is open the next day that would be remarkable.]

(2) “Box wine comes in a sealed vacuum bag that can be stored in the fridge or cabinet long as six weeks! Bottles have certain restrictions and stack a lot less easily than boxes.” [tBoW: this is twooo…that is why if you really love wine you install a wine cellar or buy a mega-cooler “refrigerantus” like Dotore. Long time reader and contributor KrisB just stores Fass deliveries in an extra bedroom…his kids sleep in the garage – it’s heated!]].

(3) “Another huge factor in favor of boxed wine is the environmental impact. It’s easy to assume that glass is the answer. But, once you add into the equation the cork, the bottle’s seal, the cardboard boxes for packaging and the emissions caused by shipping heavy bottles around the world, it’s not quite as straightforward as you may have once assumed.” [tBoW: Gotta admit this makes sense. Of course we prefer to buy wines at one of tBoW’s fave shops like Hi Time in Costa Mesa or Woodland Hills Wine Co in Woodland Hills. When it is necessary to use a stopper overnight we have finally found the perfect device that is air-retardant (look it up you moron) and it costs ~$5. Merry Xmas.]

(4) Finally, as boxed wine becomes more popular, the time has come to reassess its reputation. [tBoW: Maybe that time has come. Looking forward to my first spalsh of wine form the Bota Box! Pinot Grigio please.]

Wow. These past 90 days have been a real slog. And now tBoW is on complete domestic shutdown. Happy wife….uh….better stop right here right now!2008 Renato Motalli Valtellina Superiore - Valgella Le Urscele - CellarTracker

tBoW has covered the newest generation of wine importers, shippers and direct sellers; in particular John Rimmerman of Garagiste and Lyle Fass of Fass Wine Selections. After years buying from Garagiste tBoW switched to Fass. Both deliver price, quality and selection that fits the palates and budgets of the usual gang of idiots [clazzy reference to Mad Magazine] that read tBoW. #1 son sent the tout so we took it. Both ship twice a year when temps protect the wine instead of ruining it. But when the boxes arrive…it’s good to have a cellar..or an extra bedroom. Here are a few quick reviews.

2013 Valtellina Superiore Le Urscele $20s?:100% Nebbiolo from AltoPiemonte which is north of Milan, full of small vineyards and local winemakers all the way to the Alpine foothills. If there is a downside…well…this was where the first major COVID outbreak was in Europe. Other than that the region is at hte top of tBoW’s must visit wine tours. And this wine delivered exactly what we like. Lightweight viscosity (the fluid), simply delicious. Read about Valtellina here. A picture of Valtellina vineyards at top of this post!

2015 PinMongeard-Mugneret Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2015ot Noir Mongeard-Mugneret $26: This is Pinot Noir from Burgundy (extremely high-snob French wine). Once you get a flavor for Burgundy you will never drink any other Pinot Noir. I have heard long-time reader Ikorb say “I will never drink any wine other than Burgundy.” What a snob! Truth is Burgundy is a very fussy grape that grows best in the Burgundy region of France. It is extremely popular among the cogonoscenti (French for wine snobs) for good reason. Once can purchase inexpensive Burgundy such as this bottle ($26 is cheap Burg). Note the term “pinot noir” on the label. Somewhat like seeing POTUS #45 with the word “moron” nearby. The risk with buying “inexpensive” Burgundy is you will probabVendita vino online su VINOalToP, Enoteca online specializzata su Alto Piemonte e Nebbiololy wonder if for another $15 you coulda had the real stuff. Fortunately, tBoW has a hedge. He bought the producer Mongeard [blahblahblah]. Knowing the quality producers – and the quality importers – are good safeguards. What did it taste like? Burgundy has two critical flavors: (1) sweet like strawberries even cherries, or (2) feral commonly referred to as”barnyard.” Ask yourself what you always find in the barnyard. Especially where the critters wander. Nuff said. That is an acquired taste. This was on the cherry side.

2013 Lessona La Badina 13% $25: Let the website speak. “Ermido brought back to life the wine yards from the wild wood. Nowadays the wine yards are run by his daughters Linda and Sara. La Badina is a niche production. Only 1.2 acres of wine yards in a natural amphitheater protected from the winds on a ground made of sandy marine soil.” Oh yeh. Mr. and MRs tBoW would visit in a heartbeat. The wine is balanced, delicate and sinewy – not muscle bound, more like the guy on the ice dancing duo. In control and strong enough to lift my palate.

2004 Carl Schmitt-Wagner Longuícher Maxímíner Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese | Vivino2004 Karl Schmitt-Wagner Longuicher Maximiner Herrenberg Riesling Auslese 11.5% $14: Fourteen bucks? Now that is value. Why you ask. Because German wines are the hands down best bargains with the greatest price-quality ratio in the world. People just do not understand. These wines are very flexible. KrisB will have to write a brief post (very busy man). Dott-in-Law who don’t ever let wine pass her lips LOVED this one. Not sure where we got it. Guessing Fass. Auslese wines can be quite unctuous when young. This wine had melted down into a golden snickerdoodle. The wine was lightweight, diaphanous, gossamer even [tBoW easy lookup]. She loved and was reluctant to share at all. If you punch up tBoW on your phone she will greet you in her Santa Elf hat! Here is what Parker wrote about the 2007: An intriguing, kaleidoscopic nose of cumin, toasted squash seeds, peanut brittle, lime, mint, and yellow plum preserves… OMG. Do not try to describe wine like this by yourself or with other people…unless you are wearing padded clothing.

Have yourself a merry merry Christmas and a Hoppy Noo Yeer. Look for another post before the New Year.

 

I was looking for Xmas jazz video…tough search! I did find a great one for New Year or any time.

 

 

CHEERS FROM WINE-EXOTIC NEW ENGLAND!

DISCOVERY!! HIDDEN WINE SHOP IN CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS

 The Shop | Porter Square Wine & Spirits

Porter Square Wine & Spirits in Cambridge MA

When we used to travel to DC or NYC or other points east…

tBoW always was on the hunt for local wine shops with selections unavailable in LA…

That joy has abated certainly with the COVID pox on travel and the absence of a job that requires such.

What job requires travel anymore?

No problem there are plenty of great and special wine stores in LA/SoCal. And we can relive the joy of “wine store hunt” discovery through tBoW contributors.

Guest Editor today is the Field Maus who hails from Connecticut or Massachusetts. Call it New England. He wants to tell the tBoW readers about a splendid wine shop in Cambridge MA. Please notice there are multiple links to sites that give more depth to Maus’ wine fetishes which are always of interest to readers. Do click on the links! tBoW will embellish post notes.
“You will find Porter Square Wine and Spirits, a small shop in Cambridge Mass that is crammed with hundreds of wines you never see anywhere, from grapes you’ve never known, and bottles sizes you’ve forgotten about…”
Val d'Aosta | Natural landmarks, Wine region, Aosta

Valle d’Aosta above Alto Piemonte

Cave des Onze Communes Vallee d'Aoste Mayolet, ... | prices, stores,  tasting notes and market dataMy first time in the store I was somewhat rushed, but I managed to find a red from Valle d’Aoste, a sparsely populated area above Piedmont. RARE. I’ve only seen them online, and the one I purchased a few years back was memorable, so I took a flier on this $23 bottle. Made from a grape called Mayolet, it tasted a bit like gamay, maybe? Very light, would go with anything. Fun, but not a re-buy. Would love if anyone poured me a glass, tho.

My second time there, I repurchased two bottles of Manincor ‘der Keil from what may be the world’s loveliest wine region: Sudtirol. 100% schiava, this comes from Lago di Caldaro, one of Oz Clarke’s favorite sources. Imagine a lighter, chocolately pinot noir with a bit of BLT. $23 as well, and worth every penny.

First-Taste Guide to Alto Adige Schiava | Learn Wine | Opening a Bottle

Sudtirol borders Austria and Italy above Venice

On a slightly more conventional note, also picked up two bottles of Bergerie Anjou Blanc from Pierres Girard. Why? ‘Cause it’s made with chenin blanc, and this is demi-sec. The versatile chenin reaches its highest potential when it’s on the vine into the month of October. This will last longer than me, by the way. $21.
In Mass, the retail sticker includes tax. Delightful. Cheers from New England, Maus.”
Quite a bit to UNPACK. tBoW has been waiting for a chance to use that premier term strongly favored by newscasters. Now that is gone.
Wine shop discoveries are one of the delights of being a wine snob…and I use that designation in the most irreverent sense. Finding your palate – learning what flavors you like and which grapes deliver those delights – is the the first important lesson in tasting and enjoying wine. Maus likes white wine grapes associated with the Rhone. These include Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Rousanne, perhaps even Viognier [ed. endorse all except yuk on viognier]. He also likes wines from regions off the beaten path, roads less traveled, especially in countries he has visited on numerous occasions. He often eschews the standard and highly touted regions preferring the less fahionable and “sellable.” Agreed.
tBoW has written repeatedly about his favorite shops where staff can discern my flavor profile (strawberries, cherries, kiwi…think of fruits you like) and price point ($U20 but willing to go to $30 if all criteria are met with exception) and low alcohol level…sub 14% down to 11% (especially for pink wines in the summertime).
Schiava grape meets all criteria of interest. tBoW has had a few and never been disappointed. Color is quit light for a “red”; alcohol is low at 12% even lower; and costs are chained to the $20 level. tBoW is on the fence with Chenin Blanc. I have tasted quite from the Loire and other regions near. Flavor is too sweet from my palate. Makes a highly desirable dessert wine. Note both are relatively light wines from mountain regions on either side of northern Italy.
All in all Maus always has something of great interest to share when it comes to wine. Did I mention he’s a huge Dodger fan? We all have our flaws.
Be sure to search for other posts by Maus on tBoW. Here are a couple.
As for what job requires travel? The wine business abounds with traveling wine hunters. In fact a great wines strategy for choosing unusual, affordable and downright interesting wine if to BUY THE PRODUCER. Here is a great piece on this approach.
CANNED HEAT “ON THE ROAD AGAIN”

Outta Gas. Pandemic Fatigue. Only Wine Can Save Us Now.

HOW MUCH PANDEMIC CAN A PERSON TAKE?

EXCUSE ME IF I AM THINKING OF ONLY MYSELF…WHO AM I THE PRESIDENT?

Let’s get political. Trump is a M-O-R-O-N. It is truly amazing that such a dummy could end up the LEADER of a nation…any nation. But the USA? His stupidity is boundless. His narcissism is so transparent it is “beautiful.” Glad I got that out. Let’s talk about wines. I reserve the right to return to this topic.

Mrs tBoW advised I have to slow down with the online wine purchases. There are several plum choices: Woodland Hills Wine is my local go-to. They have pickup out back. I’ve been in that store so often I could walk in blindfolded – with mask and gloves of course – and find my way to their best buys. Besides David Russell is the Burg Whisperer. Quality is his middle name. I bought some Huet sparkling wine from David in the past 6 weeks. Huet is a major Alsatian producer which means this is made with Chenin Blanc. Yeh. No chard or pinot.

2016 Huet Petillant Brut $28: 14% Golden color, thick on sight. Ripe green apples (yes you can have ripe green apples!), clove, viscous. Masculine wine. If Brad Pitt was a sparkling wine…Robert Mitchum for the TMC fans. David Russel of WHW pushed out it out near $20.

2017 Domaine Audebert et fils Bourgeil $20: 100% Cab Franc rose! Yummmeeee. You might think lotta body. Nope. You might think lotta flavors. Nope. Delicate in a masculine way. 12.5%. OMG. Jeff Welburn imported this wine. Hi Jeff!! Jeff is a very decent person who knows his wines and can be trusted. Nuff said. Congrats to Jeff and Wine Agencies Inc.

2018 Ginglinger-Fix Riesling Vielles Vignes 12.5%. $20. The Krisses love Riesling wines including those from Alsace which is the center of every war between Le Bosch and Les Francais. None of which is apparent in the wines. Alsatian Rieslings do seem different than German or Austrian. For tBoW it is about the delicacy. Maybe Viennese (and near regional) Rieslings are operatic even stuffy, while German Rieslings show power and finesse. Or maybe that is too much stereotyping. This wine is delicious, a titanic food wine and a repeat buy.

2012 Il Chiosse Gattinara Terre Vulcaniche 14%. Mrs. tBoW upbraided tBoW with the latest credit card statement. Slow down pal. This Fass selection is another example of what happens when tBoW encounters an importer who is 75% matched in palate. Same is true for Desert Wine Shop…Fass is a direct importer and we like what he likes. This is Alto Piemonte – a region which tBoW personally discovered and uncovered to the world for value and quality. AltoP [ed. cognoscenti wine speak] blends Nebbiolo with native varietals unlike Baroli wines which went to single varietals to sell into the USA market [ed. undrinkable since 2000]. This wine is a monster. Deep and impenetrable [ed. but not like VP Pence cannot be penetrated or would not ever be penetrated – never mind]. Hmmm. I wonder what “vulcaniche” means? Maybe grown in volcanic soil? Ya think? Needs minimum 3 years to round out. Even longer. Hell we cannot wait. That is why we must buy wines that drink on a more human SARS2 timetable. I left this bottle open overnight and it was still brawny and stout. Yeh. Gone now.

Feeling better now. I feel like I can take off my mask and gloves. Be careful and stay healthy. Please.

Bet you haven’t seen this Corona parody song.

Wine Enlightenment is a THING!!

 

Hume! Smith! Carlyle! Siegel? Blair! The greatest minds of the Scottish Enlightenment all loved Spatburgunder!

Mr Story is a notable thinker in his own write. He has been giving thought to a delicate topic; guidelines for regulating wine purchases. I am confident tBoW speaks for many when he says buying wine is an impulsive act. Count sellers among that group. The general impression is that people who buy wine as a “hobby” are compulsive idiots who disdain the self control they otherwise widely practice in their lives. I am speaking of clinicians, dentists, $$ investors, high school teachers, attorneys, movie folks and professors. BY contrast, actors, dentists and politicians are undisciplined folks driven by base amoral impulses.

It seems timely that tBoW publishes the following testamento. Reflecetions follow.

[STORY BEGINS HERE] Greetings, blog recipients! It has been awhile since I – Mr. Story – have gathered my thoughts and carefully crafted them into a fine delicious blend for you, my dearest readers, for light sipping and enlightenment. Following the Storied Tasting of 2019 there was much to reflect on. I am ready to be back on the blog to share my wisdom with you! Now, I come to the next crossroads. What do I discuss on the blog? Yes, rumor has it that the Best of Wines is a wine blog, but methinks there is more to life than wine. So how about we discuss money. Wait, how about we discuss wine AND money! Brilliant. [ed. now tBoW is paying attention].

Did you know that millions of Americans are drinking their way into debt? Yes, I said it! It’s quite a terrible thing. As Dave Ramsey says “adults delay pleasure. Children do what feels good.” I guess there are a bunch of “children” over 21 running around and drinking their brains out instead of putting their money into mutual funds or saving to buy a house. They go to the bottle because it “feels good” in the moment.

I am not saying get rid of wine altogether, no, no! What I am recommending is putting together a monthly wine budget to ensure that your wine spending doesn’t get out of control. Yes, create two of them. One monthly wine budget for bottles of wine at home and the other for purchasing glasses of wine outside of the home… at a restaurant, for example. For the more adventurous, you may want to create a third annual budget for wine tastings and outings. The important thing here is to have a budget and to follow it. Every time you buy wine, keep the receipt and put them all into a wine glass [ed. tBoW suggests using the glasses “given away” at tasting rooms.]. Keep a piece of paper near the wine glass or track the expense category of WINE in your favorite budgeting app. I use Dave Ramsey’s Every Dollar App and it works great. While we are talking about Dave, no, you shouldn’t be buying wine with a credit card or going into debt for it. It’s not worth it.

Here’s the thing. You probably have no idea how much you are spending on wine. Let me introduce you to some numbers and math to do the explaining here.

[ed. tBoW reviews value wine in midst of Story’s thoughts] 2016 Chateau Bonneau Haut Medoc $25 altho we probably got it for less. Review is sourced from Vivino Dark garnet. Smoky vanilla and cedar, touch medicinal. Cherry, woody red currants and a hint of ash. Decent length with a slight tickle of woody tannins. Perfectly mature now, but decant to avoid sediment. 🌟86 pts – good QPR. tBoW recalls he liked this wine mucho esp for a Cab blend. Best thing about the Vivion review is the “good Quality-Price Ratio – QPR.” 86 points means N-O-T-H-I-N-G. Back to the Story story.]

For the at-home-drinker: Online wine retailer Vivino reports that the average bottle of red wine costs $15.66. If you drink 1 bottle a week, you are spending roughly $814.32 per year. 2 bottles a week brings you to $1,628.64 per year. See why we recommend wines $25 and under on this blog now, right? Imagine if you were buying $50 bottles to try to impress your friends and doing so twice a week? That would be costing you $5,200 per year! Yikes!

According to the Wine Market Council, millennials and boomers are most at risk for drinking up their paychecks. They found that 42% of all wine in the United States is sold to millennials. Boomers however, account for a slightly smaller portion of the U.S. population but are more heavy wine drinkers than millennials.

[ed. tBoW reviews value wine in the middle of Story’s thoughts: 2009 Ghemme Terre Moreniche Ill Chiosso 13% unclear on price altho guessing $25. Lyle Fass offer and buy. Only ONE review of this wine on Vivino. What makes AltoP wines so terrific is they are blended! Unlike most Baroli. Did not locate many Altopiemonte wines on Vivino. Guessing because the region is too far off the beaten path. The wine was spectacular. We would buy again in a heartbeat faster than Mahomes can deliver a heater 20 years downfield throwing across his body. We MUST have an Altopiemonte & Spatburgunder tasting in the Spring! Mr Story will be there I am sure.]

Interesting stuff. Read this blog and get the good deals. Make your wine budgets, two or three depending on your relationship with wine. [END OF STORY!]

Thank you Mr. Story. My reflections follow from a Boomer palate…okay? (1) I cannot believe I am pimping for Dave Ramsey and getting zilch in return. (2) My dental surgeon reviews wines for Vivino which is a populist website that rates wines on a five point scale that is actually 40 points using a single decimal point between 1 and 4.9. I give them credit for rejecting the ABSURD and USELESS marketing tool…100 point scale. (3) I respect Mr Story’s POV. (4) Not a chance I will budget anything including golf clubs. Keep in mind tBoW is an old boomer fart. Wait until Dotore weighs in. Or IGTY aka IWTYT. I leave it to Story contempos Glass Jar, KrisB and Ikorb to share their views which is unlikely given their compulsive Millenial work ethic.

I have an idea. Let’s drink some value wines with a decent price-quality ratio…and post up here!

It’s Safe to Come Out Munchkins! The Next – I mean New – Year has Begun!

The holiday season can be taxing. But now that its O-V-E-R we can only say don’t let the door

hit you on the way OUT DUDE!

Image result for Santa wrecks sled

The celebration gauntlet was especially long in the tBoW household oin 2019 with endless events to attend and host. There were highlights marked by memories [ed. all good] and in some cases there were memorable wines.

The BIG EVENT was the Friday the 13th Holiday Wine Tasting at RiTA House hosted by “Stacie’s Wine Cellar.” Stacie’s collection is legendary. The lineup created a locust-like buzz (ed. cue Exorcist II locusts clip) given it was an all star, all desirable lineup of labels and vintages. The RiTA House venue is excellent – a 100 year old 3 story “townhouse” in mid Wilshire with no parking. Stacie hosts the “Share A Glass” wine tastings at RiTA House which are open to members.

The lineup included top labels from Burgundy, Chianti (early 90s Biondi Santi) and Bordeaux (1988 Pichon Lalande): “Classic Vintages and Magnums of Champagne, Barolo, Barbaresco, Burgundy, Bord

eaux, Tuscan, Napa, Paso Robles.” The evening became a lesson in the perils of holding on too long to our most precious bottles. Too many wines were tired and simply over the hill. tBoW covered this phenomenon from his own supply mid-year with his “How To Tell When a Wine is Bad” tasting. Of course that tasting included judgment errors! Stacie did hit the gong with several outstanding wines. Dotore – who attended – captured the holiday message succinctly. Be careful to not hold onto your favorite wines too long. Suivez vos conseils mon ami!

2000 Billecart Salmon Amreuil-sur-Ay. $?? Priceless. The R-A-R-E single vineyard triple mag was served chilled. Came off like a kiwi lemon fruit bowl on ice. With ~20 plus guests the bottle was finished…but it took a few hours! If we had to pick one wine for a second round it would clearly be the Billecart! tBoW probably stuck his glass in front Gianfranco the distracted somm at least 6 times. Speaking of sparkling wines…we ope

ned several between Christmas and New Years. Here is one we really loved that can be found and bought for a fair price.

Laghibellina Gavi Metodo Classico $28: “on the lees 24 months” with 13% alcohol. This was the sparkler of the holidays (excepting the Billecart of course). Easy quaffer. Full flavored fruity and tart. Th grape is Cortese di Gavi which tBoW would usually avoid. Not in this case!  Imported by Oliver McCrumm Wines [ed. who’s he? say Broon fans] which is also worth remembering. We will probably have a post coming that reviews the new importers – succeeding Kermit and Rosenthal and more who are reshaping the wine import industry with direct to seller – themselves.

The early 90s Biondi Santi [ed. apologies; failed to note vintage] had survived almost 3 decades with great panache. Pulled this cork just in time.

Finally, the 1994 Quinta de Eira Velha Noval Single Quinta [ed. quinta means single vineyard] Port was served last after many tasters were fatigado. Flavors of maple and chocolate. This was the last of a case tBoW acquired on futures way back when on release. F-U-T-U-R-E-S was a commercial scam dricen by the 1980s and 90s wine fever that excited middle-aged men who just had to have that vintage from that producer. Martinez and port wines generally are an interesting story for anyone who likes wine. A single vineyard is unusual and certainly an attempt to get with the hot sales tip that continues to thrive today.

Come Out! Come Out! Wherever you are!!