Barolo
Tour of Italy Through the Wine Glass Presented by Classico Wines
slide by Classico Wines
This week Vinum55 hosted a wonderful one and half hour presentation by Kevin Smith from Classico Wines at their Chandler facility.
slide by Classico Wines
The meeting started up with everyone getting a refreshing non-vintage De Faveri “Valdobbiadene” Prosecco from Veneto in northern Italy. This is made with 100% Glera grapes and possesses an alluring aroma and flavor of fresh peaches.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Up next was the 2025 Agricosimo Pecorino from Abruzzo working our way up north. One of the key takeaways this evening was Kevin’s pointing out the differences between warm climate and cool climate wines and the effects on acidity. Wines in Italy that are from cool climate being more acidic, lighter body with more tartness and herbaceous quality. This wine being from Abruzzo on the east coast of Italy.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The third wine of the evening was the 2024 Conti Vermentino Sardegna. Vermentino is gaining traction in the USA as a nice in-between wine from a harsher/more citrus Sauvignon Blanc and a smooth Chardonnay. This is especially true in California. This wine provided all the harnessed citrus needed without overrunning the palate. This is a great wine with so many white tender fish and shell seafood dishes. This and the next wine having my highest rating of the evening for white wines.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The fourth wine was the 2025 Les Cretes Petite Arvine Valle d’ Aosta. This is a unique grape and not widely known. It comes from Valle d’ Aosta in northern Italy next to Switzerland. This cool climate wine is known for vibrant grapefruit notes, white flowers and a salinity finish. Bright acidity with a full body made me order a couple of bottles!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
That concluded the line up of white wines for the evening. We then moved on to the red wines which many were anxiously anticipating. Here again two red wines stood out and received my highest marks for the evening. The first red wine tasted was the 2022 Le Sabbie Dell Etan Rosso from Sicily. This wine possesses an earthiness and was very acidic being grown on the slopes of Mount Edna in Sicily.
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This wine is often compared to Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo for its elegance, light to medium body viscosity and high acidity. Being planted on prior eruptions, the soil provides distinct mineral and smokey flavors, not pronounced but present.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
One of our personal favorite wines is Aglianico. Poured this evening was the 2018 Fontavecchia “Vigne Catarrate” Aglianico Reserva from Campania. Campania being on the southwest portion of Italy in a warmer climate. Here in this picture, you see Campania overlooking Naples with Mt Vesuvius in the background.
slide by Classico Wines
This was a hefty wine with tobacco, leather and dried herbs being forefront and very noticeable. Very different than a typical California Aglianico from Sonoma like VJB Cellars (one of our personal favorites). These two would make a great comparison in contrasting a warm verses cool climate identical grape.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
We then moved on to two of Italy’s most famous varietals, Nebbiolo and followed by Barolo. This 2017 Arpepe “Rocca di Piro” Grumello DOCG comes from Lombardia and is made from Chiavennasca grapes a local alpine name for Nebbiolo in Italy. This grape boosts a 500-year history in the mountains of Piedmont. This wine is light, but packs a punch with bright red fruit, high acidity and firm tannins. A wine looking to be paired with food. Notes flavors of sour red cherry, cranberries and raspberries. Secondary flavors of wet stone, herbal notes and surprisingly mint. Both this wine and the following received my highest ratings for the evening.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The last wine and a crowd favorite was the 2021 Boroli Barolo another DOCG wine from Piedmonte and made with 100% Nebbiolo grapes. Key notes of cherry and plum stood out. Wood from barrel aging were also noted. This is due to aging 18 months in oak and then aged another 18 months before release. This is a classical Barolo and a good standard in understanding why Barolo is sought after throughout the world.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
A very energetic and thorough “ride along” through Italy with various stops to enjoy some of their special and unique wines. Personally, I really enjoyed being introduced to two grapes/wines that I had not tasted previously, the Nerello Mascalee and Petite Arvine. We were so enamored with the Italy tour (and previous visits there), we had made reservations at an Italian restaurant to complete our tour and make it a perfect evening.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
Avellino Italian Market & Wine Bar – A Leisurely Saturday Afternoon
Avellino’s Italian Market and Wine Bar in Angels Camp, continues to exceed expectations! This was our third visit, and they continue to provide great imported wines, excellent service, genuine hospitality and scrumptious foods. Today I tasted a couple of wines starting out with a light Barbaresco. I ended up choosing a new edition for the shop Giulia Negri Barolo DOCG. Paired wonderfully with a Caprese salad with Burrata cheese. We were treated to a special treat of an Italian pepper stuffed with imported prosciutto and cheese in olive oil infused with Calabrian chili.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Sláinte or better yet for this article, saluti!
Michael Kelly