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2013 Valtènesi “La Botte Piena”

La Basia
Discount Eligible $16.00
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Our first Valtènesi import to date and one of few examples available in the United States, this perfumed, downright gulpable red hails from Lombardia, on the western shores of beautiful Lake Garda. Straddling the Po Valley to the south and the epic Dolomites just north, Valtènesi benefits from both meridional heat and cooling mountain winds. Meanwhile, the lake exercises a significant moderating effect, even permitting the cultivation of capers, olives, and lemons in this decidedly northern location. Giacomo Tincani, the current winemaker at La Basia, concisely summarizes this Groppello-based blend as “Mediterranean flavors on a mountain structure.” Notes of wild herbs and shrubbery mingle with fresh, ripe, dark fruits over soft and cozy tannins, lifted by a bright acidity. A bargain everyday quaffer from an unheralded region, this wine is also exceptionally versatile at table. Our advice: keep a bottle on hand at all times, and don’t be afraid to slightly chill it before indulging. –Anthony Lynch

Technical Information
Wine Type: red
Vintage: 2013
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: 80% Groppello, 10% Barbera, 5% Sangiovese, 5% Marzemino
Appellation: Valtènesi DOC
Country: Italy
Region: Lombardy
Producer: La Basia
Winemaker: Giacomo Tincani
Vineyard: 15 – 50 years, 3 ha
Soil: Moraine, with sandy clay
Aging: Maceration lasts 6 days, then wine is aged for 9 months in stainless steel tanks, and aged in bottle for at least 3 months
Farming: Sustainable
Alcohol: 12.5%

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About The Region

Lombardy

map of Lombardy

Italy’s most populous region and the home of its most influential wine critic, the late Luigi Veronelli of Milan, Lombardia holds its share of enological secrets. Dominated by the vast expanses of the Po Valley, the region encompasses Alpine peaks in the north, along the Swiss border, as well as Apennine foothills in its southwest where viticulture plays a major role.

The metodo classico sparklers of Franciacorta, plus Oltrepò Pavese’s still and sparkling wines, enjoy the most renown, yet Lombardia’s richness of different soils and microclimates mean there is much more for the curious palate. The Alpine Nebbiolos of Valtellina are certainly of note, while the region’s picturesque lakes (Maggiore, Como, and Garda, to name a few) provide a moderating effect on climate favorable to high-quality wine production.

The southern shores of Lake Garda in particular boast a number of interesting wine zones. Indigenous grapes like Groppello and Marzemino thrive in these soils of glacial deposit, creating unique reds (plus the ubiquitous Chiaretto rosé) from the Garda and Valtènesi DOCs. The wines of our first and only Lombardia producer, La Basia, are delicious representations of this middle ground between plains and mountains, and perfectly complement the region’s famous cheeses and other local specialties.

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Vintage Chart

Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch