2019 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore “Capovolto”La Marca di San Michele
Italy | Le Marche
$27
Producers
Brothers Alessandro and Gian Natale must spend a lot of quality time in their quiet cantina in Monforte. They’re men of few words, soft-spoken and reserved, and their wines show a similar restraint. Never showy, but full of charm, their Rosso dei Dardi delivers all the classic black fruit you’d expect from Piedmont, including that fragrant, perfumed note of peony so quintessential to Italian reds. This rosso is worthy of slow-cooked tomato dishes, roasted red meats with branches of fresh herbs, or—even more simply––pizza night for two.
—Jane Berg
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2019 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Nebbiolo |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Piedmont |
Producer: | A. & G. Fantino |
Winemaker: | Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino |
Vineyard: | 21 years |
Soil: | Sandy Clay |
Aging: | Aged in stainless steel tank for 6 months |
Farming: | Sustainable |
Alcohol: | 13% |
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | Barbera d’Alba
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | Barolo
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | Barolo
Il Palazzotto Italy | Piedmont | Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont | Dolcetto d’Alba
Kermit’s love affair with the great reds of Piemonte dates back to the early days of his career: the very first container he imported from Italy, in fact, featured legendary 1971 and 1974 Barolos from Vietti and Aldo Conterno. Regular visits since then have seen our portfolio grow to now twelve Piemontesi estates, with a strong focus on the rolling hills of the Langhe.
Nebbiolo rules these majestic, vine-covered marl slopes, giving Italy’s most mystifyingly complex, nuanced, and age-worthy reds. When crafted via traditional production methods—long macerations and extensive aging in enormous oak botti—the powerful, yet incredibly refined Barolos and Barbarescos provide haunting aromatics of tar, raspberry, incense, tea, roses, and more. At times austere in their youth but well worth the wait, they pair beautifully with the hearty local cuisine starring veal in many forms, braised beef, pastas like tajarin and agnolotti, and of course, Alba’s famous white truffles.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Piemonte’s climate is continental, with baking hot summers and cold winters. Nebbiolo is only part of the story here: juicy, fruity Barberas and Dolcettos represent the bread and butter throughout the region, and other native grapes like Freisa, Croatina, and the white Arneis are also noteworthy. Value abounds in the Monferrato, while Alto Piemonte also has its share of thrills to provide.
Every corner of Piemonte is rich with tradition, especially when wine is concerned. It’s no wonder we have been singing the region’s praises for over forty years.
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont | Langhe Nebbiolo
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont | Dolcetto d’Alba
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | Barolo
Il Palazzotto Italy | Piedmont | Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba
Bèrto Italy | Piedmont
Il Palazzotto Italy | Piedmont | Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
Cantine Elvio Tintero Italy | Piedmont | Langhe
Cantine Valpane Italy | Piedmont | Barbera del Monferrato
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch
Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol
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