2021 Grolleau “Franc de Pied”Bernard Baudry
France | Loire
$36
Producers
Bright ruby garnet. An aroma you are going to love, with cherry-like fruit and a slightly bitter cherry pit finish. Some might be tempted to chug-a-lug it, but for serious connoisseurs like me, there is actually a depth of interest that can reflect man’s insignificance in the solar system. Take me to the terrace!
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 60% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 10% Other |
Appellation: | Bardolino |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Veneto |
Producer: | Corte Gardoni |
Winemaker: | Piccoli family |
Soil: | Moraine |
Aging: | Several months of aging in stainless steel before bottling |
Farming: | Sustainable |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
Corte Gardoni Italy | Veneto | Bianco di Custoza
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani Verdiso
Sommariva Italy | Veneto | Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore
Sommariva Italy | Veneto | Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto | Gambellara Classico
Gianni Piccoli grew up surrounded by orchards, but he had wine in his blood so when an estate with extensive vineyards came up for sale in 1971 he jumped at the opportunity. For years the grapes of Corte Gardoni were sold to cooperatives, but Gianni felt that their wines lacked soul. In 1980 he broke those ties and began crafting his own wine, focusing on the character of the grapes and terroir. Gianni passed away in 2020 with nearly fifty vintages under his belt at the helm of Corte Gardoni. In the process, he became a local hero and proud ambassador of Bardolino and its terroir, setting the stage for a new generation to follow in his path creating humble, delicious wines from native grapes that speak to the region and its traditions. Corte Gardoni remains in capable hands today, as Gianni's three sons had already taken over daily operations at the winery several years before his passing. Mattia is in charge of the cellar, Stefano manages the vineyards, and Andrea helps both of his brothers and also handles the commercialization of the wines.
Italy’s most prolific wine region by volume, the Veneto is the source of some of the country’s most notorious plonk: you’ll find oceans of insipid Pinot Grigo, thin Bardolino, and, of course, the ubiquitous Prosecco. And yet, the Veneto produces the highest proportion of DOC wine of any Italian region: home to prestigious appellations like Valpolicella, Amarone, and Soave, it is capable of excelling in all three colors, with equally great potential in the bubbly and dessert departments.
With almost 200,000 acres planted, the Veneto has a wealth of terroirs split between the Po Valley and the foothills of the Alps. While the rich soils of the flatlands are conducive to mechanization, high yields, and mass production of bulk wine, the areas to the north offer a fresher climate and a diversity of poor soil types, ideal for food-friendly wines that show a sense of place. Whether it’s a charming Prosecco Superiore from the Glera grape, a stony Soave or Gambellara from Garganega, or a Corvina-based red in any style, the Veneto’s indigenous grape varieties show real character when worked via traditional production methods.
Since his first visit in 1979, Kermit has regularly returned to the Veneto to enjoy its richness of fine wines and local cuisine. Our collaboration with Corte Gardoni, our longest-running Italian import, is a testament to this. The proximity of beautiful cities like Verona and Venice, with their deep culinary heritage, certainly doesn’t hurt, either.
Sommariva Italy | Veneto | Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore
Sommariva Italy | Veneto | Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto | Gambellara Classico
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani
Davide Vignato Italy | Veneto
Corte Gardoni Italy | Veneto | Bianco di Custoza
Gregoletto Italy | Veneto | Colli Trevigiani Verdiso
Podere Campriano Italy | Tuscany | Chianti Classico Riserva
Colleleva Italy | Le Marche | Lacrima di Morro d’Alba
Sesti Italy | Tuscany | Rosso di Montalcino
Podere Campriano Italy | Tuscany | Chianti Classico Riserva
Great winemakers, great terroirs, there is never any hurry. And I no longer buy into this idea of “peak” maturity. Great winemakers, great terroirs, their wines offer different pleasures at different ages.
Inspiring Thirst, page 312
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