2024 Rosso Piceno

, © Michael Bargo - Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant

, © Gail Skoff - Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant

Discount Eligible $17.00

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For years, the northwestern Italian region of Piedmont has been the source of our most joyous weeknight Italian red wines, but Le Marche, halfway down Italy’s eastern Adriatic coast, is now rivaling Piedmont for that distinction. Even though it is primarily a white-wine region, Le Marche is also home to the red Montepulciano grape, which can yield highly joyous and food-friendly wines, as well as a smattering of Sangiovese. Situated in the foothills of the Apennines, Colleleva is the thirty-year-old project of Stefano Antonucci, who left his desk job to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the vineyards surrounding his hometown of Barbara and revive interest in the region’s indigenous grape varieties. A blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese, this Rosso Piceno is our most recent addition to the delicious Colleleva lineup. It is blended and aged in stainless steel to preserve as much of its juicy exuberance as possible, with notes of red fruit and spice and seamlessly integrated tannin.
On top of its usual exuberance, the 2024 has a little bit of heft and structure, so I recommend pairing it with your favorite meat-forward pizza, braises, and roasts this fall and winter—not to mention Georgeanne Brennan’s delicious mussels in broth!

Click here for Georgeanne Brennan’s recipe for mussels in spicy tomato broth.

—Tom Wolf

Discount Eligible $17.00

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Technical Information

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Wine Type:	red
Vintage:	2024
Bottle Size:	750mL
Blend:	Montepulciano and Sangiovese
Appellation:	Rosso Piceno
Country:	Italy
Region:	Le Marche
Producer:	Colleleva
Soil:	Clay
Aging:	Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks
Farming:	Sustainable
Alcohol:	13%

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About The Producer

Colleleva

The vineyards of Colleleva (Colle “hill”, and si leva, “rises”) lie on the heights of the Marche: about halfway between the Apennine mountains and the coastline of the Adriatic Sea. The combination of eastern sun exposure and the cooling winds from the Adriatic provide an optimal microclimate for balancing ripeness with fresh acidity in the grapes. Verdicchio, also known as Trebbiano di Soave, has been cultivated in the Marche for many centuries. It is capable of making vibrantly fresh and crisp white wines that are a wonderful accompaniment to seafood. The Riserva bottlings can age gracefully. From Colleleva we have a wine in the former camp. During a tasting trip in the Marche, their stainless steel tank vinified Verdicchio was one of the stars among many, many wines tasted. The perfume is entrancing—at once fresh and rounded, and typical of the grape. There is absolutely no pretension.

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About The Region

Le Marche

map of Le Marche

Le Marche’s reputation as a producer of fine wine is relatively recent, as the region is very much off the beaten path for tourists and tasters alike. And yet, early Etrsucan and Roman civilizations grew grapes here, a tradition that persists and continues to gain momentum in this undulating land where the Apennines descend to the Adriatic.

In between the warm coastline and the cool, rugged mountainous border with Umbria lies a landscape of calcareous rolling hills that provide ideal conditions for viticulture. The zingy, green-tinged, citrus- and pine-scented Verdicchio is king here, producing delightfully crisp whites that perfectly complement the fresh fish and seafood stews of the Adriatic, in addition to the pork-based dishes that are staples inland. Around the towns of Jesi and Matelica, the grape takes on an additional dimension and is even capable of significant aging under the right conditions.

While our involvement in the region is recent, the two producers we represent demonstrate that Le Marche is capable of producing whites of serious interest, which often come at great value.

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Le Marche: Italy’s Best-Kept Secret

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Sampler Includes:

2024 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi • Colleleva $16
One of our greatest white wine values. Scented of zesty lime, almond, and fennel, it finishes on a snappy note that cuts right through fried appetizers and perfectly complements seafood and salads.

2024 Rosso Piceno • Colleleva $17
A chewy blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese, this is Italy’s answer to your everyday Côtes-du-Rhône. The bold dark fruit and hint of spice make it the ideal partner to red sauce pastas and meatballs.

2024 Lacrima di Morro d’Alba • Colleleva $25
The Lacrima grape is a rare specialty of Le Marche: a fragrant red reminiscent of wild roses and juicy berries. Savor it chilled with pizza, Indian curries, or a BLT.

Spumante Dosaggio Zero Col Fondo “Numerosei” • La Marca di San Michele $43
This citrusy sparkler has playful hallmarks of both a pet-nat and metodo classico. It is unmistakably fresh, fun, and chalky here, harkening to the vineyards in which it’s grown, on millions-of-years-old limestone slopes that used to be under the sea.

2024 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore “Capovolto” • La Marca di San Michele $29
This example, from sustainably grown Verdicchio high in the hills, showcases a hint of the variety’s herbaceous side, then reveals a sensuous creamy texture underscored by an energizing flinty note. Verdicchio’s greatest quality is perhaps how well it works at table, enhancing anything from linguine with clams to sliced prosciutto to grilled fish and spring greens.

2021 Marche Rosso “Bastian Contrario” • La Marca di San Michele $27
Pure Montepulciano grown on limestone hillsides at high elevation: savory, smoky, and full of country charm.