Friday Sips

Bucci has long been established as the standard-bearer for Verdicchio in the Le Marches region of Castelli di Jesi which is located along the Adriatic Coast. This cat's Classico version is on par with most producers' luxury/Riserva bottlings. Usually we wax poetic about this wine each year we offer it but for some reason after tasting, there was something a bit more about the 2013 that compelled us to feature it today.

100% from the Verdicchio grape that has its roots to Le Marches stretching back to the 14th Century and is thought to be indigenous. The dimension to this wine is frightening! Illuminating aromas of mineral, crustaceans, lemongrass, underlying yellow flowers, anise and limestone seemingly alternate in an unhurried fashion and draw you in for a sip. When the wine reaches the lips, perfumed flavors that are rich, yet tense and electric touch all of the senses in the mouth and extend to a superb, palate-staining finish that lingers exquisitely long after the wine is swallowed. Perfect over the next few years with just about anything that swims as well as pesto or other green vegetables.

Bucci is widely regarded as the standard-bearer when it comes to Verdicchio in Italy's Le Marches region. This is a place to where the Classico version often bests most others' Riserva wines. As famed as they are for their white wines, they do happen to make a small amount of red wine and as expected, the quality here is every bit as prominent as their top-drawer white wines.

Pongelli is a single vineyard that is over 40 years old and this blend of 50% Montepulciano and 50% Sangiovese is classically elevated in large barrels. Elusive with perpetual movement, constantly rolling in different, alluring directions each time you draw it to the nose. Piquant, graceful, classy with impressive palate coverage and extension. Creamy, generous and genuine, the two grapes really play their roles to perfection. The darkness and wildness of the Montepulciano offset nicely by the tanginess and roundness of the Sangiovese. One to drink over the next 5-6 years with a classic minestrone or roasted pork loin slathered in Italian herbs.

In Italy there are Super-Tuscans, Super-Campania wines, hell there are even Super-Bianco blends so why can't there be Super-Abruzzi wines?? When it comes to Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, there are lovely, fruity 10-buck pizza wines however there are plenty of top-level offerings that come from specific plots and/or old vines and are well worth your attention if you love hearty Italian reds.

La Valentina does make an entry-level wine but they also make high quality wines from specific terroir sites in Abruzzo. Spelt is in our own newly named Super Abruzzi' category since it has alluring power and complexity not found in their entry wine. Worth drinking just for the color, this dark red imposes confident aromas of big blackberry fruit, pepper, tar, and roasted meats, all which follow into a lush, tangy, ever-so-slightly rustic mouth feel that isn't overtly jammy or slick with polish and make-up. Long, very drawn-out, this is a perfect wine to pair with tomato-based dishes but it is even more impressive with lamb-based dishes. What the hell, combine tomatoes and lamb with some penne pasta and the Spelt Montepulciano - a miracle in the mouth is bound to occur! Drink over the next 5 years.

While we all think of zinfandel as the "all-American" grape, it was discovered several years back that this grape's ancestry is Primitivo from Southern Italy's Puglia region as well as Crljenak Kastelanski from Croatia. Being the day before Valentine's Day, we had to serve 'Il Fatalone' due to its translation meaning 'Lady killer'. A complete different beast due to the soil types and climate, this particular offering from an exciting, relative newcomer is deep, forward, chewy and deliciously fun with dark berry fruit, roasted earth, peppery spice, amare, tobacco and almond paste on the very individual thrill-ride nose. On the palate, it offers up refined intensity with succulent red and black cherry, dark chocolate, pekoe and astonishing Italian vivaciousness to go along with the wine's warmth. By no means is this a shy and introverted wine, this red requires something very hearty and sassy. Try it with spicy sausages or game meats.