12/1/17 ITALIAN REDS - Cellar Door Friday Sips


FRIDAY SIPS
Southern Italian Reds from Puglia maestro Paolo Petrilli
Today December 1 from 1:30 - 6:30
Full disclosure – I absolutely love Paolo Petrilli’s wines and am very excited to pour them for you today! Come and join us today for a fun-filled Italian red wine tasting as we uncork new vintages from famed Northern Puglia/Southern Italian master Paolo Petrilli. We have been featuring this producer’s fabulous wines for years and are always excited for new releases and the current selections are mighty tasty indeed.


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2015 PAOLO PETRILLI 'AGRAMENTE' ROSSO
$17.99 BTL./$107.94 - SIX PACK

The region of Puglia is quite vast and there is a definite divide in styles with the wines from the northern and southern portions of the region. In the south, Negroamaro, Primitivo and Salice Salentino rule the day but in the north around the small city of Lucera, it is the Nero di Troia grape that drives the wines.

Agramente is actually a DOC wine from the specific region of Cacc’e Mmitte di Lucera. This particular offering is aged entirely in stainless steel tanks and is comprised of 60% Nero di Troia, 15% Sangiovese, 10% Montepulciano and 10% Bombino. The Nero and Montepulciano give the wine a smoked violet/plum aspect white the addition of Sangiovese brings about fresh red tones. Bombino is a white grape and this is what brings vibrancy to the wine. Full flavored yet having excellent poise, this wine carries to the Italian dinner table so well. A few years back I had it with a piece of halibut smothered in a tomato caper sauce and it worked so well. Also something to pair with meat driven pasta dishes. MAGNUMS AVAILABLE - $49.99



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2012 PAOLO PETRILLI 'AGRAMENTE' ROSSO
$17.99 BTL./$107.94 - SIX PACK

Agramente can definitely age for a spell and it is nice to be able to present one that is fully mature.

Same blend as the 2015, this wine is now showing the classic Italian dimension known as sotto bosco, which generally means underbrush. Maybe with this wine one can think of a Zin that has been cellared. Briary spice, some anise plenty of smoky aspects along with savory fruits. All smoothed out at the moment, this wine finishes with sass yet has no shortage of sophistication. Have this wine with a nice pecorino cheese or something braised with mushrooms and herbs.



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2011 PAOLO PETRILLI 'FERRAU' ROSSO
$19.99 BTL./$119.94 - SIX PACK

Ferrau is the sibling of Agramente. The same blend of grapes is incorporated into this red wine. The difference is the elevation for the wine. Unlike the Agramente, the Ferrau is aged in used barrels and takes on a different and beguiling personality.

Named after the Italian painter Ferrau Fenzoni, the Ferrau shows complexity and an extra layer of depth. Dried violets, roses and black cherry shine nicely. Always released a bit later, this wine reveals some virtual smoked porcini notes along with excellent high-toned briskness. All of the components come together nicely and fan out across the entire palate. Try this wine with a spicy lamb dish with tomatoes. I really dig it with meatballs as well as dishes that contain North African flavors.



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2011 PAOLO PETRILLI 'IL GUERRO' ROSSO
$23.99 BTL./$143.94 - SIX PACK

Il Guerro is quite special. Even though it doesn’t carry the DOC status (Cacc’e Mmitta has to be a blend), this wine shows the spiritual soul of what Nero di Troia is and how it reflects the area of Daunia so well. Like the Ferrau, Paolo releases this late and it is not produced every year. Given its glowing quality and scarcity, this wine is one of the finest of Southern Italy.

100% Nero di Troia, this name of this hearty red translates into ‘the boar’. This is due to the difficulty in the growing of this finicky grape. Singularly Southern Italian in its profile, this wine has multiple personalities, transforming from haunting, brooding and dark then quickly switching into playful, vivid and extroverted all while the wine is uncorked and consumed. The bouquet for this wine is staggering in both aroma and flavor. Concentrated and very penetrating albeit, very elevated, this wine pushes all of our buttons! For being a large wine, this has tendencies of a fleet-footed ballerina. Impressive structure and grip, but not the kind that is sadistic. At once, this is layered and energetic; this mouthful of wine goes down smoothly with brilliant focus and palate-staining length that soars. Drink over the next 5-6 years with slow-roasted lamb jacked with herbs and spices.