Weekly Specials

Hello Everybody!

Ed here with more news from the Mediterranean. Last week, just before the storm, I had the good fortune to attend a showing of FANTASTIC wines from Italy, hosted by Empson Importers at the Martignetti headquarters, outside Boston. Getting to try over fifty great wines (hey, its tough work, but somebody's got to do it) was harder than it sounds. Comparing many bottles in the same varietal categories, we found many that were not only of superior quality, but reasonably priced, as well. Now we are offering these great wines to you at their pre-arrival price, along with further quantity discounts.

Bongiovanni:                                     Reg. Price                 Pre-sell
-2011 Dolcetto d'Alba                         19.99                          17.25
-2010 Barbera d'Alba                          35.00                          30.25

Ca Rome:
-2009 Barbaresco 'Maria di Brun'        110.00                          96.50
-2011 Barbera d'Alba La Gamberaja       41.00                          36.00

Conterno Fantino:
-2011 Langhe Nebbiolo                     41.00                         36.00
                     'Ginestrino'

Luigi Einaudi:
-2009 Barolo 'Terlo'                             72.00                         64.00
-2010 Dolcetto di Dogliani                   29.99                          27.00
                    'Vigna Tecc'

Marcarini:
-2009 Barolo                                      75.00    'Extra Special' 49.99
     'La Serra'

Constanti:
-2008 Brunello di Montalcino                87.00                         73.00

Lisini:
-2008 Brunello di Montalcino                83.00                         72.25

PLEASE NOTE: Pre-sell prices represent 10%-12% off regular price purchase 6 or more, get an additional 5% off pre-sell price purchase 12 or more,  get 10% off pre-sell price.

Examples: Reg. @ $41.00, pre-sell @ $36.00,
                 6-bottle @ 34.20, 12-bottle @ $32.40

Order must be placed by 6PM, Thursday, March 21st. Orders taken pre-paid only. Product available week of May 30th.

Descriptions:

DOLCETTO D'ALBA DOC 2011: 100% Dolcetto from Monforte d'Alba and Castiglione Falletto. A minuscule crop of 1.2 tons per acre from 10 and 30-year-old vines, the soil is clayey with an eastern exposure. The grapes are vinified in stainless steel, microoxygenated and left to mature for seven months before bottling. Crimson to purple in color, the bouquet is floral, with delicate violet notes. Structured on the palate, shows characteristic finish of sweet almonds.

BARBERA D'ALBA DOC 2010: 100% Barbera from Serralunga d' Alba and Monforte. Clayey soil and densely planted (1,620 per acre), low Guyot-trained, 10 year old vines covering 1.9 acres. Aged in French oak barriques for 12 months previous to a further six months in stainless steel before release. Unfiltered. Purple red in color, the bouquet is fruity and intense, showing elegant aromas of alcohol-preserved cherries and chocolate complemented by toasted notes from fine-tuning in wood. Considerable structure sustained by lively acidity.

BARBARESCO "MARIA DI BRUN" DOCG 2009: 100% Nebbiolo. A special selection of late-ripening Nebbiolo Michet grapes, released in top years. This wine is dedicated to Romano's mother, Maria di Brun. Aged 24 months in Slavonian barrels and a small quantity in barrique with 12 months' further bottle age. Beautiful, deep garnet color. Very intense, persistent bouquet, that is complex, ample and elegant, with notes of violets and brushwood.

BARBERA D'ALBA "LA GAMBERAJA" DOC:  This single-vineyard Barbera sojourns in oak (partly 25-hl. barrels, partly barrique) for approximately 1 year, resulting in a deep ruby wine of ample, persistent bouquet, superb structure and balance.

NEBBIOLO DELLE LANGHE "GINESTRINO" DOC 2011: 100% Nebbiolo. The grapes are grown at Ornati outside the Barolo zone albeit within Monforte d'Alba at 1,312 feet a.s.l. The soil composition is 35% sand, 40% silt, and 25% clay. The wine is aged for 10 months in second use French oak barriques. Very lively ruby color with garnet reflections; persistent and appealing bouquet with notes of brier rose and peach pit; on the palate, roundness is balanced by characteristic tannins and structure.

BAROLO "TERLO" DOCG 2009: 100% Nebbiolo, from marly-calcareous soil at 984 feet a.s.l. Some of the vineyards were planted as far back as 1962. Classically vinified and aged 30 months in French oak barriques (Allier) and Slavonian oak barrels, then bottled for six months to one year. Incredible breed, intense and ample bouquet, on the palate it is austere, velvety, complex, very long-living, and acquires notes of spices, truffles and leather over time. A cellar life up to 20-25 years.

DOGLIANI "VIGNA TECC" DOCG 2011: Formerly Dogliani "Vigna Tecc" DOCG. 100% Dolcetto from select marly-calcareous and clayey soil, on average 1,300 feet a.s.l., select blend from the oldest and best Dolcetto vines on the estate, aged in oak, yielding superb concentration and breed. Some of the vines date back to 1937 and 1941. It matures one year in stainless steel and two months in bottle. The name Vigna Tecc comes from one of the four Dolcetto hills on the Einaudi estate. Excellent structure, with rich, intense fruit and jammy aromas. Soft tannins will mellow even more with age.

BAROLO "LA SERRA" DOCG 2009: 100% Nebbiolo from a single vineyard. An important characteristic of the La Serra terroir is its remarkable drinkability when young, making this an ideal restaurant wine. Élevage is two years in barrels of Slavonian oak. Garnet color with slight orange reflections, a shade or two deeper than the Brunate; the bouquet is typical of the La Serra cru, floral (rose and violet petals, mountain flowers), ethereal, appealing and intense; dry, full and sturdy on the palate, yet velvety, extremely well balanced.

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2008: 100% Sangiovese. Vinification includes: fermentation on the skins for two weeks. The wine sojourns 36 months in wood: 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels and 18 months in French tonneaux. Once bottled, the wine rests at least 12 months before it is released. Brilliant ruby in color, the intense, ripe aromas of berry fruit prelude a lush and full-bodied palate. The vintage shows wonderful elegance and balance, together with good concentration and soft tannins that will ensure medium/long longevity. It will be at its best in one or two years.

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2008: 100% Sangiovese. The strictest quality standards and severest selection of the grapes, together with ideal soil components and state-of-theart vinification, express the appellation's nobility and grandeur to the highest, purest degree. Élevage is 36 months in Slavonian oak barrels followed by 6-8 months' bottle age. The use of the three different sizes of "botti" (traditional oak barrels) adds to the wine's structure, elegance, and typical tobacco and spice aromas. This is aimed at extracting these characteristics to their fullest, while never sacrificing balance and finesse. Ample, spicy and elegant bouquet with notes of red berry fruit, leather, tobacco and licorice. Structured and intense on the palate, with distinct minerality; tightly knit, noble tannins of great finesse, lingering finish with earthy nuances typical of the Lisini terroir.

And as always, thanks for shopping with us. -Ed

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