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An Italian take on a Smoky Côtes-du-Rhône

An Italian take on a Smoky Côtes-du-Rhône

A Selection from the Spring Sale A Selection from the Spring Sale

2020 Monferrato Rosso

2020 Monferrato Rosso

Tenuta La Pergola   

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Use promo code SPRING2023 to take 20% OFF this and other wines in the Spring Sale

From the hills of northwestern Italy, between the Ligurian Sea and the Alps, comes this Monferrato Rosso, a country blend of Piemonte’s classic red grape varieties: Barbera, Dolcetto, Bonarda, and Freisa. The ultimate lunchtime carafe rosso, it shows exquisite balance—just the right amount of tannin and acidity—and yields almost infinite pairing options, from pasta with your favorite bolognese sauce to burritos with a little bit of spice. I opened it alongside an herby lentil salad tossed with toasted hazelnuts and crispy garlic, which was a tasty pairing, but I found myself dreaming of meatier dishes to match its plummy black fruit and velvety texture: charred meats, fire-roasted peppers, and tender flank steak come to mind.
     As consistently delicious as our Piemontese house rosso tastes, it is not by any means identical year after year. Depending on vintage conditions, the blend changes, and in 2020, Alessandra Bodda upped the percentage of Barbera, imbuing this bottle with a little more body and bite than usual. The result is an Italian take on a smoky Côtes-du-Rhône; it’s stony with a hint of violet and loads of dark and tangy berries.

Use promo code SPRING2023 to take 20% OFF this and other wines in the Spring Sale

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About The Region

Piedmont

map of Piedmont

Kermit’s love affair with the great reds of Piemonte dates back to the early days of his career: the very first container he imported from Italy, in fact, featured legendary 1971 and 1974 Barolos from Vietti and Aldo Conterno. Regular visits since then have seen our portfolio grow to now twelve Piemontesi estates, with a strong focus on the rolling hills of the Langhe.

Nebbiolo rules these majestic, vine-covered marl slopes, giving Italy’s most mystifyingly complex, nuanced, and age-worthy reds. When crafted via traditional production methods—long macerations and extensive aging in enormous oak botti—the powerful, yet incredibly refined Barolos and Barbarescos provide haunting aromatics of tar, raspberry, incense, tea, roses, and more. At times austere in their youth but well worth the wait, they pair beautifully with the hearty local cuisine starring veal in many forms, braised beef, pastas like tajarin and agnolotti, and of course, Alba’s famous white truffles.

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Piemonte’s climate is continental, with baking hot summers and cold winters. Nebbiolo is only part of the story here: juicy, fruity Barberas and Dolcettos represent the bread and butter throughout the region, and other native grapes like Freisa, Croatina, and the white Arneis are also noteworthy. Value abounds in the Monferrato, while Alto Piemonte also has its share of thrills to provide.

Every corner of Piemonte is rich with tradition, especially when wine is concerned. It’s no wonder we have been singing the region’s praises for over forty years.

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Sampling wine out of the barrel.

When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:

1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.

Inspiring Thirst, page 174