Petrolo, Tuscany Italy

As I get prepared to work the market on Thursday with some of the wines from the wonderful portfolio of Vintus, I am excited to research the wines of Petrolo or two wines of Petrolo.  Sometimes my research brings me across boring websites that give me zero motivation to continue clicking and surfing the site.  Having already known of the quality of the Estate, I went to the Petrolo website and was pleasantly surprised to find a music video of Jimi Hendrix rock'n out to “All Along The Watchtower”.  Needless to say I was extremely intrigued to click on. 

The property currently covers 272 hectares including 31 hectares of specialized vineyards, 19 hectares of olive groves and the remaining area of woods and arable land located at an altitude between 750 feet and 1476 feet above sea level. The soil consists of rocky stratifications of galestro, clay-like earth with schist typical of the Apennine areas in Tuscany. Petrolo is situated in the area known as the Colli Aretini, bordering on the Chianti Hills, a historical area delimited in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III de' Medici as a particularly valuable land for wine and olive oil. The Petrolo Estate was part of the old medieval fiefdom of 'Galatrona', the old tower of which still remains on top of Roman foundations. 'Torrione' in Italian means tower, thus the name of the wine. The Winery was bought by the Bazzocchi family in the 40s and since the end of the 80s the current owner Lucia Sanjust Bazzocchi with help from her son Luca Sanjust, has changed the production aims and methods to concentrate exclusively on results of the highest quality.

The two wines that the Estate proudly makes are Galatrona, made from 100% Merlot and is referred to by Parker as the Petrus of Italy, and Torrione which is made from 100% Sangiovese.  Galatrona I will save for another day.  The 2007 Torrione is what’s worth checking out (since it’s the one of the two I can afford).  The meticulous care of the vineyards and the desire to produce the best, Luca Sanjust really has taken this estate to a whole new level.  It might be the 40+ year old vines, or the extremely low yields, or maybe the 14 day maceration and malo in French barrel with 15 months aging before bottling that makes this wine a show stopper?  Sanjust would tell you it’s the heart of his family and soul of the lands!  For a wine that is typically found for under $40 in your fine wine retail shops, this wine is worth buying multiplies of for enjoyment now and later.  If you have the patients.

Here is what the experts said:

“Clear and precise, with beautiful aromas of plum, berries and chocolate. Full-bodied and refined, with a dense yet elegant palate of plum, chocolate and cherry. Long and caressing. Wonderfully polished.”   94 Wine Spectator and #37 of the Top 100 2009 

"Petrolo’s 2007 Torrione (Sangiovese) is one of the overachievers of the vintage. In a blind tasting it could easily be mistaken for a wine that costs twice as much (trust me on that!). This is simply a marvelous bottle of Tuscan red laced with perfumed red fruits, silky tannins and exceptional overall balance. The minerality and delineation here is nothing short of first class." 92 Wine Advocate

Current Wine Enthusiast Press

The 90 point club and a plethora of Best Buys worth finding!

The majority of these wines are readily available and can be found in your local fine wine retailers....The Feudo Arancio and Tilia wines are case worthy for that everyday consumption.  Around $10 a bottle.

 

 

Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley California 2006:  Very rich, very fine, this Pinot is a blend of Goldeneye’s best vineyards. It shows a molten density, like liquid silver, lush in red cherries, licorice, cinnamon, coco, dried herb and orange zest flavors, and should develop in the bottle through 2012. - 91  

 

Trefethen Dry Riesling Oak Knoll California 2008:  Like it says, this Riesling is bone dry.  It's also crisp in acidity, with a tang of minerals and steel.  It gains richness from a rich core of lemon, lime and orange citrus flavors, and possesses that note of diesel that a fine, cool climate Riesling shows.  Should develop over the next six years.  Editors' Choice 91

 

Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll California 2007:  A great, upscale wine to drink now with the best you can pair it with.  It shows classic Napa character, with firm, dry tannins, fine acidity and blackberry and black currant flavors.  It's almost entirely Cabernet, with tiny additions of other Bordeaux varieties.  Five it a good decant, or cellar it for 5-7 years and see what happens. -92

 

Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California 2007:  This is a blend of grapes from Calistoga to Carneros.  The wine shows Cabernet's full-bodied character and rather fierce tannins, although it has an enormous soul of blackberries, black currants and dark chocolate, as well as plenty of new oak.  Shuttered and hard now, it should develop bottle complexity over the next 6 years. -90

 

Girard Artistry Napa Valley California 2008:  Very rich and ripe in fruit, and also rich in new oak.  The combination makes for mouth-filling blackberry and cherry pie filling, currant, licorice, dark chocolate and spicy flavors that are frankly delicious.  The finish is quick, suggesting this lovely wine is best enjoyed in its youth. -90

 

Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Mendoza Argentina 2008:  Wines like this have defined and propelled Malbec mania.  It's ripe, bold and firm, with welcoming berry aromas and a powerful but healthy palate of ripped black cherry, berry and cola flavors.  In the mix and on the finish you'll find coffee and mocha.  Drink now and over the next two years. -90

 

Tilia Malbec Mendoza Argentina 2009:  Sweet and savory aromas of hickory, BBQ and plum jam are nice, while the body is structured and full.  The flavors follow the nose, meaning there's a savory, roasted quality to the wine but also jammy raspberry fruit notes.  Chewy and a bit marinated, but it's quite good for the price.  Best Buy 87

 

Feudo Arancio Stemmari Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia Italy 2007:  From the estate's oldest vines this offers lively berry nuances backed by measured spice, leather and smoke.  There's good quality of berry fruit here and although the wine is simple and straightforward, it would match a long list of pasta and easy meat dishes.  Best Buy 87

 

Feudo Arancio Stemmari Merlot Sicilia Italy 2007:  There's a full, ripe quality to this Sicilian Merlot that recalls cherry or blackberry preserves with spice, cinnamon and a touch of clove.  The wine is very smooth on the palate with loads of cherry intensity on the close. 

Best Buy 87

 

Feudo Arancio Stemmari Syrah Sicilia Italy 2007:  This ushers forth pretty aromas of blueberry, spice and white peppercorn.  There's a sweet note of ripe fruit in the mouth and at this low price, you won't find a better deal.  Best Buy 87

 

Feudo Arancio Stemmari Pinot Nero Sicilia Italy 2008:  Here's a warm-climate Pinot Nero that shows all the characteristics aromas of the variety--wild berries, blue flowers and cherry--in a more pronounced and immediate manner.  It's a bigger, more generous interpretation of the grape with a purely Sicilian signature.  Best Buy 87

Taste of Athens Sneak Peek

Well,  the count down is on to Taste of Athens.  Our table(Atlanta Wholesale Wine) is set up and ready to rock.  I wanted to give everyone a sneak peek into what we will be pouring.

No Sauvignon Blanc
Steele Chardonnay Steele Catfish Zinfandel
Guenoc Claret
Guenoc Lake County Cabernet
Writers Block Pinot Noir
ZD Chardonnay
Buehler Napa Valley Cabernet
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier
Hedges CMS White
Hedges CMS Red
Pascual Toso Sparkling
Pascual Toso Chardonnay
Pascual Toso Reserve Cabernet
Kaiken Ultra Malbec
Achaval Ferrer Quimera
Norton Reserve Malbec
Montes Purple Angel

I am super excited.  Can't wait to see everyone........Don't forget to Vote AWW #1.

Eat, Drink, and Help Many by attending the 18th annual A Taste of Athens. Sample over 50 local restaurants, wine and beer, and bid on fabulous silent auction items. A Taste of Athens benefits Community Connection of Northeast Georgia who, for more than 25 years, has empowered our community to GET, GIVE, and GROW HELP.

A "Sweet Treat"

For those of you who missed the opportunity to meet Ernie Loosen, to say you missed out would be an understatement.  The charisma, intelligence, and sheer knowledge for not only what he does(Riesling) but for the wine world in general was awesome!  Decanter's 2005 Man of the Year lived up to all that I was expecting and more.  I would say the most impressive quality was not just his passion for the Mosel and Riesling but his passion for wine and more specific Pinot Noir.  He loves Pinot Noir because it is a grape that shares the same attributes as Riesling.  They both enjoy cool climate, both are terrior driven, and both age gracefully.  He talked about his 8,000 bottle Burgundy cellar back at his home on the Mosel but he also told me to be on the look out for his new project coming from the Willamette Valley.  He has purchased 14 hectares in the Willamette and is starting to produce a very small amount of Pinot Noir.  We should see the first vintage later this year.  I can't wait!

For all of you that are interested in Dr Loosen wines, they can be found around town on wine lists(The National) and majority of retailers.  His single vineyard wines are unbelievable but his Dr L Riesling is what he calls the perfect representation of the Mosel can be found fairly easily.  The perfect balance of fruit, acidity, and what makes the Mosel the Mosel the minerality from the Blue Slate soils. 

For those of you who would like to learn more about Dr Loosen and the Mosel, check out there website.  It is one of the best wine websites I have seen.

www.LoosenBrosUSA.com

Terroir

You hear about it in all fine wine presentations, wine chats amongst connoisseurs, your local wine merchant, but what is terroir?  Terroir is the backbone, structure and body to fine wine philosophy.  It's the foundation which holds that each site has a unique flavor due to the uniqueness of its geography, climate, and biological influences.  For example the unique characteristics of a Pinot Noir from Carneros, Russian River, Santa Barbara, Willamette Valley, and the mother of all terroir conversations Burgundy, shows different attributes relative to its place. 

Now, how as wine consumers do we experience terroir in our wines.  For the average Joe, this takes years and years of extensive research......tasting as many wines as possible!!  My advice would be to taste a handful of a particular varietal from one region i.e. Carneros.  Take notes.  Odds are if you don't you will not remember(I think the alcohol has something to say about that).  Once you feel comfortable move on to another region/same varietal and so on.  Being able to pick up on all the little nuances of Terroir is not something that you will learn over night.  Tasting and evaluating wine really does take years and years.  Good thing there isn't a shortage of wine! 

I had a winemaker tell me once that no two wines taste alike.  And for the most part that is true.  Think outside the box.  Try new things.  Just because you had a big butter ball chardonnay from California and you hated it doesn't mean all chardonnay tastes like that.  Terroir doesn't allow it.

Happy Tasting 

The Good Doctor!

Feeling down in the dumps, need a pick me up, consult with the good doctor, Dr Ernst Loosen and the wonderful world of riesling.  I am not talking about the cheap domestic sugar water.  I am talking about a world class estate producing some of the best German rieslings around.

Ernst Loosen was born into a great tradition of German winemaking. The Dr. Loosen estate on the Mosel River has been in his family for over 200 years.  Ernst dove into winemaking while completing his studies at Germany’s renowned winemaking school in Geisenheim and then launched into a self directed review of the great wines of the world.  When Ernst Loosen assumed control of the Dr. Loosen estate in 1988, he recognized a lot of potential that was going unused.  Ernst inherited a good number of vines that were well over 100 years old — vines perfectly suited to the low-yield, highly concentrated style he wanted to produce.  With no hightech equipment, Ernst and his cellarmaster had no choice but to make wines in a minimalist manner, with very little handling and long, slow fermentations.  Since Ernst took over, Dr. Loosen wines have received countless awards and glowing reviews in the wine press. The estate has become a member of the prestigious VDP, Germany’s association of top-rated wine estates, and has been named one of the 10 best estates in Germany by nearly every wine publication worldwide. Ernst was named Germany’s Winemaker of the Year in the 2001 edition of Gault Millau’s Weinguide Deutschland and Decanter magazine’s Man of the Year in 2005. He was also the International WINE Challenge’s White Winemaker of the Year in 2005.

Dr. Loosen estate information:

Total vineyard area: 40 acres

Annual production: 100,000 bottles(roughly 8500 cases)

Varieties: Riesling, 100%

1st Growth vineyards: Bernkasteler Lay, Erdener Prälat, Erdener Treppchen,

Graacher Himmelreich, Ürziger Würzgarten, Wehlener Sonnenuhr

Elements of Quality:

Regional Climate:  Steep south facing slopes is ideal for riesling in this low-lying northern sun.  Generally cool conditions that allow for slow ripening.

Slate Soil:  The stony soil and rocky outcroppings warm the vineyards by reflecting sunlight and holding the warmth of the sun.  The thin topsoils add that stress to the vines so that they dig deep for water and nutrients. 

Old Ungrafted Vines:  Who said getting old wasn't fun...less vigourous and naturally lower yields equals higher concentration and richness and thats what we like!

You can find Dr Loosen's wines readily in the market but on February 10th I bring to you a sweet treat(no pun intended).  Dr Ernst Loosen will be in Athens!!!  Come by Gosfword Wine between 6:00-7:30 to meet and taste through some of Ernst's selections.  I promise you that you will not be down in the dumps after this tasting.

See you there...

Ponzi is for Pinot

Ponzi Vineyards is celebrating its 40th anniversary. When Dick and Nancy Ponzi founded their family winery and vineyards in 1970, they were among a handful of vintners forging a new start in Oregon’s fledgling wine endeavors. Four decades later, Ponzi Vineyards has continued to be a leader, practicing a philosophy of innovation, experimentation, respectful stewardship of the land, and achieving consistent excellence in its wines.

In 2000, the Ponzi family proudly achieved LIVE Certification for the winery and each of their vineyards. The LIVE Program (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) encourages biodiversity in the vineyard with a goal to produce the highest quality wines for refined palates and environmentally conscious consumers by using sustainable techniques.

So Ponzi is for Pinot...Gris and Noir.  Viewed as one of the most consistent wineries in the Willamette Valley, Ponzi still continues to excite.

2009 Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley:  Produced in traditional Ponzi fashion leaving no detail overlooked, this Pinot Gris remains a varietal flagship throughout Oregon.  Fermented in 100% tank and 50% MF(malolactic fermentation), this gris has a nose of green apple and citrus zest.  A perfect balance between sweetness and acidity. 

90 Points WE 

2008 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley:  This Pinot Noir is a blend of LIVE Certified Sustainable fruit from Ponzi’s Aurora, Madrona and Avellana Vineyards along with Linda Vista, Gran Moraine, Gemini, Zena West and Alloro Vineyards.  Sweet black fruits with a mid palate of blue fruit and soft silky tannins make this a great wine for any occasion. 
91 Points WA; 91 Points IWC