Matteo Correggia, Roero Arneis 2016
Matteo inherited his family’s vineyard estate in 1985, at the age of 23, and continued the tradition of farming excellent fruit. This was not unnoticed by great producers of the region including Roberto Voerzio and Elio Altare. At their urging, Matteo established a winery to make wines from his outstanding vineyards. Both famed winemakers took him under their wings and mentored him in getting the most from his wines.
When Matteo was killed in a tractor accident in 2001, Piedmont’s great producers paid a remarkable tribute to him by assisting his widow Ornella in completing the vintage. Building on this legacy, Matteo’s wife Ornella has continued to grow the winery’s reputation as Roero’s benchmark producer of Nebbiolo, Arneis and Barbera. She has introduced organic and biodynamic practices, committed to low intervention winemaking and has focused the winery on estate production.
Kevin’s Notes – One of my all-time favorite white wines is Arneis, however it is very, very hard to find one that is not overripe and then we found this precious jewel. Last March, we went to Aspen to taste about 100 wines from Piedmont, Italy (it took 3 hrs and we rode the bus). We were not looking for Piedmont whites and then BAMMM…Matteo’s Arneis blew us all away and after 3 hours of tasting none of us (my staff and wife Sharon) forgot this wine. As you will see this wine is stunning and is truly a one-of- a-kind. We only have 3 cases, but I will try to get more. This wine will probably be the hit of this tasting!
Regular Price $25.99
Cooper’s Price $21.99
Ryan Patrick Rock Island Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, WA
Ryan Patrick Wines is known for approachable wines with a distinctive edge. Winemaker Jeremy Santo works with hand-selected growers using sustainable practices to choose grapes that fit the quality and style that customers have come to love. The wine is 100% barrel-fermented in 18% new American oak for six months. “Our debut vintage of Rock Island Chardonnay. A savory yet approachable Chardonnay from mature vineyard sites in the Columbia Valley offering depth and concentration to the wine. Barrel fermentation, along with sur lie aging, captures the alluring characters of Chardonnay with a fresh appeal.”– Jeremy Santo, Winemaker
Kevin’s Notes – This is a Chardonnay of true value! This wine is barrel-fermented and aged in French oak barrels. While this practice is expensive, it makes for a Chardonnay of rich aromatics and flavor of toasted oak and tropical fruit and they balance the two very well.
Cooper’s Price $17.99
Badia Al Monte Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is one of Italy’s most famous wines. This classic, well-rounded, plum-scented Italian red is made from Montepulciano grapes grown in the Abruzzo region, on Italy’s Adriatic coast. It is quite distinct from Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is a Sangiovese-based wine from Tuscany.
Montepulciano has thrived in Abruzzo since the middle of the 18th century. A plump grape, which gives good yields of easy-drinking wine, it is popular with producers and consumers alike. The variety typically provides deeply colored juice (which varies from ruby to purple depending on vintage and the particular winemaking techniques used) with low acidity and soft, unobtrusive tannins.
Kevin’s Notes – Here is another example of a great wine for less than $12, but this is no newcomer and many of you may not have bought it in the past. This is a summer red with mild integrated tannins with complexity and lovely mouthfeel.
Cooper’s Price $10.99
Larroque 2010 Bordeaux (Left Bank, Bordeaux, France)
Marie Christine, the daughter of Henri Ducourt, purchased this prestigious left-bank property in 1979, which lies on the border of the Graves appellation. The 60-hectare vineyard was rapidly replanted and the château building, which dates from 1348, was restored. This is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tasting Notes: The silky velvety attack presents excellent structure and flavors of dried fruit, anise, and toasted nuts.
Kevin’s Notes: Well it’s finally here, a fantastic Bordeaux from THE highly heralded 2010 vintage for under $20! I have spent nearly 2 years trying to find what I consider to be an outstanding Bordeaux from 2009 & 2010 at this price. This wine is stunning with its mouthfeel and flavors of red fruit, tobacco, light leather. Its personality is bold yet restrained with its dryness in the mid palate. If you like it please let me know because it will not always be around as the 2009 and 2010 vintages of Bordeaux are quickly disappearing.
Cooper’s Price $16.99
