Rossi by the Glass
Langhe Nebbiolo, Produttori del Barbaresco, 2023
Producer: Produttori del Barbaresco
Grapes: Nebbiolo
Region: Piemonte
Dryness Level: Dry
Vintage: 2023
Produttori del Barbaresco, one of Piedmont’s most esteemed cooperative wineries, applies the same traditional winemaking techniques to their Langhe Nebbiolo as they do to their iconic Barbaresco. Sourced from younger vines and declassified fruit from top Barbaresco vineyards, the 2023 vintage offers a vibrant and approachable expression of Nebbiolo, while still carrying the structure and complexity that define the grape.
Red cherry, raspberry, and rose petals lead, layered with hints of anise, crushed herbs, and subtle earth. The palate is fresh and lively, with fine-grained tannins and bright acidity providing lift and elegance. While delicious now, a short decant will enhance its depth, and it will continue to develop over the next few years. A perfect pairing for pasta with ragù, roasted meats, or aged cheeses, this is a Nebbiolo that delivers both early drinking pleasure and classic Piemontese character.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Poderi Sanguineto 2021
Producer: Poderi Sanguineto
Grapes: 80% Prugnolo Gentile (local variant of Sangiovese), 20% Canaiolo Nero & Mammolo
Region: Montepulciano, Tuscany
Dryness Level: Dry
Vintage: 2021
Poderi Sanguineto is the family estate of Dora Forsoni in Montepulciano, the legendary hill town of southern Tuscany. Dora and her partner Patrizia Castiglioni continue to do all the work on the farm where Dora's father taught her from generations of knowledge how to tend the old vines of true Prugnolo Gentile, Mammolo, Canaiolo, Nero Toscano, and Sangiovese and how to make the wine as it has been made for generations. Prugnolo Gentile is the "noble" variant of Sangiovese found in Montepulciano and historically co-planted with supporting varieties like Canaiolo and Mammolo.
Dora has been farming her family vines organically forever, many of them quite old (plantings go back to 1963) and all maintained meticulously by hand. Dora, in her 70’s, does all the viticultural work alone, taking care of 100% of the vine maintenance: she works the soil, prunes and ties every vine of her 3.5 hectare estate by herself. The bunches are harvested manually and destemmed with the berries left mainly whole. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts in concrete tanks. Maceration lasts around 10 days before a very gently pressing. The wine is aged for 2 years in a mix of French and Slavonian oak barrels.
Notably, Dora makes a single red wine, which becomes her Rosso di Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and a riserva Vino Nobile, distinguished simply by length of aging. The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano’s nose leads with black cherry, plum, red currants and spiced orange cake, and evolves into something more savory and mysterious - floral, tobacco, meat, and leather territory.
Rossi di Notri, Tua Rita, 2023
Producer: Tua Rita
Grapes: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Syrah
Region: Suvereto, Tuscany
Dryness Level: Dry
Vintage: 2019
Rita Tua and her husband, Virgilio Bisti, bought approximately 37.5 acres of land in 1984 and planted it with Cabernet and Merlot. They later purchased an additional 17.5 acres of land, bringing the total estate to 55 acres, of which about 45 are planted with vines. The winery released its first vintage in 1992, and soon began receiving praise and accolades from wine enthusiasts worldwide for its rich, full-bodied wines. In just five short years, its 100% Merlot had achieved cult-like status, receiving outstanding ratings from the world’s most prestigious wine critics and publications. The winery’s Bordeaux blend, Giusti di Notri, also garners near-universal praise. Little wonder that Tua Rita’s wines are considered among the most difficult to find in Italy. Tua Rita is located in Suvereto, a small medieval town in the Tuscan province of Livorno, on the coast south of Bolgheri. The winery lies at just 300 feet above sea level, on clay, silty soil. Luca D’Attoma, the estate’s winemaker, keeps yields to a minimum to ensure concentration of flavors. The estate’s total annual production is currently just 3400 cases.
Medium bodied, with bright acidity and a delicious crisp finish. Deep ruby red in color, with aromas of black fruits, namely blackberries, plums and ripe black cherries over more subtle notes of cocoa, licorice and sweet spice.
Chianti, Colli Senesi, Felsina 2022
Producer: Felsina
Grapes: Sangiovese
Region: Chianti, Tuscany
Dryness Level: Dry
Vintage: 2022
Felsina was founded in 1966 by Domenico Poggiali, and is now in its third generation of family ownership. The property extends more than 500 hectares (1,235 acres) with 90 hectares (222 acres) under vine. The many different vineyards feature very specific microclimates, each one unlike any other. Altitudes vary from 350 to 420 meters above sea level, with soils that range from clay to alberese, rich in minerals and fossils. Because of this extraordinary variety, the Sangiovese di Felsina, or Sangioveto, was born. The combinations of soils and clones together have become a precious asset for the winery to pass on to future generations.
The Colli Senesi is produced from vines over fifty years old. The winemaking follows traditional methods, with fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, followed by aging in oak barrels for fifteen to eighteen months—further enriching the flavor profile without overpowering the freshness and typicality of the Sangiovese.
Featuring a vibrant ruby red color, typical of high-quality Chianti, Felsina's Colli Senesi offers a rich and complex bouquet on the nose. Aromas of ripe red fruits blend with delicate spicy notes and a light touch of vanilla, stemming from barrel aging. On the palate, it is elegant and well-structured, with a perfect balance between acidity and soft tannins, resulting in a pleasantly lasting aromatic persistence.
Ideal to serve alongside Pappardelle, Polpette or Cibreo Toscano, Chianti Colli Senesi by Felsina also proves to be a versatile companion for aged cheeses and local cured meats.