Frome Italy with Love

How about the real thing; at least in wines. There is no one who will question that California makes some of the best wines in the world. The operative word there is world. Few, if any of our indigenous grapes are made into wine. For some reason they develop an off flavor which most wine lovers consider somewhat objectionable.
Wine grapes and wine has been made in most countries for centuries and despite the similarities of the varieties used, they are different from our native grown grapes, in some cases considerably different. It is location, soil, altitude and in a few cases the feet of the grape stompers.
The Frescobaldi family has been making wine in Italy since 1308. Every famous (and infamous) Italian since then has probably enjoyed their wines. Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Dante, Galileo, Botticelli, and so many others have lifted glasses filled with the wines of Frescobaldi. We certainly hope that it was NOT a Frescobaldi wine that Lucrezia Borgia doctored with her poison laced ring. There is even a tale that Michelangelo swapped some of his paintings for a few bottles of Frescobaldi wine.
Because they have been making wine for so many years, the family has acquired some of the finest vineyard lands in Tuscany. It is Tuscany that gave birth to Chianti and it is Chianti that continues to dominate the fine wine districts of Italy. Frescobaldi has been a moving force in the modernization of the Italian wine industry, which for many years, had wallowed in mediocrity. A sampling of any of their wines will prove that their efforts have not been in vain.

Frescobaldi 2008 Nipozzano Riserva ($19.99). This wine has been made from grapes drawn from what is the equivalent of an Estate Grown wine in the United States or a Chateau wine from France, in that all of the grapes came from one specific vineyard, in this case, Castle Nipozzano. A dark ruby color invites the first sip of this wine, which is made up of mostly Sangiovese with a few other local red varieties added for increased depth and flavor. The Nipozzano Riserva has a complex fruit aroma accenting plums and cherries backed up with hints of espresso, spice, cocoa and of course, oak. The flavor exhibits the same plum/cherry elements, mingling with sweet raisins and vanilla. This is an exceptional wine that should not be relegated to accompany only an Italian meal. It can accompany any of the red meats or cheese dishes or, just quiet sipping.

The Frescobaldi 2010 Remole ($11.99). Remole is a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Frescobaldi vineyards. The aroma is intense, displaying cherries, plums and a subdued hint of fresh spices, black pepper and licorice. On the palate, the wine is soft, smooth and gentile with just the right balance between the tannins and acid. The wine has a silky feel in the mouth and finishes up with a long and very pleasant aftertaste. If you have been disappointed by Italian wine in the past, the Frescobaldi 2010 Remole will change all of that.
Attems 2011 Pinot Grigio ($19.99). The grapes for this wine were grown at the foothills of the Alps, in the northeastern region of Italy called Collio Goriziano. The grapes grown there are mostly white, and it is there that the Pinot Grigio thrives. The Attems 2011 Pinot Grigio is an almost colorless wine that is very smooth and silky with a big and expansive aroma of summer flowers. The flavors too are equally as expansive, stressing citrus and pineapple with hints of peach and spice. The finish of this wine is very long and fruity and stays in the mouth long after it has been swallowed. Try this exceptional wine with chicken dishes as well as with the traditional seafood and pastas. With wines made from the Pinot Grigio grapes becoming more and more popular in the United States, this wine should be an immediate success, so shop early.