Collezione Sipper Italiana 6-pack (24 available) $125 We’ve loved keeping you all supplied with wine these past few months, and we appreciate the trust and faith you have in us and our curated Sipper collections. Many of you who have dined at Le Pigeon or Canard over the last 2 ½ years may know Ben Roan, who has become an indispensable part of our team and family. Ben has a deep passion for Italian wines and has helped temper my excessive Francophile leanings when it comes to wine since he has been with us. Normally he and I work together to come up with the wine packs, but this Sipper pack is all Ben. I love a couple and am very excited to try the wines I haven't yet. There is no one other than Ben I put more trust and faith in when it comes to Vino Italiano – I’ll be taking home a pack this week! I hope you will too. Best, Andy
Oltrepo Pavese, Pinot Nero Bianco Frizzante, Ca’ Montebello, 2019, Lombardia This wine is quite literally a mouthful….lots of words and lots of flavor! It hails from Lombardia not too far from Milan. The Scarini family has been farming in this area for generations and generations. The family presses the Pinot Noir as soon as it comes into the winery and ferments it in stainless steel as a white wine…then it goes through another fermentation in tank giving it a slight fizz. Best enjoyed with cheeses, prosciutto, and good friends.
Ciró Bianco (Greco), Scala, 2019, Calabria The fall clouds are beginning to roll in, but we’re in denial and drinking like it’s still summer. This delicious white is made by the Scala family in Calabria. It is organically grown and made from the grape Greco Bianco (a different clone than Greco di Tufo which is commonly found in the region of Campania further south). It bursts from the glass with orchard and tropical fruits, lime zest, and has some floral and spice notes. A great pairing for seafood as the weather gets colder and the seafood gets sweeter.
Nebbiolo Rosato, Nervi-Conterno, 2019, Gattinara, Piedmont For this name the hyphen means a lot. When one discusses the great producers of Nebbiolo the name Giacomo Conterno is held in the highest regard. Nervi is the longest continuously operating winery in the Gattinara region having been founded in 1906. Gattinara is located in the Alto Piemononte, to the far north of Barolo and Barbaresco. Roberto Conterno purchased the Nervi winery in 2018. This rosé is perfect for fall, it has a little bit of weight to it but is bone dry. It smells of forest berries and cherries with a hint of spice and great minerality.
Dolcetto d’ Alba, Azelia, Bricco del ‘Oriolo, 2018, Piedmont The Azelia winery, in Castiglione Falletto, is one of the best kept secrets in the Barolo region. Piedmont is known for its powerful and age worthy Nebbiolo wines, but Dolcetto is the wine that is drunk on a daily basis on the Piedmontese table. This wine is sourced from two vineyards, both at 600ft elevation with southern exposure. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel to retain freshness. It smells of blueberries, black cherries, spice and flowers. It is perfect with roast chicken or pasta with mushrooms.
Rosso di Montalcino, Piancornello, 2018, Tuscany By law Brunello di Montalcino cannot be released until 5 years after harvest so many producers produce a “Rosso” bottling which can be released at a younger age. Good Rosso di Montalcino, like this one, posses all the great qualities of Brunello - bright acid, red and black fruits, and some tannic grip - but they are ready to drink on release instead of needing to be cellared for years. Tuscan cooking is simple and all about showcasing good ingredient, so we recommend pairing this wine with a big grilled steak finished with a drizzle of some really good balsamic vinegar.
Susumaniello Salento IGT, Li Veli, 18, Puglia
This is the best Susumanielllo we’ve ever had, and it may be the only one we’ve ever had. is There are only about 125 acres of Susumanielllo planted….at all. This obscure red grape is grown in small amounts in the Salice Salentino area of Puglia (the heel of the boot of Italy). The bush trained vines are fermented in stainless steel and aged in neutral oak of mixed sizes. It smells of plums, raspberries, and Chinese 5 spice…a great match to burgers and BBQ, or just the first few cold nights by the fire.