Farmstead Cheeses and Wines

This month we return to the Abruzzo region, and feature the wines of the Illuminati winery - Illuminati Costalupo Controguerra Bianco and Illuminati Riparosso Montepulciano

Costalupo is a delightful kitchen sink white wine -  Chardonnay, Passerina, Riesling, Malvasia, and Trebbiano; all varietals which accentuate the most delightful fragrances in this wine. It has a brilliant straw-like color and a dry, fresh taste. The aroma is fruity, floral and delicate. Controguerra is a relatively new DOC in Abruzzo.

“Riparosso” is a D.O.C. wine made from 100% Montepulciano grape from the vineyards situated in the township of Controguerra at 300 meters above sea-level. The soil is comprised of a composite mixture tending towards a high argilla clay content. The name of this wine comes from the neighboring gullies known as “Ripe” and the soil, which verges on red (Rosso). 2 Bicchieri in Gambero Rosso three years in a row! The Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide has Given it "Top 100 Best Buys" noting, " Dark ruby with purple highlights. Moderately light bodied. Full acidity. Reminiscent of cranberry, raspberry, cherry. Tart young red fruit with some grainy tannins on the palate.Texture is almost silky in the mouth. Good structure with pleasant cherry tartness on the finish."

The color is an intense ruby red with a distinct, pleasant vinous fragrance. The flavor is dry and savory with soft tannins.

This month, we travel to Piedmont, home of the great  Nebbiolo grape, and Barbaresco and Barolo wines.

Possibly the greatest of Italian grapes and certainly the longest-lived. Nebbiolo grows almost exclusively in the northwestern reaches of  Italy, where it thrives in the DOCGs Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo ripens very late (usually mid October) and when fully ripe has abundant amounts of flavor, aroma, acidity and tannins.

The name Nebbiolo has two probable origins. Ripe nebbiolo grapes have a very prominent bloom that gives them a foggy or frosted look, so the name could come from from nebbia, Italian for fog.  It is an alternative possibility that the name simply comes from nobile, Italian for noble.

Barbaresco is a dry, elegant, full-bodied red wine, rich in tannin, with a very complex nose. At maturity, when it has fully developed for a few years, it reveals aromas of dry flowers, violets, white truffles, anise and more. In its youth it is closed in the mouth with nice, fruity aromas and a spicy, tannic finish. At maturity, the complexity of flavors opens up and the finish becomes smoother.

Traditionally drunk with game, meat, fowl, polenta, fonduta and white truffle dishes of the Piedmont, Barbaresco is a rich complement to many foods. The wine is long on the palate and, once opened, a bottle can be drunk over the course of three or four days.

This month's selection, Cantine Sociale del Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG (or more simply Produttori Barbaresco) is a great example of Barbaresco. 

The Cantine Sociale is a cooperative of growers in Barbaresco, and control most of the great vineyard sites in the DOCG.  Unlike many cooperatives, this winery is world class, and puts out amazing wines year after year. 

Generally, Barbaresci are more approachable than Barolos, so this month's selection can either be drunk now, or aged up to ten years.