Jim Hanlon
Jim Hanlon
Chambers Street had the Colombera & Garella Vespolina, which they call Vispavola, available for a while, but I never pulled the trigger. Yesterday, I needed some wine for a Piemontese recipe and the 2019 was at a local shop, so it seemed like a good second chance. This was my first straight Vespolina, and it was interesting enough to prompt this post. The wine struck me as an Italian reconception of Pineau d'Aunis. Same red fruits, perhaps more cherry than strawberry, and white pepper. But in a northern Italian presentation. With the cellar more than full, I'm not sure this is a necessity, but giving it 3-5 years could be interesting, and provide a cool alternative to opening a Barbera or maybe even a Chianti.
Speaking of Chianti, I was served the 2018 Montevertine blind last week. If this is indicative, the warm 2018 vintage is pretty damn fruit driven. The wine definitely spoke of Italy, and Tuscany, but I thought it was an internationally styled wine, probably with some French varieties in the blend. The wine was so large scaled that I even thought there was probably some younger barrel elevage. I ate some humble pie when the bottle was revealed. All I can say in my defense is that it seems like an outlier vintage (although perhaps not really, with climate change), I don't drink young Montevertine, and this was presented as a bridge for folks in our party with old world palates and others whose references run to Paso Robles. Suffice to say, I wasn't scrambling to acquire a lot of 2018 Chianti, and am even less so now.
Speaking of Chianti, I was served the 2018 Montevertine blind last week. If this is indicative, the warm 2018 vintage is pretty damn fruit driven. The wine definitely spoke of Italy, and Tuscany, but I thought it was an internationally styled wine, probably with some French varieties in the blend. The wine was so large scaled that I even thought there was probably some younger barrel elevage. I ate some humble pie when the bottle was revealed. All I can say in my defense is that it seems like an outlier vintage (although perhaps not really, with climate change), I don't drink young Montevertine, and this was presented as a bridge for folks in our party with old world palates and others whose references run to Paso Robles. Suffice to say, I wasn't scrambling to acquire a lot of 2018 Chianti, and am even less so now.
