Rant for Those in the Italian Wine Trade

I once had a dry white vermouth with fraises de bois in it called Chamberyzette (sp?). I can't remember how big the cork was, though.
 
I once had a Fragolini from Torino, the bottle being almost half full of wild strawberries. I can't tell you what the base was, but the neck and cork were very small.
 
originally posted by Jeff Connell:
originally posted by Oliver McCrum:
OK, I just opened an Apremont (Bernard, imported by the estimable Charles Neal) and a Barbera d'Asti (Pavia 'Molis') and the two corks are completely inter-operable. Perhaps it's because the Savoie used to be owned by Piedmont?
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Was that when the Duke of Savoy moved his capitol from Chambry to Torino? How was the Apremont?
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The Apremont was attractive, maybe slightly reductive, minerally, hints of herbs, hint of white peach; better the second day. I wish some of these grapes were grown on the other side of the Alps, say in the Valle d'Aosta.
 
I once had a fine fragolino
Strawberry-filled, from Torino
But they banned its true grapes
And replaced them with fakes
So now I just huff gasolino.
 
originally posted by Steven Spielmann:
I once had a fine fragolino
Strawberry-filled, from Torino
But they banned its true grapes
And replaced them with fakes
So now I just huff gasolino.
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Yes, that's what I meant... Quench my thirst with Gasoli-i-ine...
 
I ask because I share Danny Divito's taste for Limoncello, but I've not had a good Fragolino. Perhaps the key is to drink a lot of other things first.

Fragolino has to be the only Labrusca cultivated in Italy?
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
True, there's better compatibility with Piemontese wines, although far from full.

Re ESJ, Steve can correct me, but I recall the last Syrah I opened as having been under cork. Are they under screwcap, too, now?
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The Last Syrah, did james Jones write that? The last Syrah I bottled was an '05, and it was (is) under cork. The next Syrah I bottle will be either screwcap or Diam.
 
originally posted by Oliver McCrum:
I ask because I share Danny Divito's taste for Limoncello, but I've not had a good Fragolino. Perhaps the key is to drink a lot of other things first.
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do that and, of course, you'll find a way to reach the top shelf.

that said, i prefer Fragonard...much more frilly (among other things)
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
Oliver,

Any word on La Sibilla Piedirosso '07 from your perspective?
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My perspective is that it still tastes a bit like Bourgeuil, which is odd. The '08 was very tasty at Vinitaly and will arrive in about 2 months.
 
Use a cheap bottle stopper like one of these:

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host31.spidergraphics.com

Or get fancy with this:

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www.thekitchenoutlet.com

It'll set you back about $3

I haven't had much experience with narrow necked Italian bottles. Or more precisely, narrow necked Italian bottles that require stoppering due to residual wine. I guess that is another solution.

Rants don't work that well at causing Italians to change.
 
originally posted by Oliver McCrum:
Steve,

Do you think the resin binder in Diam will age as well as your Syrah?
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My sense is that this particular Syrah will not need a lot of age, just a few months to settle into the bottle. But my perspective is warped; I know the wine only from closeup.
 
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