faires of verona

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:
It is weird how I used to complain about how hard it was to sell Sud Italia, because now that is like what the people out there do. I'm like a big wimp or something.

I don't think you have anything to feel at-fault for. I think folks in this economy are looking for bargains so importers keep going further and further afield to find them.

(And the smart contadini clean up their acts a bit and sell a lot of wine.)

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

originally posted by VLM:

Valentini for $100 would really be something, wouldn't it.

When I was first getting into the wine business in the early 90s, Valentini was considered sui generis, and priced that way. Things crested a few years ago when it was released at close to $500 retail.

I've had some bottles of Masciarelli Marina Cvetiæ that I thought was really good and not modern in a tarted up sense, but modern in the Eric Texier sense.

I saw 1990 Valentini Montepulciano on a restaurant list this evening for $390. So I mean, retail wonders could, maybe possibly, be found. The last time I purchased a Valentini red retail it was in Toscana, though, I have to say. Of course, given the line of work I used to be employed in, I drank the '85 for free.

I think you are giving the Marina Cvetic, a wine which I purchased and sold to others from the list at one point, too much credit. But, I mean, different strokes. Marina Cvetic Trebbiano is okay, but no Pepe white.

I have a good friend who was a sommelier at an Italian joint, so I drank more than my fair share of Valentini [blush]. He was the only one buying it in the state.

I'll take your word on the Marina Cvetic, as I said, it's probably been 7 or 8 years since I've had it. It was good, not Pepe or Valentini good, but good. As you said, different strokes. I may be keener on (Texier df) modern wines than you are.