Foradori Ampeleia 2012

R

Rahsaan

Rahsaan
At dinner last night with some friends/colleagues and a nice Italian wine list. Of course my eyes were drawn to the north and their preferences would have led us to the south, so we settled in the middle with a delightful 2012 Foradori Ampeleia.

Obviously I'm a fan of Foradori but had never tasted her incursions into Tuscany. I was pleased to find that it was every bit as fresh and stylish as I would have expected. Everyone was satisfied. Do folks have thoughts on the rest of the range?
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
... my eyes were drawn to the north
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Germany? Don't picture you venturing into Italy too much for your wine needs.

...Do folks have thoughts on the rest of the range?
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Well, I like them all, but what stands out for me is their Nosiola, but might be too rich a white for you.
 
I've used both the Kepos (glass) and the Ampeleia (bottle) across different vintages at my restaurant, and they're almost universally well received by nerds and newcomers alike.

Fresh is a great word to describe the whole lineup really. The one you had is a majority cab franc, but the "lesser" two in the trio of those wines that we have access to in Michigan are Grenache dominated, accented by other Mediterranean grapes like Cinsault. Generally speaking, the wines get lighter weight heading down in price from the Ampeleia, though there's always plenty of fruit. The Kepos in particular was a big hit -- lots of aromatics, floral notes, etc for a $10 glass of wine.

The Unlitro, which we've never served but used to be a picnic go-to, is as quaffable an "easy" wine as there is, from younger vines, and all of that.

I haven't had the good fortune to try the rest of the lineup.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
Well, I like them all, but what stands out for me is their Nosiola, but might be too rich a white for you.
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I've not ever even read about that wine, and a quick glance at the Ampeleia site doesn't show anything about it. Can you share vintage, where you bought, etc? I might like to hunt some down to try.
 
originally posted by evan hansen:
originally posted by MarkS:
Well, I like them all, but what stands out for me is their Nosiola, but might be too rich a white for you.
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I've not ever even read about that wine, and a quick glance at the Ampeleia site doesn't show anything about it. Can you share vintage, where you bought, etc? I might like to hunt some down to try.
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Well, the full name would be "Foradori Fontanasanta Manzoni Bianco, IGT Vigneti delle Dolomiti". I'm not sure where I bought, but Zachys & Chambers Street regularly carry them.
 
Ah, OK, part of her original operation, not Ampeleia, then. Though the Dressner distributor here only carries her entry level red under the Foradori label, so I'll still have to grab it from NY. Thanks!
 
originally posted by evan hansen:
Ah, OK, part of her original operation, not Ampeleia, then. Though the Dressner distributor here only carries her entry level red under the Foradori label, so I'll still have to grab it from NY. Thanks!
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I'm not even sure what the Ampelia even is. Foradori existed before any Ampeleia came around, and the better wines, for sure. I know she makes wines on the side, like the Un Litro I had about 2 years ago that comes from Tuscany under the Ampelia label, which was good and cheap, but also very, very simple.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
originally posted by Rahsaan:
... my eyes were drawn to the north
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Germany?
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Piedmont. I'm a big fan. Like most people with common sense.

Good to hear the positive comments. I haven't kept up with her wines much in recent years, but nice to see different options.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
I'm not even sure what the Ampelia even is.
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Ah. It's somewhat confusingly both the brand name of her side project in Tuscany with two friends and the name of one of their flagship cuvees. Based in Maremma. They actually make about a half dozen wines, only three of which we get in my neck of the woods. The "lowest end" is, of course, the Unlitro you mention which is all of 12 bucks a liter. Definitely not aiming for her eponymous wines, though I think the actual Ampeleia cuvee is quite good and probably only about 10 bucks more than the entry level Foradori.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Foradori Ampeleia 2012At dinner last night with some friends/colleagues and a nice Italian wine list.
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Where?
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Mothers and Sons

Quite a nice addition to downtown Durham, in my opinion.
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Thanks. Haven't been yet, but I noticed it when it had just opened while walking to Mateo Tapas. Early reports were that they needed to work out a few kinks; I'm guessing that has happened.
 
My big critique was the noise, not the most conversation-friendly place when the room is full. But otherwise our whole table was pleased with the quality of all the offerings.
 
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