Vino NYC

Vino’s holiday sale continues today as we feature the wines of legendary Valle d’Aosta producer Ezio Voyat. Though he made his living as an accountant for a casino, Ezio Voyat forged his legend as a producer of some of Italy’s most distinctive wines. His two Moscato, the dry La Gazzella, the red blend Le Muraglie and the sweet Ambrato are truly wines of place, slightly austere and aromatic with brisk acidity balancing concentration of flavor.

Like the mountains from which they come these wines can be imposing and difficult to attain but with time and effort their mysteries unfold and their charms become a warm embrace. Voyat made wine in Chambave, a hamlet in the Valle d’Aosta, his modest house and cellar within walking distance of his several acres of hillside vineyard. Ezio Voyat died in 2003 leaving his wife and daughter (above) to carry on his sizeable winemaking legacy.

La Gazzella 2005
was $38, now $30.40
Legendary winemaker Ezio Voyat named his sleek, elegant 100% Moscato after his daughter Marilena, Olympic sprinter and 1980s Italian track sensation, known by fans as the “Gazelle.” While most Italian Moscato is vinified as sweet wine, Voyat’s La Gazzella is a dry wine with uncommon depth and structure. The 2005 is crisp and fresh, with mineral complexity created in the vineyard by the cool nights of the Alpine summer (the cool evening breeze allows the berries to ripen slowly and thus the roots absorb more character from the limestone subsoil). The fruit for this unusual wine is sourced from the estate’s terraced vineyards in the province of Chambave in the Valle d’Aosta region, where French and Italian are spoken.

Rosso Le Muraglie 2006
was $43, now $34.40
The fruit for Voyat’s Le Muraglie (“The Walls”) Chambave Rosso is sourced from an ancient cloistered growing site (barely five acres) where the winemaker uses promiscuous growing techniques (allowing naturally occurring foliage to grow among the vines) and minimal intervention in the cellar to create a light, bright red wine with extraordinary depth and structure and lingering secondary and tertiary berry aromas and flavors. Made from Petit Rouge, smaller amounts of Dolcetto, and Gros Vien (a rare grape that grows exclusively in Valle d’Aosta), Voyat blends the wine to achieve a perfect balance of tannin, acidity, and alcohol. The resulting wine is elegantly powerful but retains a lightness that can only be attributed to the winemaker’s style and deft touch.

Ambrato Le Muraglie 2000
was $117, now $93.60
Ezio Voyat’s Ambrato Le Muraglie is a dried-grape wine made from estate-grown Moscato grapes. The name Ambrato or “ambered” comes from the wine’s rich color: cask aging and gentle oxidation give this dessert wine its unique mouthfeel and flavor. Ezio’s daughter, Marilena, told us that she recently opened bottles of the Ambrato from the 1950s: this dessert wine is ready to drink but also offers remarkable aging potential.

Remember, this 20% off sale is for one day only!

Please call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com for more details.

Vino’s holiday sale continues this week as we feature the wines of sub-Alpine producer Castel Sallegg. Nestled between the majestic peaks of the Dolomite Alps, the area surrounding Lake Caldaro in the German-speaking region of Alto Adige is an optimum wine producing zone. Amidst this tranquil Alpine valley lie the vineyards of Castel Sallegg, a winery fortunate enough to possess some of the most desirable sites on the western slopes of the lake, and in the village of Caldaro.

Three varieties typically cultivated in the region, Schiava and Lagrein, and Moscato Giallo, benefit from Lake Caldaro’s unique climate, providing Castel Sallegg with what are arguably its most distinctive wines. Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero are grown on historic sites in the village center.

The Castel Sallegg, in addition to its winemaking reputation, boasts a history steeped in nobility. In 1851 the castle itself and its surrounding vineyard was bought by Archduke Rainer of Austria, Viceroy of Lombardy-Veneto. It was later inherited by the Counts von Kuenburg through Prince Henry of Campofranco. A keen sense of custodial responsibility and continuity are deeply rooted in the Von Kuenburg family, and today Georg von Kuenburg (above), together with enologist Matthias Hauser, ensures that quality and tradition continue to be maintained.

Pinot Bianco 2008
was $20, now $16
The sandy, pebbly lime subsoil in the slopes that surround Lake Caldaro are ideal for creating a fresh, mineral-driven, Pinot Bianco. The wine’s crisp, balanced acidity makes it a great food-friendly wine that pairs well with the often sharp flavors of the local cuisine.

Moscato Giallo 2008
was $21, now $16.80
Moscato Giallo is an aromatic grape considered indigenous to Trentino-Alto Adige. Its aromatic nose, pronounced deep golden color make it an excellent pairing for richer foods and is often paired with some of the region’s cow’s milk cheeses.

Lagrein Rosé 2008
was $20, now $16
The tannic Lagrein grapes give this wine complexity and structure while the enologist at Castel Sallegg ensures that the wine expresses the pillars of rosato: refreshing, easy-to-drink and adaptable. The wine is made from the same Lagrein grapes as those sourced for Count Kuenberg’s Lagrein Riserva.

Schiava Bischofsleiten 2008
was $20, now $16
A grape variety that has grown for generations on the steep slopes of sub-Alpine Alto Adige, Schiava produces a lightly-colored red wine that is a local favorite. Schiava finds its greatest expression on the western side of Lake Caldaro where, trained in the traditional pergola system, grapes can achieve maximum ripeness and attain the most unique reflection of their terroir. Bischofsleiten, or Bishop’s Slope, is a vineyard named for its founder, the Bishop of Trento, and is considered by many area producers to be the zone’s best site.

Pinot Nero 2005
was $24, now $19.20
Castel Sallegg’s vineyards lie on the slopes that rise up from the lake. In this alpine valley, temperature variation (warm days, cool evenings, essential for the thin-skinned Pinot Nero grape during ripening) and the absence of rot and mildew (thanks to the lake breeze) help to create wines that are fresh and well balanced. Castel Sallegg uses temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel and ages the wine in small and large casks to make a Pinot Nero with beautiful fruit flavors, bright acidity, and a clean finish.

Lagrein Riserva 2004
was $34, now 27.20
Believed by many to be a relative of Syrah, Lagrein is an indigenous red grape of Trentino-Alto Adige where high altitudes and excellent temperature variation around Lake Caldaro combine to create a rich red wine with peppery notes, excellent for the wintry dishes of this Alpine region. The grape growers at Castel Sallegg prefer clay and sandy subsoil for the cultivation of Lagrein: the drainage “stresses” the vines and forces their roots to grow deeper in search of life-giving water. The resulting wines are intensely colored and flavored and represent a unique local viticultural tradition.

Below are this week’s featured producers and tasting*. Remember, 20% sales are for one day only!

Mon 12/21: CASTEL SALLEGG
Tue 12/22: EZIO VOYAT
Wed 12/23: CONTI SERTOLI SALIS, ORSOLANI & RONCO DEI TASSI*

Please call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com for more details.

Vino’s holiday schedule continues today with a free tasting featuring the wines of popular Piedmontese producer Luca Ferraris.

If you’re a regular customer at Vino, chances are you’ll have tried Ruchè, a little-known wine from the Piedmontese village of Castagnole Monferrato. So little-known in fact, that unless you were born in this tiny hamlet in the province of Asti, you were probably unfamiliar with the variety until Luca Ferraris brought his wines to the United States.

The cultivation of Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato is limited to Castagnole Monferrato, making it among the smallest appellations in Italy. Though once of modest output, production is now expanding due to its award of DOC status.

Luca is one of just 28 producers helping to resurrect the grape and promote the wine to an international market. With no preconceptions surrounding the wine those curious enough to give it a chance have responded with unanimous praise, making Ruchè one of Vino’s best-selling word-of-mouth wines.

But Luca isn’t just about Ruchè: his Barbera and Grignolino offer classic piemontese quality and taste and remarkable value. This year Ferraris has added a new wine to his portfolio, an exciting blend of Ruchè and Syrah which he calls Il Re. Taste all four today and save 20%!

Barbera d’Asti 2008
was $16, now $12.80
One of Piedmont’s oldest grape varieties, Barbera d’Asti is believed to have originated in the Monferrato hills. A DOC since 1970, Barbera d’Asti is generally found in calcareous, clayey land between the provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Luca Ferraris’ Barbera d’Asti comes from his Vigna del Martin, a single vineyard in Castagnole Monferrato named after the producer’s grandfather Martino.

Grignolino d’Asti 2008
was $15, now $12
Once an abundant grape variety in Piedmont, Grignolino cultivation suffered especially when a plague of vine destroying parasites swept through the region. As a result, production is limited, a problem which has served only to enhance the wines’ appeal. The grape is being resurrected by fine young producers such as Ferraris, whose Grignolino d’Asti comes from his Vigna del Casot, a single vineyard in Castagnole Monferrato. The name of the variety comes from “grignole”, which in local dialect refers to the unusually large number of grape seeds.

Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato 2008
was $22, now $17.60
Luca Ferraris’ flagship wine comes from his Bric d’Bianc vineyard, part of an entire hill between Castagnole Monferrato and Scurzolengo which Ferraris purchased himself in 2000. He divided the land into four parts, three of which are devoted to the cultivation of this local grape. The name Ruchè is derived from the Italian word “rocche” (rocks) most likely due to the vine’s successful cultivation in the rock-like ground.

Monferrato Rosso Il Re 2006
was $25, now $20
The rare Ruchè variety has developed something of a cult following since the arrival of Luca Ferraris’ flagship wine at Vino in 2008. This year we added Il Re, an exciting blend of Syrah and Ruchè from the same Bric d’Bianc vineyard Ferraris uses for his monovarietal wine.

Remember, this 20% sale is for TODAY ONLY!

Please call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com for more details.

Vino’s holiday sale continues today as we feature legendary Aglianico producer Donato D’Angelo. Considered by many to be the greatest producer of Aglianico del Vulture, few winemakers define a generation the way that D’Angelo has. Since 1969 the Basilicata producer has been helping shape one of southern Italy’s most treasured appellations and tirelessly beating the drum for his beloved Aglianico.

The success of D’Angelo’s wines over the last quarter-century have helped dramatically reverse the negative stereotype of Italy’s southern wine production, while elevating Donato to the upper-echelons of Italian winemaking.

Sacravite 2006
was $15, now $12
While D’Angelo’s Riserva and single vineyard Aglianico del Vulture are intended for aging, the Sacravite is blended using riper fruit sourced from the estate’s vineyards. The resulting wine is very approachable young, and a fantastic (and very affordable) introduction to this great southern grape.

Serra delle Querce 2005
was $43, now $34.40
Inspired by the success Italian producers had enjoyed using international varieties, D’Angelo planted merlot in his Serra delle Querce vineyard over twenty years ago. The famous Bordeaux variety, loved for its plush silkiness and earthy, ample fruit, is blended with the native Aglianico, smoothing the latter’s austere edges and proving a worthy partner.

Canneto 2005
was $36, now $28.80
Donato D’Angelo first produced Canneto in 1985 intending to bring to market a wine that would highlight Aglianico’s best attributes — aromatic complexity, firm structure, persistence on the palate — while maintaining the moderate acidity, ripe tannins and emphasis on primary fruit aromas that international consumers prefer. With Canneto, Donato maintained the tradition of training vines a capanno, using stakes to hold individual vines, while introducing barriques to the Vulture zone.

Aglianico del Vulture Caselle Riserva 2004
was $36, now $28.80
D’Angelo’s Caselle Riserva is vinified in stainless steel and cement and aged for three years in Slavonian oak botti prior to realease. This is undoubtedly the best expression of Aglianico you’ll ever taste for under thirty bucks.

Aglianico del Vulture Valle del Noce 2003
was $54, now $43.20
D’Angelo’s Valle del Noce cru is vinified in traditional, large old oak barrels (botti) for up to 24 months before bottling, it is then is aged in bottle until Donato feels is it ready to be released. According to the winemaker, Valle del Noce is capable of aging for upwards of 20 years, but if opening now, he recommends decanting and aerating for a few hours before serving to allow the tannins to mellow. A complex and structured wine, with hints of volcanic minerality imparted by the distinctive terroir of the vineyard.

Remember, this 20% sale is for TODAY ONLY!

Please call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com for more details.

Vino’s holiday sale continues today as we feature classic Piedmont producer Castello di Verduno.

Owned by husband and wife Franco Bianco and Gabriella Burlotto, the lush Castello di Verduno estate (which includes a hotel, restaurant and agriturismo) produces an impressive range of some of Piedmont’s best-known wines. Famed for their Barolo and Barbaresco, the family possesses some of the region’s best growing sites, with holdings in some of its top crus.

More accessible than Barolo or Barbaresco, the fresh and fragrant Barbera d’Alba and Dolcetto d’Alba represent two of the most consumed wines in Piedmont. Gifted enologist Mario Andrion produces clean, expressive wines with a definite nod toward the traditional.

Lesser-known to American consumers is the rare Pelaverga, a variety indigenous to the area around Verduno near Alba. This year, in addition to the popular spicy red Basadone, Vino has added Bellis Perennis to its selection, made from 100% Pelaverga vinified white!

Pelaverga Bellis Perennis NV
was $25, now $20
Lovers of Castello di Verduno’s seductive Pelaverga Basadone may be curious to try Bellis Perennis: made from 100% Pelaverga Piccolo the wine is vinified white yet no less romantic. A delicate fermentation process results in a delightfully fresh wine, ideally enjoyed as a summer aperitivo. “Bellis Perennis” is the botanical name for the daisy depicted on the wine’s label.

Verduno Pelaverga Basadone 2007
was $25, now $20
The tiny Verduno or Verduno Pelaverga appellation is perhaps Italy’s smallest: the wine is made from the rare Pelaverga grape exclusively in the hamlet of Verduno. Spicy and aromatic, locals believe that this excellent food-pairing wine possesses aphrodisiacal properties, hence the name Basadone or baciadonne in Italian, the “lady kisser.”

Dolcetto d’Alba Campot 2008
was $24, now $19.20
Named after the Dolcetto vineyard in Barbaresco, Campot is a dialectal term referring to the site’s beneficial position high on the hilltop, where sunlight and excellent drainage allow for a richly colorful and velvety wine.

Barbera d’Alba 2007
was $28, now $22.40
Aged in oak for just three months, Castello di Verduno’s Barbera d’Alba is young and fruity yet still carries all the hallmarks of this famous piemontese variety. A mild winter in 2007 led to early bud break and faster ripening, which meant the grapes were picked a week earlier than usual, resulting in a more fragrant, elegant wine.

Barbaresco 2005
was $52, now $41.60
Castello di Verduno’s classic Barbaresco is blended from two of the zone’s most famous and coveted vineyards, Rabaja and Faset, both known for their longevity and their distinct earthiness. Low-yields and minimalist intervention in the cellar create a traditional-style Barbaresco with impressive aging potential and classic tar and rose petal flavors.

Barbaresco Rabaja 2003
was $65, now $52
Rabaja is one of the classic crus of the commune of Barbaresco. The Bianco family have owned land there for generations and made elegantly-structured and aromatic wines alongside such luminaries as Alfredo Currado, Aldo Vacca and Bruno Rocca. When Franco Bianco married Gabriella Burlotto and folded his family’s holdings into the Castello di Verduno estate he added two magnificent vineyards, Rabaja and Faset, to a collection that held the two important Barolo vineyards, Massara and Monvigliero.

Barolo Massara 2003
was $75, now $60
Castello di Verduno’s Barolo Massara is sourced from one of the great “crus” or vineyards of Barolo, Massara. Locals call the site “a sorì d’la matin”, meaning an ideal site that benefits from sunlight in the morning. As a result of the eastern exposure, the grapes sourced from this historic vineyard cool off during the afternoon and can ripen properly even in overly hot summers.

Remember, this 20% sale is for TODAY ONLY!

Please call 212-725-6516 or email contact@vinosite.com for more details.