Wow that was rambling wasn’t it? Sorry about that.

We’re talking bubbles at Wine Welfare today, since New Years celebrations are arguably the best time to pop those mushroom corks. I don’t care who you are or where you’re from, if you’ve got a tongue, you’ve got to like bubbly. Champagne, sparkling wine, Cava, whatever silly name you want to call it, bubbles make everyone smile and have a great time. Enjoying a good bottle of bubbly is a party experience from beginning to end. There’s the opening flourish of cork-popping that no other beverage offers you, then the wonderful look of the stuff in the glass, then the tingly, yeasty or sweet flavors bouncing around your mouth and then the raging hangover the next day. It’s magic.

So here are two awesome cheap bubbly suggestions for your New Years par-TAY. One Cava and one sweet (I think they stopped making under $20 Champagne in the 1980′s).

Mionetto Prosecco Brut NV

Proseccos are delicate, slightly sweet bubbles from Italy. They are perfect for non-discerning palates or people who just aren’t into the dry bubbles. However, this Prosecco’s genius comes from it giving a little of both worlds. For the serious, dry champagne lover, this is a brut Prosecco, which adds a little more yeastiness to the already sweet style. It’s not a sugar bomb by any means. Apple, dried apricot, almonds. Delicious with some bread desserts or just by itself. Fantastic.

$7.95 at ShoppersWines.com

or

$9.99 at BevMo!

Conde de Subirats Cava Brut

A weird but ultimately awesome Cava. Cava is what Spain calls it’s Champagne. That’s all you need to know. Plus, this baby is under $10? Come on.

There is a delicious bread yeast element to this wine that grips and doesn’t let go. The carbonation is delicate and lasts the entirety of your glass. A good sign. Delicious pear and honeyed apple appear here next to a stinky sourdough baguette. Even a little hint of vinegar spice comes through. The tasting notes call it mustard, but I don’t quite agree. The acid from one tiny drop of white vinegar seems more apt. Overall, this is not one you should leave out of your bubbly list this New Years.

$9.99 at BevMo!

If you end up trying either of these beauties, please come back and let me know how they were in the comments! Have a fun, happy and safe New Years celebration!

Cheers!

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Oh wait, now I remember why: Really awesome Italian wines tend to cost a tad more than US $20. Ah, the plight of the poor wino.

Anyhoo, each week they have four separate wine flights for tasting. They usually break down as follows: One all-white flight, one all red flight, one bubbly flight (or something else off the beaten path like rose, etc.), and one that I like to call the FASCINATING flight. Obviously the Fascinating Flight tends to be the most pricey, but on a weeknight back in early August I decided to splurge (my wife would usually get the white), and boy did I choose the right week to splurge.

The flight I had was called “Gaglioppo Through the Years,” and it was a vertical tasting of Ippolito “Ripe del Falco” Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva vintages 1996, 1995 and 1993. Now, for someone as “into” wine as myself, I would prefer to say that this was not the oldest wine I’ve had in my six years of interest.

But it was. And it was awesome.

Now, I know this is a site for under-$20 wines, but we have occasionally (ok, once) written about wines that did not meet our price threshold simply because they were worth sharing with our readers. I’m not expecting everyone to run out and spend over $50 on a bottle of Ippolito “Ripe del Falco” (which is around what these three cost), but at least you will know about what is out there and some might learn about a grape and a wine they have never heard of before. It’s something new. So let’s share that.

First, a little history on the wine itself:

The Ippolito “Ripe del Falco” is made from the Gaglioppo grape in Calabria, Italy. That’s the toe of the boot. Gaglioppo is one of the oldest grapes on the planet and was previously thought to be of Greek origin, but it was later discovered to be a native Italian varietal. A 2008 study showed that Gaglioppo DNA was closely related to Sangiovese, a grape I’m sure most of you have heard of since it is used to make Chianti as well as around ten other wines. The study concluded that Gaglioppo is a hybrid between Sangiovese and an as-yet-unidentified varietal. Gaglioppo is used to make 90% of the wine that comes from Calabria. Most Calabrian wines are made and then sent off to Northern Italy to be used in blending. The wine they keep tends to be of high alcohol content.

The Ippolito winery is actually the oldest cantina in the Zona Calabria. It was begun in 1845 and still makes the exact same kinds of wines as it did over 100 years ago. Some vintages soar, while others simply maintain. The one constant is the care and quality put into the wines, not to mention the superior cellaring strength (that means they age very well and for a very long time).

Now, onto the wines:

Ippolito “Ripe del Falco” Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva 1996

The potency of this vintage hits you right off. Since I had no other vintage to compare it to, at the time I felt it was by far the strongest in terms of nose and alcohol. In hindsight however, it just tasted younger than the others. A blast of oily cherry hits you right off, followed by a musty metallic note. The color of the wine is still solid, but closer to the edge you can see that it thins out slightly. Younger wines tend to have a rim of water when you tilt them in the light, but my experience with young means 5-6 years. Nothing like this. The wine was structured oddly, with different flavors of leathery fruit bouncing back and forth. Leathery cherry, dates and caramel. The alcohol provides the final kick to the face. This was not what you would call a “bright” wine, but rather studied, serious and very very terse.

$37.99 at LinerandElsen.com, though you have to order by phone.

Ippolito “Ripe del Falco” Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva 1995

While similar to the 06 vintage, this one did not have the attack of the first. The nose was much more subdued, with fruit taking a backseat and giving way to the less edible qualities on the nose. Leather, ash and a bit of resin. The flavor profile on this is as solid as a rock. No dancing around here. Prunes, rich black cherry and the full mouth feel of a fruit bomb Syrah, but with less juiciness. The style of the Gaglioppo is here with a vengeance as the tannins kick in to batter your tongue before letting the velvet softness of the fruit play on. Delicious soil flavors come along with a finish that can only be described as “mushroomy”.

$33.00 at Vinopolis Wine Shop.

Ippolito “Ripe del Falco” Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore Riserva 1993

This was the most unbelievable of the bunch. The discrepancy between this vintage and one from just two years later is remarkable. The color is rust with flecks of black, like a pan sauce after broiling a steak. Copper pennies and motor oil hit your nose, followed by old leather. Not the supple, cared for, oily kind. I’m talking left-out-in-the-desert-heat-to-blister-and-flake leather flavors. With good reason, too as Calabria is one of the hottest areas of Italy. When it comes to the fruit of the 93, think dried. Plums, prunes, dates, apricots (yes), cherries, and black olives. You know those super-cured black olives you can buy in bulk in some stores? The kind that are so wrinkled and concentrated that they look dreadful, but whose flavor you can never get out of your mind? That’s this wine. This thing even tastes wrinkled. The alcohol has aged off somewhat, making you able to taste a spectacular finish that leaves your tannic-dry tongue smacking for more. Too bad it’s like $50 a bottle.

Haven’t been able to find this one online.

Obviously you could enjoy any of these with food, except perhaps the 93, but I’m not going to presume to know what specific dishes might be best. I’ll just say rich red meats with sauces. If you decide to pick up any of these, save them for a special occasion, and make sure you drink them with something you cooked yourself for someone special. Don’t take them to a restaurant.

All of these wines are available (unless they’ve run out) at 55° Wine:

3111 Glendale Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90039

(323) 662-5556

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Elena Walch achieved my dream of marrying into a wine family early on before the Alto Adige region had really taken off. She took over this family’s two wineries in the region: Castel Ringberg and Kastelaz, and has been making delicious, world-class wines from the South Tyrol ever since. It’s a region not many people know about, much less drink wine from. I guess what I’m saying is, read this review and then buy the damn wine.

COLOR: Pleasing to the eye is what comes to mind. Great brightness and yet it’s dark. It’s strange. The stuff looks simultaneously tasty and teeth-staining-thick. It’s the T-1000 of wines.

NOSE: Brilliant dark plum and tobacco with that delicious basement must scent that is a prerequisite among the Italian wines.

TASTE: Not as thick or powerful as you would expect based on the clobbering your shnozz just took or the way it rolls around the glass like liquid metal. I was expecting a severe and delicious beatdown, but instead the wine was simply tasty. Great structure that doesn’t go overboard on the fruit (as expected) but also does not descend into the depths of fire-breathing heat. Chocolate covered cherries and plums, some hard candy, a bit of caramel. For some reason I’m reminded of when you mow a lawn and leave the clippings in a pile for a day or two. Great tannins, but not buff. Think tri-athelete, not bodybuilder. It’s a wine that makes you want to swish it around for a a few extra seconds just to taste the complexity.

WITH FOOD: This wine is made to be enjoyed with a meal, so don’t wuss out. It should definitely be paired with some sort of dead animal, or at least some sort of ancient cheese. Goat or lamb would be good, but I’m not sure how many Americans are firing up a Sunday afternoon goat. Steak would work, but it almost seems anti-climactic.

WHERE TO BUY: $16.99 MissionLiquor.com!

WINEMAKER WEBSITE: www.elenawalch.com

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The Villa del Borgo label is owned by Vin Divino and is used only in the United States. They know how we Americans love them fancy soundin’ names on our wine because that must mean it’s good. Well, in this case, the wine is good. Very good. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find estate-grown (meaning it’s grown on the winery’s actual grounds and vineyards) and bottled Italian wines at this price. The wine is done in 100% stainless steel, with no malolactic fermentation and it never touches oak. This means you get more fruit and natural acid than fake vanilla wood flavors.

Color

Green-washed tea. Kind of like underripe hay.

Nose

Have you ever had Werther’s Originals? Or at least a caramel candy? That’s what this smells like. Not caramel alone, but the caramel candies. That and citrus.

Taste

More caramel candies, purple sweet tarts, grass mixed with orange peel, green apple, parma violets. That’s everything we could think of. The acid is surprisingly low, but there is enough to cut through and please your tongue. It leaves a great finish and gives you a satisfying pucker.

With Food

Creamy cheeses and tart fruits. Since the acid is slightly low, you may want to compensate. As for main foods, maybe a lemon chicken or cream sauce would work. Seafood of course, but no tuna or salmon. You want to have food that’s got some fat to it so that the acid can break through the oil.

$9.59 at WineChateau.com!

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The Monaci Maru Negroamaro is on sale at your local BevMo, but it’s cheaper in the link below. The Negro Amaro grape is grown exclusively in Southern Italy; the Puglia region to be specific. This isn’t a wine seen very often, so cheers to BevMo for throwing one up on their shelves. The wine is definitely worth a taste, especially if you are into the dark, murky fruit flavors and love tobacco wines. The only caveat is that if you open this, you should drink the whole bottle, which makes it a party or long-meal wine. It lost all of its pop after one day.

Color

Dark red with brown. Very dirty looking, but full-bodied.

Nose

Definite must and tobacco on the nose. It opens up beautifully to great fig, dried cherry, cinnamon and anise scents.

Taste

More and more figs. The figs are on a roll lately. The wine takes a moment on your tongue before exploded in figs. However, they quickly fade and are replaced with cavendish tobacco, spices and a think, muscular dose of leathery tannins. Very interesting because the wine seems to go back and forth between the fruit and the elemental flavors. The finish is decent, but not lingering.

With Food

Never had an actual tobacco wine on Wine Welfare before, but if you ever wanted to enjoy a Cuban cigar or a pipe with a glass of wine, this is it. Of course, liquers, sherry or brandy might work better, but if you’re not into those, pop one of these open and enjoy with a good smoke.

$10.95 at NapaCabs.com!

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Our First Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is a noble grape variety used mostly in the creation of “The King of Wines,” Barolo. Barolos are required to be made of 100% Nebbiolo, which means that any wine, even if it is made up of 99% Nebbiolo and 1% Cabernet, cannot be a Barolo.

More often than not, these are simply called “Nebbiolo,” as is the case with the 2003 Ascheri Nebbiolo D’alba San Giacomo.

Nebbiolo grapes are very finicky and difficult to grow, so it follows that they remain difficult even once they are in the bottle. Barolos and Nebbiolos need a long time to mature (15-20 years in most cases) and even if you wait a long time, they still need to sit out for awhile once opened. Young Nebbiolo wines often taste far too tannic and have weak color.

Color

For only 6 years old, this wine is maturing quickly. Though not a Barolo, the color characteristics are unmistakeable. A fresh red, not too deep, but showing copper on the edges, a sure sign of a maturing Nebbiolo.

Nose

Explosive, but contained. The nose is full of brown sugar, some red currant, strawberry and dusty roses. Smells fantastic.

Taste

Very complex for an Italian Nebbiolo from Alba. The tart red fruit really comes through here, with the strawberries really standing out. Also, we have a flavor we haven’t seen yet since the site began: Marzipan. In case you don’t know, marzipan is a sugar and almond confection that is used to make little shapes that usually go on cakes. The wine brings marzipan on the finish, and it goes for quite awhile. There is not a single hollow point in this one. Delicious all around.

With Food

To put it bluntly, we suggest you enjoy this on its own. A wine this well-crafted should really be savored. If you absolutely HAVE to eat something with it, try a lamb, beef or ostrich dish made with a wine sauce.

On sale for $17.98 at WineLibrary.com!

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2007 Mazzone Immensus Malvasia

This is a brilliant, 100% Malvasia that is at an absolutely ludicrous price right now.

Color

Light gold in color, but with a nice thick look. Definitely not a weak-looking white.

Nose

Very light and not heavy-handed, despite the color. Good citrus here: lemon and orange. There is also an element of heavy cream to it.

Taste

Remember 50/50 bars? This is what this wine reminds us of. Great richness, good acidity, with fresh-cut pineapple and a finish that lasts quite awhile. The tangy flavor makes you want more. Let it warm up a bit and you will see just how light but full this thing can be.

With Food

Great for cream sauces and lemon chicken. Shellfish would also work quite well, so long as you don’t have too much butter with it, as that could all get a bit overwhelming for your mouth.

Only $5.50 on sale at WineLibrary.com!

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Castellani La Cattura – Our First Super Tuscan

Super Tuscans are rebels. Back in the day in Italy, the DOC (Denominazioni di origine controllata), which is basically the Wine Police of Italy, said that Chianti always had to consist of no more than 70% Sangiovese and at least 10% of  a local white grape. As time passed, Chianti sales started to suck, so some of the winemakers decided to break the DOC rules by blending the Sangiovese with other varietals like Cabernet. The Castellani La Cattura, for example, is made from Teroldego and Syrah grapes. By breaking DOC regulations, these wines could no longer be called “Chianti,” but that didn’t matter to these new winemakers of the Rebel Alliance. They decided to give these wines a new name, one that best described the kind of wine they were creating and where it came from.

Thus, the “Super Tuscan” was formed. Though it has never taken on an “official” status, it stands to this day as the signifier of some of the best wines Italy has to offer.

Color

Inky red withe purple tint. Much darker than most Chiantis you may have seen. Think of a thick-looking Hawaiian Punch.

Nose

Wood. Pure oak all the way. A bit too much if you ask us, but some might dig it. Letting it breathe for an hour or so may help. If the oak dissipates enough, you will find scents of dark raspberries, rich cherries and soil. Early morning forest, dead leaves, and…despite all of the scents we just described…peaches.

Taste

The oak stays put and doesn’t fade much on the palate. Since the wood/vanilla elements the oak brings forth are so prominent in the front of the wine, the mid-palate is flabby. Basically, you get a nice expolosion of vanilla and then it’s like there is water on your tongue. Swallow and then you will find the fruit, and it’s raspberry all the way; nice and tart, but a little late to the party. We were going to sleep by the time the cherries or anything else even bothered to appear.

This wine received an overall 90 point rating from some wine dudes, but…nope.

With Food

Pasta with red sauce. Not much more you can do with this because it’s not as full-bodied as we would like. Ironically, it would not go with rabbit.

$12.98 at WineLibrary.com!

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A Mano Soave 2007

So it appears that the BevMo 5¢ Wine Sale will never be over. It’s just going to go on and on and on. Seriously, we expected this thing to last a few weeks, which is a lot for most sales, but this thing has been going on since mid-June. Anyway, let’s look at something a bit different today: The A Mano Soave 2007.

If you had not guessed yet, “Soave” (swah-vay, as in “Rico) is the name of the wine and “A Mano” is the name of the brand. Soave wines are dry, white wines from the northeast region of Italy, near Verona. You remember Verona, where those two crazy kids Romeo & Juliet met tragedy because they couldn’t get their hands on any wine…something like that.

Anyway, Soave wines are made from a grape called Garganega which, besides having an awesome name, is not really grown anywhere else. Translation: get some Soave.

Good News: Soave is somewhat sweet, but in an understated kind of way. It is delicate, light and crisp. The first thing you will notice on the A Mano Soave is the light straw color. Not as golden as a Chardonnay, but not as silver as a Sauvignon Blanc. The nose is floral, with green touches of grass, melon and some freshly opened almonds. The wine should be chilled, but not too much. The green melon returns in the mouth, and you get a little touch of buttery green olive. The finish is quick and leaves you with a tingling lime and orange component. Very easy drinking.

With Food: Shellfish is made for this wine. Oysters, mussels, clams and probably crab or lobster, though we would suggest a more buttery Chardonnay for those if you have the choice.

$10.04 for 2 bottles at the BevMo 5¢ Wine Sale!

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Please Light the Fireworks BEFORE Drinking These

Since today is the 4th of July, we here at Wine Welfare decided to just give you a barrage of great deals still available at the BevMo 5¢ Wine Sale!

So without further or do, here are 2 great whites (we know that it’s most likely warm, wherever you are) and 2 great reds (we know you also may be barbecuing). So go pick up these great wines!

Whites First

Mezzacorona Chardonnay 2006 – $9.04 for 2!:

Creamy, with a bit of apple crumble and vanilla ice cream, but not nearly as filling. Medium-bodied, and just dry enough to make you want another glass. Enjoy it with grilled chicken or fish, only slightly chilled.

Query Sauvignon Blanc 2008 – $15.04 for 2!:

Limes, kool-aid and Fruit Loops with milk on the nose really helps with these hot summer days. Very unlikely scents for a California Sauvignon Blanc, which tend to be pretty bland and over oaked. Nice grass on the finish and extremely refreshing. Fish or chicken will work, but enjoy it by itself too. Chill it a bit more than the Chardonnay.

Now The Reds

Challis Lane Cabernet 2007 – $8.04 for 2!:

A wine deal list just doesn’t seem complete without another mention of Challis Lane. We reviewed their Sauvignon Blanc last week and found it an astounding wine for the price. The Cabernet is no different. Stiff, leathery nose accompanied by wonderful red fruits like cherries and blackberries. The taste is an explosion of black plums, boysenberries and tree bark. That last one doesn’t sound so appetizing, we know, but it translates to “good with barbecued steak.” So have at it.

Hedges CMS Red Wine 2007 – $12.04 for 2!:

A very European-style red wine blend from the Columbia Valley of Washington. Now, you might be thinking “European-style wine on the 4th of July?” but we really feel like this can bring something to your table full of barbecued hamburgers, steaks, chicken, ribs or pretty much anything else. It’s a “Meritage” wine, meaning a blend, that shows a lot of strong coffee, licorice and blackberry flavors and smells. Open it when you light the grill to give it time to breathe, then enjoy once the food is ready. Trust us, anything char-broiled is going to go perfectly with this bottle.

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We hope you have a fantastic 4th of July holiday weekend!

Cheers!

Wine Welfare

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Not to be indelicate, but fellas, this is the wine to give to a date. We could be somewhat narrow-minded and say that because it’s both bubbly and sweet, any American girl will love it, but we tend to think that any woman will absolutely love this wine and look for it from the moment you hand them the glass. From the Piedmonte region of Italy, this is a wonderful dessert wine that comes with accessories included; those accessories being bubbles. The Muscat grape (“Moscato” in this case) is known for its sweetness and 9 times out of 10 comes in the form of dessert wine. The “D’Asti” part essentially means “bubbles.” However, be warned, this is nowhere near champagne, but rather an absolutely delicious dessert/party/newcomer wine that will liven up any gathering, including New Year’s.

Bad News First: The only thing we could really find that counts as “bad” about this brand of Moscato D’Asti is that if you are looking for straight-up Moscato dessert wine, this is not it. While very sweet, and made from the Muscat grape, this wine is subtle….with bubbles. It’s not going to be syrupy. More understated than anything else.

Now The Good: Uhh…based on what we said to begin with ( that it will impress the ladies) we really don’t have to say more. But, seeing as how this is a wine suggestion site, we will break it down a bit more. Sweet champagne minus the dryness and acid pretty much says it all. Apples, peaches, pears, apricots. It all depends on how cold you serve it and how long it has been open. Savoring it will be hard, but know that having too much will have the same effect on you as too much champagne. “Perfume going in, poison coming out” as Tom Cruise said in Cocktail.

With Food: This is not really a food wine, but since we have suggest something, we will say basically any cheese or fruit. This is not for consumption with dinner by any means, and to have it with a dessert might be pushing the sugar limits a bit. Like we said above: Pop a bottle open on New Year’s and you won’t be disappointed.

$8.95 at NapaCabs.com

NOTE: This can also usually be found at most BevMo’s, and at a decent price (less than $12) so stock up if you can; it goes fast.

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Bad News First: Can’t find anything bad. We suppose if you hated white wine then this would be bad, but that’s not how we roll here at WW.

Now the Good: Delicious and a party wine? This can’t be! It’s true; this wine can be enjoyed anytime and with practically anything, though a decent steak deserves a red. This Sicilian white is a five way blend of 20% Chardonnay, 5% Fiano, 60% Grecanico, 5% Sauvignon and 10% Viognier. Smells fantastic (you can smell the oranges that grow so well on the island), but once you roll it around in your mouth, you’re taken away to the tropics. Pineapple grilled over a charcoal flame, with small bit of coconut at the end. Closest wine to a pina colada we’ve ever had, but not sweet or over the top. The wine is not dry, so even newbies will enjoy it in favor of the oft-served Riesling.

With Food: Like we said before, this wine is versatile, but we suggest having it at the beginning of a meal, with finger foods, etc. Try seafood or fried items with it (shrimp cocktail, fried artichokes), or combine the two by serving crab cakes with it. If you aren’t moving on to bigger, bolder reds at some point during the process of your meal, then by all means, drink this in the beginning, middle and end.

11.67 at Petrock’s Liquors

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