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La Marca Prosecco NV

La Marca Prosecco NV

La Marca Prosecco is a tasteful addition to any holiday table. A torrent of clinquant bubbles adds sparkle and elan to delicate aromas of yellow apple, lemon, white flowers, and acacia honey. This is a spritely, medium-bodied Prosecco graced with bright acidity, creamy texture, and a welcome burst of subtle minerality twining a pleasant bittersweet […]

Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2012

Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2012

Hauled out of the cellar in anticipation of another waterlogged week in Portland, I’ve contented myself with Allegrini’s classically styled Amarone della Valpolicella. The 2012 vintage, like the 2010 I sampled two years ago, is of similar richness and texture. Plums, aged leather, figs, and tar are denser notes that form the base and backbone […]

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT 2013

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT 2013

A perennial favorite, the 2013 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre is nicely concentrated and magenta-hued, due in part to a small fraction of grapes dried ripasso-style blended in post-fermentation—an addition that lends both satiny texture and richness. Layered aromas of plums and cherry skins, leather, earth, tobacco, mint and dark chocolate shavings lead in to a […]

La Marca Prosecco NV

La Marca Prosecco NV

La Marca’s NV Prosecco sports the classic grapey Glera nose. It’s straw-colored and festively effervescent, with yellow apple, and acacia honey notes. On the palate, it’s soft, clean, and inviting—a perfect wine for springtime. Candied lemon peel and orange pastille round out the mid-palate. 1.70 g/100ml RS 11.29% ABV | Sample Cantine La Marca 8.8 […]

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT 2011

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT 2011

The 2011 Palazzo della Torre is loaded with roasted figs (is this because I was just roasting figs? Maybe.) and sun baked plums. There is too, a beautiful earthy note, like dust in high summer, that echoes on the palate, lending complexity to high acidity and firm, ripe tannin along with an appealing touch of […]

Pieropan Soave Classico 2014

Pieropan Soave Classico 2014

A lovely, spirited Soave Classico from the Veneto region, utterly fresh and bright with notes of Meyer lemon zest, white flowers, dried honey, and almond extract. Aged on fine lees in concrete, the effect of which is largely textural, lending minerally undertones of wet pomace, and slight autolytic character. A nice lingering finish. Clean and […]

Piccini Vino Spumante Extra Dry NV

Piccini Vino Spumante Extra Dry NV

A straightforward Prosecco made in the Charmat method from the Treviso province. Piccini’s Vino Spumante Extra Dry is bright and lively with notes of freshly cut yellow apples and cheery meadow flowers. On the palate, fine bubbles and a dash of citrus race across a lovely acid spine. It’s very pleasant and very quaffable. A […]

Amarone Braised Beef Short Ribs with Creamy Polenta and Mission Fig Glaze

Amarone Braised Beef Short Ribs

I couldn’t bring myself to use an entire bottle of Amarone as the cooking wine for the short ribs, instead I substituted a bottle of 2011 Palazzo Delle Torre from Allegrini. Pallazzo Delle Torre is a blend of Corvina Veronese and Rondinella, traditional varieties that go into the making of Amarone, and part of the grapes that […]

Allegrini Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2010

Allegrini Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2010

The 2010 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a stunning and seamless blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta that have been air-dried for 3-4 months, or until the grapes lose around 50% of their volume. Voluptuous notes of incense, fresh road tar, figs, blackberry reduction and cedar waft from the glass. The palate echoes […]

Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca 2013

Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca 2013

The 2013 Pieropan La Rocca Soave sets the imagination adrift to high altitude vistas, with delicate, breezy aromas of wild mint, resinous mountain air, white flowers, and white peaches. Crafted from 100% Garganega, it’s golden-robed and silky on entry with bright, deliciously tart acidity delineating richer lemon curd and stone fruit notes. Pleasingly fleshy and […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com