Boise Coop Wine Shop

Focus on Italy

• August 14, 2008

Col Vetoraz Prosecco, Valdobbiandene Brut, $16.50

Perched on the steep slopes at Col Vetoraz, it’s hard not to get a little light-headed. Yet this vantage point—in “Cartizze,” the heart of the finest vineyard in the Prosecco appellation—puts into perspective why Col Vetoraz wines are heads and tails above the competition. Unlike the vast majority of Proseccos on the market, Col Vetoraz uses only estate grapes grown at high-altitude, and each batch is bottled to order—resulting in the most thrillingly alive, deliciously pearly and peachy Prosecco you have ever tasted. Notes of crisp pears, white peaches and green apples appear on the palate, with just a hint of tiny bubbles. Clean, crisp, dry, and as refreshing as the mountain air, it’s the perfect sparkler for before, during or after dinner. A Co-op Wine Shop favorite.

2007 Maculan Pino & Toi, $14.99

For three generations the Maculan family has been selecting and vinifying the best grapes in Breganze, an enchanting village set like a small jewel at the foot of the Alps in Italy’s Veneto region. The surrounding mountains protect the area from cold winds, creating a perfect microclimate for the cultivation of vineyards. But it is Fausto Maculan’s drive and commitment, rather than any accident of nature, which set these wines apart and distinguish Maculan as an innovative and dynamic winery.
Designed by Fausto himself, the winery is one of the most stunning small in Italy, an amazing mixture of ingenuity and style. It provides the theater for a marvelous combination of antique traditions and modern techniques using the latest winemaking technology. His Pino & Toi is a combo of 60% Tocai, 25% Pinot Bianco and 15% Pinot Grigio harvested from various vineyards in the Veneto region. It’s fermented and refined entirely in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness. Pale yellow in color, this wine is intensely perfumed, offering bright notes of citrus and apples. It is well balanced on the palate with loads of fresh peaches and pears, followed by a crisp and fragrant finish. Serve it as an aperitif, or with antipasti, pasta with shellfish and vegetables, risotto or grilled white meats.

2006 Fattoria Della Vitae Chianti Colli Senesi, $11.99

Guido Andretta and his wife Rosalba Vitanza have become big players in Montalcino since their debut release in 1995. Together with importer Fran Kysela they have selected limited lots of Chianti Colli Senesi. In the traditional mode of the region this wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese with the rest made up of black Canaiolo along with Trebbiano and Malvasia (white wine grapes). Fermentation is done in stainless still tanks under controlled temperature conditions. Long maceration accompanied by repassing the must over the grape dregs extracts all the complexity and richness. These are refined by three months aging in oak barrels. The finished wine pours a deep ruby-red with soft violet aromas, intense fruit flavors up front, good balance, and soft tannins on the velvety finish. An excellent young wine suitable for any occasion, but pairs especially well with grilled poultry and meat.