Boise Coop Wine Shop

Great Wines from Dalla Terra

• June 16, 2010

Dalla Terra™ (of the earth in Italian) Winery Direct® is a direct importer of a limited selection of Italy’s finest wines. “Winery Direct” is economical and consumer-friendly, putting quality wines on American wine lovers’ tables at affordable prices. This efficient method of shipping, distributing and marketing wine, which bypasses the national importer, allows distributors to buy directly from the producer. As a result, Dalla Terra’s wines usually cost less than those of comparable quality. Here’s the line-up:

2007 Alois Lageder Pinot Bianco, $13.99
The eponymous Alois Lageder winery was founded over 150 years ago in Alto Adige, Italy’s most northern wine growing region. Here Alois Lageder grows grapes on steep Dolomite slopes with varied micro-climates that provide distinct vineyard sites. This wine has a brilliant straw yellow color with a green tint. Very fine, fruity (apples, peaches), forward varietal aroma. Pronounced, clean, elegant, grapey flavor, light to medium-bodied with a fresh mouth-watering finish.

2006 Alois Lageder Chardonnay, $14.99
The aroma is delicate with pronounced notes of subtropical fruit, quite intense flavor and a good, medium-bodied structure, coupled with lively acidity. Serve as an aperitif, with starters, salads, all types of seafood (fish and shellfish), chicken, pasta.

2008 Inama Vin Soave, $15.99
With vineyard holdings almost exclusively on the Monte Foscarino, in the heart of the Soave Classico district, there was little choice but to specialize in the production of quality wines. Giuseppe Inama, who gradually acquired a total of thirty hectares in the most enviable sites, founded the estate in the 1960s. Stefano, Giuseppe’s son, assumed control of winemaking in 1992. This beautiful Soave offers an elegant nose of sweet field flowers: camomile, elder flower, iris. Pleasant on the palate with sweet almond on the finish.

2008 Li Veli Passmonte, $11.50
Li Veli highlights the Salento region’s principal native varietals, including the red varieties Negroamaro, rimitivo and Aleatico, which are made into powerful, inky-dark wines of great character and elegance. The Passmonte is 100% Negroamaro with a dense ruby red ruby red color. It is immediately intense on the nose with marked aromas of ripe and fleshy red fruits, notably cherries followed by spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. In the mouth it is full, powerful, smooth and very long, with a well defined acid streak which makes it fresh and pleasing.

2007 Avignonesi Rosso di Toscana, $13.99
In 1309 pope Clement V transferred the papal residence from Rome to Avignon, France. In 1377, when pope Gregory XI moved the papal residence back to Rome, some noble families of Avignon left France to follow him. It was at that time, in Italy, that one of those families became known as Avignonesi – probably to simplify an otherwise difficult, foreign name. It is not known exactly when Avignonesi’s cellars were built, but they are doubtless among the most ancient in Italy. Palazzo Avignonesi was built according to a design by Jacopo Barozzi (called Vignola) in the second half of the XVI century and it has always been the cellars’ seat. This lovely red is a blend of equal parts Prugnolo Gentile, Cabernet and Merlot with with a bouquet reminiscent of wild fruits, spices and grass. The taste is round and harmonious with smooth tannins that make for the ideal complement to even the most hearty dishes.

2008 Badia a Coltibouno Chianti Classico Roberto Stucchi, $13.99
After WWII Piero Stucchi Prinetti transformed Coltibuono into a modern estate, selling instead of cellaring its best Chiantis and creating international branding for the Coltibuono name, as well as promoting Tuscan extra virgin olive oil. A devotion to Badia and a respect for its history guides the current, seventh generation family members. This wine, made from selected Sangiovese vineyards, is the result of a collaboration with a small number of local producers, located in the best Chianti Classico micro-zones. It is intense and fruit-forward, ready for drinking immediately, but over time it gains an added complexity. Forest berries, spices, leather, moist earth and dried plum mark the nose. It’s soft and round in the mouth, with well-balanced acidity and clean and persistent aftertaste.

Join Carrie in the Wine Shop on Wednesday, June 16 from 5 to 7 pm for a free taste of all these exciting wines.