Bocelli Prosecco – Extra Dry

Long before Andrea Bocelli was famous for music, his family was known for its wine. On their Tuscan farm, they have nurtured Prosecco grapes indigenous to their Veneto region and created a sparkling wine with delicate grace, focusing on a low yield that helps concentrate the fragrance and flavor. In fact, each plant produces but one bottle of this playful wine that possesses a fresh peachiness laced with minerality due to its classic moraine soil. The delicate, yet persistent perlage tickles the throat, providing a quaffable festive spring treat that is perfect for shrimp cocktail, oysters or even spicy Thai noodles.

Rosso Toscana Sangiovese IGT

The backbone to Tuscan wine undoubtedly lies in the Sangiovese grape, known best for the acidic fruitiness it brings to Chianti. And in this wine made from 100% Sangiovese, the Bocelli brothers have hand-harvested grapes from another unusually low-yield vineyard that produces no more than one and a half bottles of wine per plant.  The terroir of river stone and hunks of quartz give the feeling that this gem of a wine is like finding a diamond in the rough.  It is a lush, dark ruby wine that brings forth acidic fruitiness of berries, cherries, rhubarb and cranberry with a marvelous mineral earthiness. The earthy loam scent leads into a well-balanced, full wine meant for penne with farmer’s market Roma tomatoes, basil and Buffalo mozzarella, a charcoal-grilled steak, or a simple plate of aged Parmesan.

“One of the greatest discoveries in my life has been the wine made at the Domaine de Trevallon,”

-Robert Parker

One of the greatest benefits of my job is to turn people on to amazing wines that they would have never tried without our guided interaction. I can think of no greater possible candidate for immediate introduction than the ever famous cult wine of Provence….Domaine de Trevallon.

Domaine de Trevallon is long considered to be the very finest producer in the entire south of France, and indeed one of the most sought after cult wines for collectors the world over. If you have never had the pleasure of trying one, here’s the story.

Eloi Durrbach planted his first 3 hectares of vines in 1973. He literally had to dynamite the hillsides in order to plant. He produced his first vintage of Trevallon in 77. In 1993 French Authorities changed the amount of Cabernet allowed for the appellation of Les Beaux de Provence from 50% to 20%. Eloi, always having produced a 50/50 Cabernet -Syrah blend chose to lose his appellation designation and be labeled a common Vins de Pays. By doing so; Domaine de Trevallon, like todays “Super Tuscans”, was among the first wineries in the world to defy tradition and appellation prestige to produce superior quality wine, even if it meant losing the coveted AOC designation.

It was a few years later that a French car drove up to the winery with Burgundy plates. The gentleman in the car introduced himself as the owner of a Domaine in Burgundy. After a brief vineyard tour and tasting the gentleman asked if his friend Kermit Lynch, the famous wine importer, might be welcome to join them on a subsequent visit. When pressed for his identity the gentleman introduced himself…it was Albert de Villaine, owner of Domaine Romanee Conti.

In 2000 Eloi lost his Father Rene to cancer. Rene purchased the Estate in 1955. He was a renowned cubist artist in France. His best friend and Eloi’s God Father was Pablo Picasso. Four years prior to his Father’s death Eloi asked Rene to create a legacy of artist labels for Trevallon. Every year since, you will find a different one of Rene’s renderings on the label. There are fifteen labels yet to be used. Many compare the impact of the bottle to that of Chateau Mouton Rothschild.

Here is a very small offer of these beautiful wines. Tasting groups all over the planet encourage patience for these big red wines. The whites (Marsanne Roussane, Chardonnay) are even more rare. There are three cases allocated for the entire state of Illinois. This will be a first come first served offering. I ask that you submit a wish list and I will confirm the orders directly with the importer. All orders are subject to confirmation.

- Sean Chaudhry

This month, Hinsdale Cellar’s Inspired Wine Club introduces its family of patrons to the Terlato family, who appreciates the role wine plays during these occasions. “Gathering at the table has always been at the heart of the Terlato family,” said Founder Anthony Terlato, “From my childhood, I can remember dinners and evening gatherings with family, cousins, and friends, laughing and enjoying each other’s company with Verdi or Puccini playing in the background. Of course, my mother and grandmother prepared the most delicious foods, and my father opened plenty of good wine….” Anthony’s career in wine began over 50 years ago in his own father’s Chicago wine store. He eventually got into wine importing. So, from his collection, come two wines that form the core of his wineries and will likely make your spring celebrations even more festive this year.

2010 Terlato Family Vineyard Pinot Grigio, Russian River Valley, California

When Anthony visited Italy and tasted Pinot Grigio for the first time, he was so impressed with its bright aromas, crispness, freshness and the way it paired effortlessly with foods that he had to share it with others back in the States.  He credits this varietal for his getting involved in winemaking, and many credit him with starting a Pinot Grigio craze here in the United States. The 2010 vintage has an elegant light golden color and even brings forth a smell of spring with its notes of honeysuckle, citrus and stone fruits.  Not surprisingly, it possesses the bright flavors that Anthony prized in his first sips of Pinot Grigio.  It is dry and crisp to the finish and reiterates the stone fruit nose again on the palate with a lacing of minerality and wonderful mouthfeel.  This wine pairs as well with zingy shrimp scampi as it does with a leftover turkey sandwich.

2006 Terlato Family Vineyard Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, California

The other varietal that impressed Anthony in his early travels was Syrah, so he sought what he believed would be the perfect conditions for producing a magnificent specimen.  Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley shares important characteristics with France’s Rhône Valley, and from the wine he’s been able to produce there, Anthony believes he has succeeded in his mission.  Made from 100% Syrah and aged for 17 months in French oak barrels, this deep purple wine’s nose is immediately smoky. On the palate, it brings forth flavors of black cherry, plum and currants, with hints of budding violets. Watch it pair perfectly with salty, smoky sweetness of your Easter ham or magnify the deliciousness of a garlicky roast leg of lamb.

This March, Hinsdale Wine Cellars offers its Inspired Wine Club members a way to make their glasses completely full with two warming Spanish wines that take the edge of the remaining chill in the air in much the same way that a soft, grandmother-knitted afghan pulled tightly around you, can steel you against the chill on one of winter’s final nights. Take comfort in two very, very beautiful red wines.

2010 Alange Tempranillo

From the reddish clay soils of la Ribera del Guadiana comes a 100% Tempranillo that combines a very berry fruitiness with earthiness that seems like the perfect match when enjoying one of your final winter weekends nestled next to a crackling hearth.  This is a balanced, accessible wine that epitomizes Spain at its finest. Undoubtedly Tempranillo is Spain’s quintessential grape, and here in its deepest garnet, one easily discerns the wine’s spicy aroma and hints of cherry pipe tobacco.  On the palate, it’s plum and blackberry with a long, soft finish.  Enjoy this wine fireside or with spicy or rich dishes like that duck confit you’ve saved for a final wintry Sunday supper.

2009 Alange Alvear Tempranillo “Ensamblaje”

What is better than Tempranillo all by itself?  A blend that also combines Garnacha and Syrah, exuding complexity and richness.  The Ensamblaje blends 40% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha and 30% Syrah. Each of the varietals’ barrels are carefully selected and fermented separately before being blended in French oak for four months to provide a spicy aromatic delight. The wine is cherry red and equally fruity.  But one can’t escape the sensual nature of this smoky wine that conjures walks in the woods across a sweeping bed of crackly leaves. On the tongue, it’s black berries, nutmeg, spice and everything nice. The mature fruit and oak balance perfectly and marry well with grilled steak, rich pasta or even a well-seasoned fish like Asian-marinated tuna.

It’s not because I’m a wine and beer merchant or that I happen to have an exceptional fondness for this delicious malt beverage. It’s because Wisconsin was sort of built on beer. The Germans, Polish and many other Eastern European immigrants found its environment hospitable and home-like and quickly went to town building some of the most well-known, if not best tasting, beers. Pabst, Schlitz, Miller, and Blatz – they built a foundation for American beer making.

But today’s Wisconsin and its beer-brewing brethren have come quite a distance even if some of its best results never leave the state. That is why it only took a Chicago Tribune article on New Glarus, its brewery and famous beer crawl through at least 12 town bars to get my good friend and president of the Pure Wine Company, Troy Clements and I to pack up a car and head out on a road trip of beer tasting in south-central Wisconsin.

Squirrels, spotted cows and moon men

Microbrews seem to love their quirky names, and New Glarus is no exception. Road Slush, Two Women, Moon Man, Fat Squirrel, Cabin Fever, Totally Naked and Hop Hardy are just a few of the beers we encountered in this town seemingly built around beer. Our quest began on a Friday, arriving in time for lunch at the Glarner Stube, which is known for its Swiss fare, including hash brown-like rostis (pronounced Roast-ies) with Swiss cheese. For those who are unfamiliar with New Glarus, it has Swiss roots, so the Stube was a great way to kick off our trip, sampling some of the brewery’s best right at lunch and deciding that Road Slush, Spotted Cow and Fat Squirrel were among my favorites…so far. Our “hard hat” tour in the brewery was still to come.

Deb and Dan Carey started New Glarus Brewing Company in 1993, when Deb raised the money for the start-up venture as a gift to her husband and making her the first woman to own and operate a brewery in the United States. Dan, whose education and training have all involved beer making and who did a brewing apprenticeship in Germany, wanted to make those styles of beer in the United States. Interestingly, he ended up buying a good deal of his equipment in Deutschland when he encountered a brewery being torn down. Talk about a great deal—he was able to buy it all at essentially the cost of scrap metal. This is what is still in his Riverside brewery. Today, with a second brewery to help produce his many microbrews, Dan and his great works of beer art have been recognized again and again with honors and accolades that just keep mounting – the most recent being the award of Best Craft Beer of 2011, which was bestowed on his New Glarus Black Top.

So following our lunch in the Stube, we went to the brewery for the three-hour tour, which costs $20/person. This Hard Hat tour provides an exhaustive look at both the Carey’s Riverside Brewery and Hilltop Brewery, and a lengthy time tasting a lot of beer. At the tour’s end, we finished up in a tasting room filled with beer and cheese and meat plates.

For folks whose fortitude isn’t as strong as Troy’s and mine, an hour in the New Glarus tasting room might be enough. But that would hardly tell the story of New Glarus. And we were committed to learning as much as we could about New Glarus and its beers. So after a brief respite at our hotel, we renewed our own private quest. From Puempels Olde Tavern to Ott Haus Pub & Grill to Tofflers Bar & Grill, we continued working our way through much of quiet New Glarus until finally we settled at Deininger’s for dinners of lamb shanks and steak. Of course, a night like this wouldn’t be complete without a nightcap, which we swaggered our way through at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill. Now, this may sound like an exhausting commitment to our lines of work, but rest assured, we unfortunately left many pubs untouched in this sleepy little beer mecca. We would mourn that we never made it to Flannery’s Wilhelm Tell Club, Culvers, or Kleeman’s Bar & Grill.

The quest continues

The unfortunate aspect of beginning a weekend in such splendor is that it can be difficult to maintain that level of excitement. However, as two professional wine and beer merchants, we took our pilgrimage seriously and continued on approximately 30 miles away to a town where beer consumption is brought to an even higher level. No, I’m not talking about Milwaukee. We went to Madison, home of the Badgers.

And rather than play foosball and swill beer with some frat boys or drink draft Old Milwaukee in a ratskeller, we settled in at a Hilton downtown and found ourselves on a pub crawl that would include microbreweries, British pubs and soul-satisfying cheeseburgers. Without question, Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. was my favorite among the several bars we “studied” on our Saturday escapades, returning there at least twice. But, of course, the Ale Asylum and Capitol Brewery were also quite good. Great Dane, however, offered great food and pre-cask beers, making it well worth its inclusion in this brew-seeking road trip. In fact, mid-day Sunday, we were back at the Great Dane and then onto GRAZE from Local Pastures for an eclectic and funky lunch before heading home to resume our lives as under-indulging wine merchants.

I wish I could say that I brought back some of the great beers I sampled on our wildly Wisconsin road trip to sell here in Hinsdale, but alas, none of our favorites ever cross state lines. However, if you come by the shop, I will gladly regale you with a few more stories of Troy’s and my misadventures in Wisconsin and offer free consultation so you can embark on your own personal beer pilgrimage…it’s definitely worth the drive.

– Sean Chaudhry

Pi’nouf 2009 Languedoc Red, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Pronounced “peee –nooof,” here is an excellent representative of wines from a part of France considered to be the world’s single biggest wine region, making more wine than the entire United States and “on some of the world’s oldest soils.” Though “Old World” wines are prized for their delicate nature, this Languedoc-Roussillon specimen may throw you off a bit. Even its name translates as “bold, rich, persistent,” and its rich, fleshy Syrah plays heavily in that brashness. With 65% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 10% Carignan, Pi’nouf presents as regal cherry red with purple sheen. It is deeply fruity with a lushness that evokes bittersweet chocolate-covered cherries with smoky vanilla notes. As the winemaker notes, “the palate is medium-to-full-bodied with a long, lingering finish and enough supple tannins to give some classic ‘grip.’” Watch this wine pair perfectly with your heartiest fare or alongside a potent collection of after-dinner cheeses.

Bonny Doon Vineyard 2009 “Contra,” Central Coast, California

Ironically described as a red Rhone blend, this mix of 55% Carignan, 15% Grenache, 14% Mourvedre, 7% Petite Sirah, 5% Zinfandel, and 2% Syrah is grown and produced nowhere near the Rhone River. Though considered a “New World” wine, it comes mostly from “old-fangled” grape varieties and from mostly older vineyards, even if they are in Contra Costa County. It is gorgeously rustic with a nose of cherry, licorice, cassis and blackberry. On the palate, it holds a bright acidity with silky tannins. The winemaker describes “Contra” as having important contrasts of “luscious, opulent fruitiness” with a certain degree of austerity, concluding it’s got the “yin and yang of soft and hard, of fruit and earth….” The Wine Advocate described it as “stunning.” The San Francisco Chronicle included it among its top 100 wines for 2010. We think it marries as well with a hearty Provencal stew as it does with a medium-rare grilled Black Angus ribeye.

Want to be part of this community-centered cause?

On January 26th, Hinsdale Wine Shop will be participating in a Cash Mob from 4:00-7:00 PM! We will be offering 8 wines normally priced at $30-$40 for just $25! All wines part of this deal will be available for tasting throughout the event. Just bring $25 cash and take advantage of this incredible deal!

Hinsdale Wine Shop

12 E Hinsdale Avenue

Hinsdale, IL 60521

However, wine connoisseurs today know that for Italy’s finest wines, one needs to trek further north to the foothills of the Italian Alps known as Piemonte, where the terroir is so unique that few elsewhere in the world would ever attempt to grow its unique and luxurious grapes.

Piemonte’s most revered Nebbiolo grape has been around for centuries, but its most significant road to fame and deliciousness has actually happened in the past 30 years. The Nebbiolo grape is as ubiquitous to Piemonte as Pinot Noir is to Burgundy, but it hasn’t been easy to tame this thick-skinned, high tannin, late-harvesting grape. Until the advent of temperature-controlled barrels, winemakers had trouble softening those thick skins and strong tannins, especially when the aging process was started at the coldest time of the year that would stall fermentation. Often they wound up with wine that even after decades of aging still wouldn’t mellow. Today, Piemonte’s Nebbiolo, Barolo and Barbaresco wines are highly cherished. Interestingly, they come from different villages, but all from that same high-maintenance grape known as Nebbiolo. These are not wines for the weak-hearted. They are robust and with distinctive qualities, invoking some odd descriptors such as tar, licorice, leather and dried stone fruit. Complexity is undoubtedly Nebbiolo’s calling card, and these wines are considered to be among the very best in the world.

And while Burgundy, to which Piemonte is often compared, may be satisfied with having just two famous grape varietals, this region has several well-known wines to its name. Asti Spumante, a light, semisweet sparkling wine gained popularity in the ‘70s because of its clear and easy quaffability.

Gavi is a dry white varietal that many a wine lover has discovered upon tiring of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Italian wine doesn’t necessarily connote white wine beyond that of Pinot Grigio, so it is often a pleasant surprise to taste the crisp, dry Gavi that thrives in the cooler temps of northern Italy.

Other reds of note from this region include Barbera, which is considered the area’s day-to-day, table wine. In fact, this rustic wine is the most widely planted grape in the region.

A lesser-known red but that provides an instantly quaffable wine option is the Dolcetto, which is sometimes compared to Beaujolais because of its highly drinkable fruitiness. It makes an interesting contrast to Nebbiolo because it has little tannin, is much lighter and with very little acid.

While just a highlight of some of Piemonte’s greatest wine assets, wine lovers can enjoy a tasting at Hinsdale Wine Cellars Friday, 6-8 p.m., for some excellent representatives of this region from Sottimano winery.

– Ivy F. Kupec

Fagus de Coto de Hayas, Garnacha 2008

An intense garnet wine, the nose here also conveys an intensity of red fruit, spice and oakiness. On the palate, this luscious somewhat oaky red brings forth vanilla and raspberry jamminess with hints of licorice and chocolate that are made even more impressive with a bit of decanting. This Garnacha is balanced, rich and most definitely satisfying. The Penin Guide on Spanish Wine scored this particular vintage 90 out of 100 points, saying “Never before has a Garnacha wine been so close to perfection.” In 2007, the wine won a silver medal in the International Wine Challenge in London. For a special treat, pair it with wild game, a succulent pork roast or as an accompaniment to ripe sheep cheese.

Don Ramon Campo de Borja, 2008

With an addition of 25% Tempranillo, one might worry that this full-bodied Garnacha would overwhelm the senses. However, this deep ruby-colored smile-maker provides a welcoming, albeit complex and intense aroma that leads to a luxurious full-fruited wine – perfect for quaffing on a cold winter’s night, enjoying with a hearty stew or serving with your homemade tapas of charcuterie and assorted cheeses. It is smooth, well structured and with a soft, rich finish. In other words, this Garnacha is delightfully drinkable and perfect for the red wine lover. You will quickly see why Garnacha is the third most planted grape in Spain.

Finca Os Cobatos 2010 Mencia

Say “ola” to Mencia, a new varietal to many American wine drinkers, but definitely one you are likely to want to taste again and again. Sourced from vines planted in the early 1980s, this wine comes from northwestern Spain in an area sometimes referred to as “Green Spain” because of its lush environment and cooler mountainside temps. Look forward to a lush, complex wine that will surprise and delight the most critical red wine oenophiles. Compared to Beaujolais or Cabernet Franc, this Mencia is ruby red in color with a nose of ripe red fruits and a certain earthy herbaceousness that is ever-so-slightly floral. It’s balanced with good texture that is enhanced by double-decanting or just letting the wine breath for about a half-hour. This 100% Mencia wine has bright acidity with a youthful light to medium body and tannins that actually can pair well with fish, not just your Christmas roast beast or roasted game hens.

Pazo do Mar 2010 Ribeiro (Albariño)

Nothing says special occasion like an elegant white wine from one of Spain’s award winning vintners, and this 100% Albariño is just the thing for your holiday table. Another lesser-known varietal is showcased in this refreshing, yet luxurious straw-colored wine. Often compared to Viognier, this wine has a nose of elegant minerality mixed with citrus and tart Granny Smith apple. Good, yet delicate acids make for a medium- to full-bodied white with grip and long finish. Great for drinking alone, this wine is also a wonderful match for your Oysters Rockefeller, salmon bisque or roasted whole snapper.

Merry Christmas to all our Hinsdale friends!