"The Piedmont Guy" Wine Tasting
Thursday December 1st, 4-6 pm, $20
At Our Original Location
Le Petit Bijou
103 North Side Square
call 256-964-7980 to reserve
Presented by Beth Farris of Grassroots Imports
As a hyper-focused importer based in the United States, The Piedmont Guy proudly represents family-owned wineries dedicated to producing singular wines from the Italian region of Piedmont.
The Line-Up
2020 Angelo Negro Non Filtrato Rosso, Piedmont, Italy $22.99
Cherry red color with purple hue. Cloudy due to presence of residual yeast. Bright, fresh aromatics coupled with delicate hints of violet and rose. A pleasantly tart wine with notes of candied red fruit on the palate. Chill, shake, serve!
A historically significant winery whose origins date back to 1670. In this year, two of the estate’s most important vineyards—Perdaudin and Prachiosso—were first planted. With some of the most desired vineyard sites in Roero, Negro is one of the indisputable legends of the region.
2021 La Miraja Grignolino D'Asti, Piedmont, Italy $21.99
La Miraja (pronounced “me-rye-uh”)
Beautiful floral notes of rose hip, violet, and geranium. Delicate, bright red fruit dominated by bing cherry mingles with fresh mushroom. An underlying vein of stony minerality lends both texture and levity to this delightful bottling.
Pairings: Poached salmon, simple risotto with fresh herbs, and the classic Piedmontese dish called vitello tonnato. Typically chilled before serving, this red wine makes for a delicious “winter rosé.”
2021 La Miraja Freisa D'Asti, Piedmont, Italy $21.99
La Miraja (pronounced “me-rye-uh”)
"An offspring of Nebbiolo, Freisa was historically used to augment the already noble structure of Nebbiolo wines thanks to the former’s thick skin. Resistant to disease, the grape was often planted in less desirable spots, but when planted in optimal positions in the Asti province, Freisa wines sing. The grape variety’s name comes from the Latin fresia, meaning strawberry, and one sip makes this association clear.
2021 Luigi Giordano Langhe Rosso, Piedmont, Italy $21.99
Giordano's Langhe Rosso is a blend of 90% Nebbiolo and 10% Arneis that is co-fermented. The blend is rare but a traditional one that originated in the Roero. Brilliant translucent ruby with a bouquet boasting crunchy red cherry, peach skin, and dried roses. This light-bodied red is at once electric and refreshing.
2018 Roccheviberti Dolcetto D'Alba "Vigna Melera", Piedmont, Italy $27.99
"Roccheviberti has the distinct honor of being located in one of the most highly-regarded crus of the Barolo region - Castiglione Faletto, in the village of Rocche. The grapes for their Dolcetto D’Alba comes from Bricco Boschis, a vineyard with a reputation for producing some of the most elegant Nebbiolo in Barolo. After harvest, the wine ferments in stainless steel tanks for 6 months. Simple but delicious, this is a wine meant to be enjoyed young, and so expect bright fresh fruit with a luscious texture and body. Enjoy with aged salami, pork sausage or porcini mushrooms."
2021 La Miraja Barbara D'Asti "La Masche", Piedmont, Italy $21.99
La Miraja (pronounced “me-rye-uh”). Nestled within the original castle of Castagnole Monferrato, La Miraja was constructed as an armory in the 11th century, only to be retrofitted as a cellar in the 1400s. In this armory-turned-cellar, Eugenio Gatti, a seventh-generation viticulturist, turns out Barbera, Grignolino, Freisa, and his fabled Ruché. Barbera ranks among Piedmont’s most prolific and lovable grape varieties. La Miraja’s bottling is
a textbook example of Barbera from Asti, where the grape often produces its most complex expressions. Its fantasy name, “Le Masche,” recalls local spirits believed to be protectors of the vineyard. Their origins can be found in the Celtic and Lombard civilizations who once occupied the region now known as Piedmont. The “masche” were benevolent witches known for their herbal remedies and healing powers, though the term was also extended to describe the mischievous spirits and supernatural entities who lurked in the villages and the taverns of the area.
Intense and fragrant. Dominated by red cherry, black plum, and blackberry against a backdrop of licorice and mature rose with a delicate balsamic undertone. This medium-bodied wine marries freshness and elegance resulting in an uncommonly complex Barbera bottling with a gentle finish.
Pairings: Barbera ranks among the very most versatile Italian red grape varieties. Lush fruit, bright acidity, and low tannin make for an easy pairing with a wide variety of dishes and cuisine. This bottling complements everything from pizza and pasta to roast chicken and Korean barbeque.
2018 Oddero Barolo, Piedmont, Italy $62.99
The 2018 Barolo is terrific. In 2018, the Odderos were not completely convinced of the results across all their sites. Ultimately, they blended all of their vineyard designates into the straight Barolo, with the exception of the Brunate and a Riserva from Vigna Rionda. In the glass, their 2018 is captivating. Exotic aromatics, bright red berry fruit and vibrant acids give the 2018 its considerable allure. Vineyard sites are: Fiasco, Bricco Chiesa, Capalot, Bussia, Villero, Rocche di Castiglione and Monvigliero. Look for this to be one of the under the radar gems of the vintage. I loved it. In fact, the Oddero Barolo is one of the few 2018s readers should not miss. Antonio Galloni 93pts
