2002 Cala Silente Vermentino

[quijote]

Okay.... I am just about convinced that all of the Vermentino produced in Italy for export is being shipped directly to the Searsport, Maine area, with possible secondary shipments to NY NY and Santa Monica, Calif.

I went to three good wine/liquor stores in my little quadrant of Milwaukee, and only one store had Vermentino--and only ONE kind of Vermentino! Of course, each store had over 12 kinds of Pinot Grigio....

I bought the only Vermentino option, a 2002 Cala Silente Vermentino. IK's notes profile Vermentino as a largely $10-or-below wine, but this was a bit more costly here. I'd like to know what it sells for elsewhere.

TN:

Amazingly floral on the nose with strong notes of honey, followed up by swoon-worthy flavors of honey and peach framed by clay. This Vermentino is remarkably reminiscent of the Viogniers that I've had (!), and there's even a hint of Albariño, though not as acidic. Paired fabulously with herb-roasted chicken, truffled Yukon Gold potatoes, mesclun with balsamic, and the most beautiful and most flavorful asparagus I've ever purchased and steamed from a supermarket. Who needs dessert after a meal like that? Alc. 12.5%. $16. (Grapes and Grain, Mequon)

[Innkeeper]

Sounds wonderful all around.

[Thomas]

Not familiar with that one, but the description fits. Is it Sardegnian? The price, however, seems high and that might be the premium you have to pay to find one in your neck of the country. Great food wine.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 02-28-2004).]

[Innkeeper]

The price makes me think it might have come from Southern Tuscany versus Sardinia. The grape is also grown in Spain under the nom malvasia. It is mostly grown in the Toro district of Castilla-Leon, making the primary white wine of the district.

[quijote]

The wine is indeed from Sardegna, though I didn't know it was also produced in Tuscany. I'm also interested to hear that the grape is known as Malvasia in Spain; are there any easy-to-find Malvasia-based wines from Spain that I could look for? Does any of them come close to the floral and juicy profile of the vermentino I had?

One of these days I'll take my Vermentino search to Milwaukee's east and south sides, where I'm more likely to find better selections....

[Innkeeper]

Sam's in Chicago has a malvasia from Monterey made by Wild Horse or $12.

[Thomas]

but that might not be the same grape--or does the winery say it is?