Rant: Is it just me?

[Botafogo]

Some examples of "stuff that tastes like it is supposed to:

Winery of the Week (these have been SLAYING people in our tastings):

Ancient Vines & Varieties from "Magna Grecia" ("greater Greece"= Calabria)
In our never ending quest for the Funk at VinItaly '99 we happened across Cantina Vintripodi, run by two brothers from the very toenail of the boot (married to two sisters from Ireland!) who have thoroughly modernized their winery, dragging it kicking and screaming into at least the Fourth Century BC!!!!!! They are dedicated to making wines the way the Greeks did, employing old varietals growing on very, very old vines, non interventionist winemaking and just plain pastoral patience to produce three reds and a dessert wine that are not only ultra traditional but absolutely delicious: Nurello gives Arghillà 1996 ($14.99) Pinot like textures but an Eastern spicebox nose: grill some chops, do a pork roast with figs, improvise. Palizzi 1996 ($16.99), blended from Calabrese, Nurello, Alicante and Nocera weaves a silky tapestry of Mediterranean and North African scents. The same blend as the above but with some drying of the grapes and longer aging gives Pelaro 1995 ($19.99) a lighter color but larger, more evolved flavors. Somewhere between Vin Santo and Old India Sherry, Mantonico di Bianco 1993 ($21.99, 375ml) was famous when Euclid was a Geometry student.

Hand made by nice people (never a bad thing):

Soletta Rosato di Cannonau "Petalo" 1999, Sardegna $8.99
Smells like rose petals and maybe cranberries, just enough spice for BBQ or spicy seafood, BONE DRY, you'll want more.

Perlage Prosecco di Valdobbiadene 1997, Veneto $14.99
Organic, delicious, refreshing, smooth enough for Grandma but hip enough for your wine geek friends, what's not to like?


Villa Bellini Valpolicella Superiore (Ripasso) 1996, Veneto $21.00
WOW!!! The quiet revolution turning Valpo from a nice Beaujolais substitute into a world class, deep, dark and lovely red of serious concentration and staying power continues. This just floored us at Amici Mare last week.


Big, Serious stuff that no one actually NEEDS but are hard as hell to GET...

Villabellini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico "riserva" 1990, Veneto $89.99
When Cecilia Trucchi visited us earlier this year to reintroduce her wines to California we commented on how much we missed her fabulous 1990 Amarone (sold out five years ago!). "Well", she said, "I still have ten cases at the winery..." SCHWIIIIIINGGGGGG! Now they are here (with "Riserva" handwritten in gold on every bottle as there is not actually a DOC for Amarone Riserva). Boys and girls, can you say "Amazing"?

Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico 1993, Veneto $110.00 / 375ml
Take enough old vine Corvina from prize plots to make a case of normal Valpolicella, air dry them till the juice is so thick that the valiant little yeasties give their lives for your pleasure at 14.5% alcohol leaving just enough sweetness to make this the most comforting thing you've put in your mouth since Grandma's homemade hot cocoa with a dash of rum. Serve with (or drink from the navel of) someone you love with dried fruit, veined cheeses, nuts, you get the picture, enjoy.