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03 La Spinetta Barbera d’Asti “Ca di Pian” - From one of the masters,
an amazingly elegant and full Barbera, with subtle oak and savory pizzazz. Typically
light in tannins and with plenty of cherry fruit, this adds leather and earth tones
for super versatility. $25
’01 Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino – This beautiful Brunello, one
of Italy’s most prestigious wines, is emerging from its shy youth and really drinking
well. With seven years of age, the edges have softened and the aromas and more
nuanced flavors moved to the fore. It’s still got tannins—so decant this a bit—but
they’re so nicely textured and the fruit so generous and fresh, that if you foil this
with a classic steak or savory roast, you’ll find there’s so much to like here. $63
paesano
restaurant - wine bar
Fantastic Wine
for Summer & Fall!
Selected for style and quality
Our staff spends a lot of time tasting Italian wines, and
this catalog represents what we think are some of the
most interesting, stylish, best-buys in Italian wine today.
They cover a range of styles, but all represent outstanding
value in their price category.
Whether you’re looking for a case of something affordable
to keep around the house or just a couple of bottles for
a special occasion, these are the best of bunch, guaranteed.
Italian Wine, in Brief
First, if you don’t drink Italian wine regularly, be prepared
to be impressed! Italy is the greatest wine producing nation
on Earth, absolutely second to none. The range of styles
available is unmatched by anywhere in Europe, Australia,
or the New World. They have more grape varieties than
anyone, and centuries of experience crafting them into
expressive, unique wines.
That said, they can be difficult to learn; there are many
tiny growing areas with unique names and the labels
often aren’t the most helpful. Our advice? Don’t sweat
the details, and pick a wine that sounds like one you’ll
enjoy, even if you’ve never heard of Pallagrello before!
Enjoy!
Paesano’s Restaurant and Wine Bar
Our CAN’T MISS wine picks!
non-vintage Rotari Brut "Arte Italiana" -- Using the same blend of grapes as in Champagne- Pinot Noir and Chardonnay--and employing the same process of fermentation in the bottle, Rotari achieve
a compelling sparkling wine with surprising richness and focus. By way of stylistic reference, this is more
like Veuve Clicquot than Bollinger, but there is a bit of a yeasty note amongst the firm citrus. Delicious
in its own right, the price makes this the premier choice for group bubbly, too. $11
'06 Sfida Rosso -- The big, juicy fruit of Pugliese wines is hard to resist, and when it's packaged with
the kind of complexity (and great price) of this wine, it's impossible to resist. Blended of 70% Primitivo
(aka Zinfandel) and 30% Negroamaro, the grapes tell the story of spicy, blackberry fruit, gentle dryness,
and lightly bitter earth tones. This is the breakout wine for those stuck in a Cab Sauv rut! $10
’06 Zemmer Pinot Noir - Pinot is great for the season because it’s lightly tannic, and has plenty of
brisk, lively fruit. Classically styled, this is the type of red for fish with savory preparations, whether grilled
or pan fried. Moderate alcohol level means this won’t get blustery when the temps soar, either. $17
’06 Terre Nere Etna Rosso - Sicily’s underground favorite is the Nerello Mascalese grape, grown on
the volcanic slopes of Mt. Etna. It produces a very refined wine that’s loaded with savory, red fruits and
freshening acidity. Fruit mongers need not bother, but if you love complexity, detail, and lipsmacking
power, you’ll want to try this one from Terre Nere. $24
’06 Castello di Luzzano Bonarda “Carlino” - From Emilia-Romagna, Bonarda is making a run
for the region’s best wine grape title, and if they keep producing wines like this, it’ll take it! Keywords
here are fresh berry-on-the-bush flavors, bramble, complexity, and grapey vivacity. A rare wine for real wine
geeks! $22.50
’04 La Togata “Barengo” - This is a baby Brunello, refined in the classic fashion of large, neutral, Slavonian
oak barrels that really let the variety, 100% Sangiovese Grosso, speak. It’s racy and savory with red currant fruit
and is quite persistent. Pair it with richly flavored foods. $22.50 without one! $16
’06 Sella & Mosca Vermentino “La Cala” - Coming from Sardinia, Vermentino grapes make a wine
that reminds me of Sauvignon Blanc for the herbal character and focused, citrusy, fruit. It’s really distinguished
by the lightly salty tang on the finish, which makes it a great seafood companion. $13
’07 Santa Giustina Malvasia - Sick of Sauvignon Blanc? Tired of Chardonnay? This wine, from the
aromatic Malvasia variety, will shake you out of your white wine doldrums and impress you with the wild,
aromatic fruits and awesome texture. Richly flavored and ready to please! $13
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restaurant - wine bar
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’05 Aia Vecchia “Lagone” - Made from a blend of Tuscan Merlot (60%),
Cabernet Franc (30%), and Sangiovese, this shows the juicy, wild berry side of the
Merlot along with the raciness and red fruit of the other two varieties. It’s an original
and delicious take on the Super Tuscan, and great for summer grilling. $15
’06 Olim Bauda Barbera d’Asti “La Villa” - Barbera is a great summer
wine because it’s light on tannins and takes a chill well, which means that you get
all of it’s bright, zesty cherry fruit without bitterness or astringency. It’s a fine wine,
but you can drink it with picnic sandwiches and grilled burgers just as well! $18.50
’06 Olim Bauda Gavi di Gavi - This Piedmontese white, made from Cortese
grapes, is the picture of elegance and refinement. It’s light and finely boned, but
delivers plenty of fruit concentration and nice mineral notes. Egg salad? Yeah, this
is the one to elevate that humble sandwich! $17.50
’06 Zemmer Pinot Grigio - You think you know Pinot Grigio, but you probably
haven’t had one with the amazing intensity and ripeness of this one! Tropical fruits
and stony notes commingle to great, refreshing effect, and a touch of honey character
gives this real length on the palate. Great stuff! $17
05 A-Mano Primitivo - Probably the best vintage of this Pugliese zinfandel
ever! It’s loaded with juicy, mixed berry flavors and has fine, well managed tannins
that give it good grip and power, but don’t leave you with hairy teeth! Fruit lovers
need to try this great value red. $11
’03 San Pietro Chianti Classico Riserva - Riservas sit atop the Chianti
hierarchy, and are distinguished by harmony afforded through extended ageing.
From a warm year like ’03, that means you get lots of fruit, restrained oak impressions,
and easy style. Unpretentious but unctuous, the fullness will pair well with grilled
steaks or other richer, more flavorful preparations. $20
'06 La Sera "Red Malvasia" - For the sweetly toothed wine enthusiast, this
aromatic, lightly sparkling red from Piemonte is a great treat! It's not so sweet
as to be syrupy and cloying, but it does have enough residual sugar to evoke candied
plums, raspberries, and strawberries while at the same time lifting and refreshing.
It's a bang up smash with chocolates and tiramisu, and we know lots of people
who drink this no matter the occasion! You'll want to keep at least a couple of
bottles around, because it goes surprisingly fast once folks get a sip! $16
'02 Triacca Sforzato “San Domenico” - This is a rare and fascinating
wine, derived from Nebbiolo grapes grown in the alpine foothills of Lombardia.
The grapes are dried before pressing, however, in a method that more famously
produces the Amarone of Veneto. Totally dry and quite firm, this is a different
animal altogether, offering cherry, cocoa, and black pepper spiciness over its lithe
frame. This is guaranteed to impress even your geekiest wine friends! $55
’04 San Pietro Rosso “Avenano ”-- Mostly Sangiovese, this little Tuscan red
is a real party helper, meaning it’s affordable and appealing to a wide range of
palates! From roasted chicken to pizza, this is a great “go to” wine for everyday
quaffing! $10
’06 Santa Giustina Orturgo Vivace - As in opera, vivace here means full
of life…or spritz, to be exact! The light bubbles deliver unbeatable lift and
refreshment from the clean, crisp, citrusy flavors of the Emilia-Romagna native,
the Orturgo grape. Perfect for summer salads. $15
’06 Sorrentina Falanghina “Pompeiiano” - The Falanghina grape has
quickly established itself as a star of southern Italian winemaking, and Campania,
where this wine comes from, is the home of the variety. Beautiful aromas of white
blossoms and stone, with citrus tang and mineral savor on the palate. Distinguished
and highly detailed. $14
’05 Zaccagnini Trebbiano d’ Abruzzo “San Clemente” - You may not
know the Trebbiano variety, but this wine is packed with lush, golden apple fruit
and thickly textured in a way more commonly associated with barrel aged Chardonnay!
It’s got a bit of apple skin tart in there, too, and is a real “wow” wine for this unique
style of big, bold white wines. $34
’04 Li Veli “Passamante” - When big, juicy, fruit-driven reds are on order,
Puglia, in southern Italy, is the place to look. This is all Negroamaro, and lays out
dense, juicy, plum and dark berry fruit but with a surprising earthiness in the
background. It’s a whole lot of wine, a big mouthful of supple flavor, for a great
price. $12
’07 Nino Franco Prosecco “Primo Franco” - Prosecco is hot, and this is
the hottest! It’s more plush, lush, and intense than any other, but still offers all
the excitement of sparkling wine with its fine perlage. Choice fruit means ripe
fruit flavors and just a touch of sweetness. Put this on the BBQ table for a whole
new level of taste sensation. $25
’06 Valle dell’Acate “Zagra” - Sicilian sun blesses the Grillo and Inzolia grapes
in this blend with special characteristics that impress the nose with floral highlights
and the tastebuds with ripe melon notes. It’s a pretty wine, in the best sense, and
is a guaranteed departure from any other white you’ve been drinking, except
perhaps, Viognier. Super! $17
’07 Cavalchina Bardolino Chiaretto - The wines of Bardolino, just south
of Lake Garda in the Veneto, enjoyed a bit of fame in the USA briefly, but succumbed
to the bulk wine fever that gripped Valpolicella decades ago. Today, the region and
it’s wines are revived, rejuvenated, and better than ever. If you haven’t tried one
of these lately, you’ll be impressed by the brisk strawberry and cherry notes, and
the persistence of the fresh flavors on the finish. It’s one of the driest rosés out
there, and is awesome with savory fish dishes and roasted chicken. It also is great
with cheese, so no picnic basket should be without one! $16
'03 Ceretto Barolo "Zonchera" - Gotta have Barolo. It's a singular wine
experience, often called the Wine of Kings and the Wine of Tar and Roses. Nebbiolo
is one of the greatest grapes in the world because it is so expressive of location,
what the French call "terroir." The rub is that often these wines need decades to
blossom, but if you catch them young, in warm vintages like '03, they can give a
lot of pleasure before shutting down for the big sleep. Zonchera is right in the
sweet spot, sporting the power, the asphalt and rose aroma, and the grippy,
assertive cherry and earth notes that make Barolo one of the most sought after
wines anywhere. $45