 Before we get into the Friday Flight email, I just wanted to remind you that my Friend Jacob from Vineyard Brands will be pouring here tomorrow, Wednesday the 23rd, from 5:00 to 7:00. This is a free tasting with 7 wines from the Vineyard Brand’s portfolio from Italy, Austria, Napa Valley and France. Come on by and see us. This cool weather make me crave heartier wines, so Tuscany felt like the way to go this Friday. We will begin in Montalcino and Vino Rosso di Montepulciano this week and then continue on to Chianti next week. The first mention of Montalcino dates back to 814 AD. when monks built a church Abbey of Sant’Antimo nearby. The town carries its name from a variety of oak trees that earlier covered the place. The very high site of the town offers spectacular views over the Asso, Ombrone, and Arabia valleys of Tuscany. Viticulture was always one of the crucial parts of the history of Montalcino. However, local monks made a great contribution to vineyards’ development.During medieval times the region was famous for leather goods that were made from the high-quality leathers that were produced there. Also, this was the period when wine production became more intense. Like many of the medieval towns of Tuscany, Montalcino encountered long periods of peace and often enjoyed prosperity. Brunello was the first wine to be awarded Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) status. Brunello di Montalcino must be aged five years before release. Another Montalcino wine Rosso di Montalcino (DOC) is made from Sangiovese Grosso grapes and ages one year. You will come across a variety of Super Tuscan wines that are produced within the commune. Moscadello sweet white wines were also famous until the development of the Brunello wines. Vino Nobile Montepulciano DOCG is one of the most renowned wines from Tuscany. Located in the Italian province of Siena in southern Tuscany, Montepulciano is a beautiful wine district and a medieval city. Montepulciano is famous for not only the production of great wines but this place is also a major producer of local Tuscan food. You will come across globally appreciated wines with an intense bouquet of plums, cherries, and olives coming from the iconic Tuscan grape – Sangiovese. In 1966 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano became one of the best wines ( together with Barolo) in Italy and was awarded DOC status and later in 1980 this magnificent wine was the first in Italy to get DOCG status. As a result, some of the established vineyards introduced modern developments to take care of their vines and cellars. Nobile is one of the oldest and famous wines in Tuscany. Very popular among Italian Kings, Popes, and Presidents, Nobile has a huge history as the wine of nobles. It was also the first DOCG wine to appear on the Italian market.Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is produced from Sangiovese grape variety, known as Prugnolo gentile amongst locals. This grape variety can hold up to 70% of the blend. However, some producers use only Sangiovese grape without blending. Nobile wine is aged for two years, and one year in oak barrels. Col d’Orcia Spezierie Rosso 2020 $17 Blend of Sangiovese and Ciliegiolo with international grape varieties. Blending these grapes, Col d’Orcia has reinterpreted the old and noble art of assembling spices so as to obtain and exalt the complexity of flavours. The Ciliegiolo, ancient Tuscan grape variety, gives fresh aromas of ripe black cherry and balances the austerity of the Sangiovese. “Col d’Orcia is one of Montalcino’s most historic wineries. The estate’s modern-day lineage goes back to at least 1890, when records show the Franceschi family of Florence purchased the property, then known as Fattoria di Sant’Angelo in Colle. As early as 1933 Fattoria di Sant’Angelo in Colle presented its Brunelli at the Wine Exhibition of Siena, one of the first trade shows in Italy, decades before Brunello would become a prized, world-class wine. Corte alla Flora 2021 Rosso “Giuggiolo” $17 The wine presents typical perfumes of Prugnolo Gentile, liquorice, red fruits and violet. The maturing produces also prominent balsamic inklings, typical of quality red wine. 90% Prugnolo Gentile 5% each Mammolo and Canaiolo. Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta 2022 Rosso di Montepulciano $18 The Gracciano Estate is one of the oldest wineries in the Montepulciano region. In the beginning of the 19th century, Gracciano was owned by the Svetoni family who built the Villa and created the Italian-style gardens that surround it. With over 400 hectares and 22 farms, the very extensive Gracciano Estate also produced a wide variety of typical Tuscan products.Intense and complex on the nose, this wine has notes of ripe black cherry and plum. These cooked fruit notes are balanced on the palate with a pleasant acidity and well-integrated tannins. A subtle note of anise adds intrigue to this juicy wine. La Fortuna 2021 Rosso Toscano “Fortunello” $19 A wine that impresses starting from its intense ruby red color. Extraordinary in its intensity and absolute pleasantness on the palate, it is destined to improve over time with its aromas of raspberry and red berries. It is vigorous and with good texture, fresh and fruity on the finish. The history of the Zannoni family takes root in Montalcino thanks to Giovanni Zannoni, a cattle rancher who left Romagna in 1870 to settle in the hills of Montalcino. In 1907, his eldest son Angiolino Zannoni arrived at the La Fortuna farm, in the new sharecropper-run farmhouse with four hectares of land, won—the story tells—at a card table with the luck (Fortuna) that has welcomed and named the farm ever since. Col d’Orcia Rosso di Montalcino 2020 $20 Ample and complex, with typical fruity notes as blackberry and cherry perfectly balanced with the spicy scents from the oak. Very good structure, soft, but evident tannins balanced with a pleasant acidity. Long, fruity and savory aftertaste. Bonus Pours Podere San Giovanni 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $24 Intense red ruby. On the nose there are intense, aromatic, elegant fragrance. Notes of plum, cherry, violet, and spices. This wine is excellently balanced, with hints of cherry. The tannis are delicately present. Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $25 Bright ruby red color. Intense, complex, delicate, fruity with hints of cherry, morello, plum, violet and slightly spicy aromas. Dry palate, with pleasantly acid notes, well integrated tannins, sapid, balanced, intense, persistent, elegant, with a fruity finish. Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino $46 (normally $65) 2020 Col d’Orcia is a traditional producer of Brunello di Montalcino. The choice to continue using the large Slavonian oak barrels was taken many years ago, well before the debate between modernist and traditionalist producers even started. Tradition means respecting the essence of Sangiovese from Montalcino which is the aging potential and the improvement of the wine through its long passage in wood and the subsequent aging in the bottle. The ample and complex bouquet highlights the delicate aromas and leads back to small ripe red fruits as cherry and black berry. All is well integrated with the oak notes and vanilla aromas from the long refinement in the wood. Friday Night Flights 4:30 to 8:00 VINO HOURS:Tuesday 11:00 – 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 – 7:00 PM Thursday 11:00 – 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 – 8:00 PM Saturday 11:00 – 7:00 PM Sunday 1:00 – 7:00 PM Monday closed Scott Love Vino Wine Shop (503) 816-6224 vinoshoppdx@gmail Follow us on Instagram |
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Vino is centrally located one block south of Burnside on SE 28th Avenue in the bustling Laurelhurst neighborhood. Get directions on Google Maps.
VINO HOURS:
Tuesday 11:00 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 11:00 - 7:00 PM
Thursday 11:00 - 7:00 PM
Friday 11:00 - 8:00 PM
Saturday 11:00 - 7:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 - 7:00 PM
Monday closed -
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Friday Night Flight 10/25 Tuscany
Friday Night Flight October 18th
After too much sun and rum in the Bahamas, it’s time to get back to work and plan this Friday’s flight. I can’t thank Kate, Brian, Emily and Margo enough for helping out this past week so I could be with the family to celebrate my in-laws 50th anniversary!A rep stopped by the store a…
Free Tasting Wednesday, October 2nd Fèlsina Winery 5 – 7pm
Free Tasting Wednesday, October 2nd 5 – 7pm Featuring the Wines of Fèlsina I’m excited to have my first in-store tasting and even more excited to be pouring wines from the iconic Tuscan producer Fèlsina. Joe Barbuto, North American Brand Manager at Fèlsina, will be guiding us through the history of the winery and pouring…
Friday Night Flights Friday the 27th
Sorry for the delay in not getting this out sooner. To be honest, it’s Bruce’s fault for making this look so easy, when it’s actually a lot of work! For this Friday Flight we’re going to Greece! I’ve enjoyed visiting Greece but am slightly out of my comfort zone on Greek wines, so I’m excited…
Friday Night Flight 9/20/24 – Sardinia
Friday Flight for September, 20th The weather Friday still looks favorable for at least one more night on the patio, so cross your fingers. To continue island flights I picked Sardinia. Sardinia, Sardegna in Italian, is more than an island, it is only just part of Italy. For much of its modern winemaking history it…
Vino is back!
With help from friends and family we did a little cleaning, painting and rearranging and have the shop back open for business. I have some big shoes to fill and want to thank Bruce for his trust and confidence in handing the store over to me after running things for over two decades. Bruce and…
Out with the old, in with the new!
This is a tough message to start so I’m jumping in the deep end and letting you know that after an incredibly rewarding, at times frustrating, yet so f*cking fulfilling 25 year run here at the wine shack I’m going to be selling VINO and retiring (apparently I’m older than I think I am 😬)….
Delicious Dogliani! 2021 PECCHENINO “San Luigi”
2021 PECCHENINO "San Luigi" Dogliani
$18.95 bottle/ $182.00 case
For those who want a bit of pasta and pizza perfect Italian influence as summer tomato season steams into high gear, this incredibly food friendly bottle is exactly the wine you want. I was having it last night with a too large bowl of penne with my homemade bolognese sauce and it was SO perfect,…
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