It is with great pleasure that we offer you the latest vintages of the fine wines from Poderi Rosso Giovanni. Located in the Piedmont area of north-west Italy, the Rosso family has been making delicious red wines, mainly from Barbera d’Asti grapes, for generations. Hélène and your intrepid tippler visited Lionello Rosso last fall and carefully sampled his latest creations. We loved them and we think you will too.

Poderi Rosso Giovanni

Hélène and Lionello hard at work!

A sample of the fare at Fons Salutis

Barbera d’Asti

Burton Anderson, an internationally acclaimed Italian wine authority who has lived in Tuscany for more than twenty-five years says this about Barbera d’Asti in his book, ‘Wines of Italy’, “The best wines are robust and full-bodied, with good acidity and are fuller and livelier then Barbera d’Alba. At its best Barbera d’Asti is hard to beat. Most is drunk fairly young. Some producers’ rich, structured wines will age a decade or more, though styles vary greatly in this vast zone of abundant production.”

Vintages in Piedmont

Berry Bros. & Rudd rate the 2010 and 2011 vintages in the Piedmont area as very good, giving both 8/10 ratings.

The Poderi Rosso Giovanni Wines on Offer

We have chosen four of Lionello’s very special red wines - the easy drinking 2011 Barbera d’Asti “San Bastian”, the lovely 2010 Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Casino Perno”, the remarkable 2010 Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Carlinet” and the monumental 2010 Monferrato “Infine”. Lionello has also created a special mixed case for our wine club, The Rosso Giovanni Sampler. For the first time and for your convenience, all these wines come in six-bottle cases. We will be taking your orders for these fine wines to the LCBO on Friday, June 15th.

2011 Barbera d’Asti “San Bastian” -14.0 Alc./Vol.                             $20/$120 6 btl. case
 This little beauty is made from 100% Barbera grapes. It is a purplish red tending towards ruby and has a most pleasant nose of fresh red berries, new leather and spice. In the mouth it is pleasingly dry with a very good structure. This very pleasant, straight forward, medium bodied, unoaked wine is ideal for every day drinking and will go particularly well with white meats and light pasta dishes. Order a real Italian treat now.

2010 Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Cascina Perno” – 14.5% Alc./Vol.   $25/$150 btl. case
We are stepping up a notch with this one. This wine has been traditionally fermented using the finest Barbera grapes of the Cascina Perno property. With a yield of 40 hectolitres per hectare, it is an elegant, soft wine that has been aged in stainless steel tanks and oak. A deep ruby colour, it possesses a wonderful, powerful aroma of blackberries and raspberries and a hint of leather and smoke. This is a big, well-balanced wine with silky tannins and excellent structure that suggest it will keep well for several years. It is drinking nicely now, although I would decant it a couple of hours before drinking. It will go beautifully with roasts, medium cheeses and charcuterie. Only 6,000 bottles were made. Order your classic Barbera d’Asti Superiore from the geographic top of the estate now.

2010 Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Carlinet” - 15% Alc./Vol.               $32/$192 6-btl. case
This is a terrific wine! Once again it is made from 100% Barbera d’Asti. Fashioned from hand from the best grapes on the estate, it has been refined by resting in small Allier oak barriques for 12 months. The yield is a low 30 hectolitres per hectare. This is a brooding, dark ruby coloured wine possessing pervasive aromas of blackberries, raspberries, vanilla and liquorice. It is full, dry and warm in the mouth where the scents are joined by notes of amaretto and cocoa wrapped in sweet tannins. These persist in a lingering, luxurious aftertaste. Drinking most agreeably now, this stunner will keep quite contentedly for at least a decade. Decant several hours before consuming … with game or grilled meats. Only 6,000 bottles were produced. What a shame. While I love all of Lionello’s wines, I must confess that this is my favourite – worth every penny. Latch onto some of this very special wine now.

2008 Monferrato “Infine” - 14.5% Alc./Vol.                                   $34/$204 6 btl. case
  Oh boy … what a wine. The Monferrato“Infine” is crafted from 60% Barbera d’Asti and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 14 months in Allier oak barriques. Also boasting a miserly yield of 30 hectolitres per hectare, this wine too is a dark ruby red. Aromas of chocolate, wild raspberries, vanilla, black cherries steeped in liqueur leap along with a hint of smoke leap from the glass. In the mouth it is open, round and mellow with lovely tannins and a persistent honeyed (but not sweet) aftertaste. This young wine needs some air before serving and will cellar nicely for several years. Only 3,000 bottles of this exquisite beauty were made. Nab some for yourself.

Rosso Giovanni Sampler                                                                 $26/$156 6 btl. case
The Rosso Giovanni Sampler contains two bottles each of the 2011 Barbera d’Asti “San Bastian” and Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Cascina Perno”, and one bottle each of the delicious 2010 Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Carlinet” and the 2008 Monferrato “Infine”. This is a terrific way to try all of Lionello’s wines and would be a great gift for the Italian wine aficionado. Order your stellar Italian sampler now.

Please note that each of the above prices include $1.00 per bottle for handling.

Casa di Maio – a Marvellous Place to Stay in Piedmonte

Hélène and I had a grand time in Italy (it would be pretty hard not to). Our most pleasant surprise and perhaps favourite stop was the Asti area of Piedmont. The scenery is bucolic, the hilltop villages are picturesque and quaint, the denizens are welcoming, the restaurants are splendid and the wines are world class (Barbera, Barolo and Barbaresco). Best of all, it is very relaxing, largely because the region is not overrun by tourists.

What made our stay truly special was Doreen Lee and her intimate bed and breakfast, Casa di Maio.

Located on top of a hill amid the vines overlooking the valley and Agliano Terme across the way, this charming, thoroughly modernized country home is the perfect base from which two or three couples can explore this glorious region. Doreen, a Toronto resident knows the area like the back of her hand and will ensure that your sojourn in this little bit of paradise is pleasantly memorable. We can hardly wait for the chance to return.

Please pass this note on to anyone you think would like some really excellent Italian wines from the Asti region of Piedmont.

Many thanks and cheers,

Jim and Hélène
www.arthursellers.com
jaswalker@arthursellers.com
Hbuisson@ofrance.ca