Old World Triple Crown
DECEMBER 2023
In honor of the coming darkest days of the year which encourages long, festive meals with family & friends, we have selected three winter reds from the Old World: a blend from Gigondas in France's Southern Rhône, a Nebbiolo from Langhe in Italy's northwest Piedmont region, and for the 3-bottle club members, a Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero in northcentral Spain. All three are magnificent, ready-to-drink wines for this season, and all three have the body, acid & tannins to pair with rich, celebratory, winter dishes. Enjoy!
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Gigondas, France
This Rhône Cru comprises vineyards around the medieval, hilltop village of Gigondas in France's Southern Rhône Valley (pictured above). The AOC grows only red grapes, and the wine must be a blend of Grenache (max 80%), a minimum of 15% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre and a maximum of 10% other designated Rhône varieties. The climate is Mediterranean (meaning more moderate than inland), but Gigondas is one of the warmer sub-regions in the Southern Rhône, creating fuller-bodied, higher alcohol, more muscular blends.
Eric Bonnet makes this wine. He took over his family's estate, La Bastide Saint Dominique in Courthézon (Provence) in 1999. To their original estate, the family has also added vineyards in the Southern Rhône, totaling 50 hectares today. Since 2014, the wines have been certified organic.
La Réserve Saint Dominique 2020 Gigondas
Southern Rhône, France // Reg $28.99 | Mixed Case $23.19
80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. Fermentation in stainless steel vats then some aging in neutral oak before bottling. Aromas of garrigue, raspberries, strawberries, underbrush. Fuller-bodied. Spicy. Good acidity. Long finish. Fine tannins. Lovely wine. Drink now to 5 years. Enjoy with beef short ribs braised with parsnip purée & Brussels sprouts.
Piedmont, Italy
The everyday grape in Piedmont is Barbera; however, the more famous grape from the area is Nebbiolo, producing the famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines. This club features a Nebbiolo from Langhe which is more approachable and notably more affordable than the fancier versions.
Piedmont, located in northwest Italy in the foothills of the Alps, has higher-altitude, hilly vineyards with cold winters, moderate summers & lots of fog, which acts to protect the grapes from extreme weather and supports ripening. The name Nebbiolo comes from Italian nebbia which means fog.
Fratelli Revello 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo
Piedmont, Italy // Reg $27.99 | Mixed Case $22.39
In 1945 at the end of the war, Giovanni Revello rented a farmhouse and began replanting vineyards. Today, his grandchildren run the estate on land the family purchased in 1971.
100% Nebbiolo. Aged in French barriques for 12-14 months. Herb garden on the nose. Rose petals, subtle cherries. Lots of cherry flavors, black raspberries, herbs, crushed stones, dirt. Wonderful expression of Nebbiolo. Drink now to 8 years. Enjoy paired with gamey dishes – wild boar or duck (pictured below). Truffles are also a specialty of the area and would be a wonderful pairing over pasta.
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Ribera del Duero, Spain
Located in northcentral Spain, Ribera del Duero is a high desert plain with vineyards at an elevation 750-900 meters (2500-3000 ft) above sea level. Rainfall is low, summers are extremely hot, and winters are long & cold. Soils are sandy clay & limestone. All of this together creates the perfect conditions for a bomb of a Tempranillo! Fuller-bodied, rich, complex & often dry as a bone.
In 2000, José Moro, descendent of the famous Emilio Moro, planted "50 hectares of vineyard with clones of the centuries-old vines from the vineyards of his father and his grandfather." His vision is modern. He builds on his heritage and experience with a focus on technology and state of the art production.
Bodega Cepa 21 2019 Ribera Del Duero
Ribera del Duero, Spain // Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
100% Tempranillo. Fermented in stainless steel tanks then aged in French oak barrels. Beautiful nose of black cherries & blackberries. A little floral. Earthy. A lot of dark plums on the palate. Black cherries. Again, earth. Super fine tannins which are pleasant for sipping if you like this style of wine.
But food enhances without a doubt. Great acidity. Very accessible for Ribera del Duero. The tannins, acidity, and body make it a perfect pair with lamb or beef dishes. Enjoy with beef tenderloin, creamy rich mashed potatoes & green beans. Drink now to 8 years.
Super fun & tasty tour of some of the Old World’s top wine producing regions. Hope you enjoy!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop