Thursday, August 19, 2010
So, new feature for the Otto blog – we are going to highlight new wines coming on to the list under the heading New Wines (or Wines making a Re-Appearance). Otto’s list is big, and maybe a little hard to wrap your head around - and on top of that – it’s always changing. While we have a few favorites we always keep around, we also change things up quite a bit. We have items on our list which are lower production from smaller producers – so once we sell out… that’s it for a while.
In order to make the list a little easier to navigate, and hopefully more fun as well, this feature allows you to check out what new items are going to be on Otto’s list, and tell the story behind them. Check it out – and if you see something you like – come in and give it a try with some antipasti or a full meal.
When thinking of Vermentino, Sardenia and the coast of Liguria immediately come to mind with their rich fruit,great minerality and their crisp almost saline finish. The Quinis offers a little variation on a theme. From the inland hills of Tuscany around the beautiful town of Lucca this expression has a leaner frame, highlighting floral and herbal aspects of the grape. This is a perfect wine for the remainder of the summer, clean and refreshing. Always the best pairing for some prosciutto and melon, or just to sip on before dinner. -LR
Col d'Orcia Brunello 2004 -$96
As a Wine Buyer and now Sommelier, I get to taste a lot of wine. Some of them are very good and some are less than appealing. It doesn't happen often enough where I taste a wine and immediately know that I must have it. This was the case with Col d'Orcia 2004 Brunello. This is classic Brunello; powerful, complex, and balanced. Col d'Orcia make true "Old World" wines. The weather in 04 created optimal growing conditions for the grapes. The wine has lush fruit, round tanins, and a long finish. The wine is extremely expressive yet all the flavors are well integrated and thought provoking. After a slow maceration process the wine is aged 3 years in Slovenian Oak and the wonderful French Oak of Allier (considered the best in the world), followed by one year in the bottle. Anyone looking for a "special" wine will be pleased with this bottle. - Jeremy Adona
M Satta Pistraia 2005 - $74
A suitably bold Super-Tuscan, certainly anyone looking for a Bolgheiri powerhouse would not be disappointed in this wine; and yet there is a beautiful depth here as well – dark ripe fruit intermingle with earthy tarry notes, the fullness and richness of the wine is punctuated with an elegant minerality. This wine is a blend of 25% each Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet. There is an international flair with choice of grapes – and the wine sees 12 months in a mix of barriques and large wooden barrels – but the wine is also very distinctly Tuscan. Michele Satta said he wanted to combine the well-known expression of the Bordeaux varietals in Bolgheiri, with the elegance and softness one finds in Sangiovese and Syrah in the area, and this wine does a great job of bringing those elements together in a very Tuscan way. -MV
Cantalupo Ghemme Breclemae 2000 -
I admit to loving Nebbiolo in all its forms; not all are on the same page, but killer Barolo and Barbarescos are always a no-brainer, and the same should be said of Cantalupo’s Ghemme. Although, not a necessity by law, these guys always make 100% Nebbiolo (only 65% is required). Further North than Barolo and westerly – east of its sister wine Gattinara – Ghemme is an area with a deep history but at present has a pretty limited production. Cantalupo’s wine are the stars of the area, and they make consistently great wines. One finds the tannins and acidity that mark the grape along with a bright berry note and violets. 2000 was a riper vintage so the wine is in a great spot right now – but also with room for development - uncork one of these and just watch it evolve. The aromatics are amazing with rich dark fruit, floral and herbal notes. -MV
Colli di Lapio Clelia Fiano 2008
Wow – this is delicious wine. Beautiful nose full of stone fruit; specifically white pears and apricots, white flowers and even a hint of lavender. On the palate, the stone fruit comes through but the finish is mineral and LONG. Colli di Lapio is a new winery – started in 1994 – that has quickly made a reputation for themselves. This bottling was actually named Gamberi Rosso’s white wine of the year. The village of Lapio is northeast of the town of Avellino and the vineyards are located 500 meters above sea-level. -MV
29Jul2010
New Wines (or Wines making a Re-Appearance)
Monte di Grazia Bianco 2009 - $54
Monte di Grazia Rosso 2007 - $61
This week I am very excited to be adding the wines from the Monte di Gracia winery. This tiny winery in Tramonte in the Amalfi coast produces the kinds of wine I get excited about. They have a great story, are hard to find, and super tasty. We are adding the 2009 vintage of their white which is made from two local and obscure grapes (even by Italian standards) – Ginestra and Pepella – some from vines over a hundred years old. The Bianco has a wonderful intensity and weight for a white that does not see any oak. There is a lovely candied lemon note and then a beautiful dry mineral finish. The Monte di Grazia Rosso is the 2007 vintage and also from obscure local grapes – Tintore and Moscio. The red has a great nose – super evocative of the volcanic soils from whence it came, but also with dark fruit and even a floral note. On the palate the wine is full bodied yet not overwhelming. The dark fruit comes through along with a lovely earthiness – thoroughly old world; you feel as though you are tasting the wines of a particular place (Ah Amalfi!), and that smoky note from the volcanic soil really comes though. Like the white, the red does not see any oak, and this really comes through in a purity of expression. This wine would be an excellent accompaniment to any of our heartier pizzas (Pane Frattau, Funghi and Tallegio or the Pepperoni) - it’s from Campania – home to pizza; as well as pastas with meat like the Penne con Stracotto. If you are interested in reading more on this winery click here or here for two great articles that caught my eye.-MV
Alois Lageder Lagrein Lindenburger 2007
I did a tasting with the winemaker of Alois Lageder a while back and this Lagrein caught my attention as a great value. Lagrein is native to Northern Italy specifically the Trentino Alto Adige/Suditrol area. Many consider the grape to be the area’s top contender in the serious native red category. This example is aged in large Slovenian oak for 17 months after an extended maceration. Full bodied red in the Northern style; the wine exhibits considerable depth with flavors of dark plum, dried fruit and a slight pepperiness. -MV
Sandrone Nebbiolo Valmaggiore 2007
I have always favored the traditionalists of the Barolo bunch, but Sandrone is a major exception – the wines are so spectacular. This Nebbiolo could hold its own against many Barolo as a great representative of the grape - it’s full of power, grace and complexity. The Valmaggiore site is located in the Roero district – a bit north of Barolo with sandier soils- each of which lend a graceful quality. Some may be familiar with the site as Giacosa made lovely Nebbiolo there for many a year; Sandrone started in 1994 – so not exactly the new kid on the block either. The Valmaggiore wines are known for an opulence of fruit – at least for a Nebbiolo, and one gets that here but with tarry notes and great aromatics that bring it altogether. The wine is aged for 17 monthes in 2nd use 500 lt. and aged in the bottle for six months before release.-MV
Tenuta della Terre Nere Etna Bianco Le Vigne Niche 2007 - $52
Tenuta della Terre Nere, situated in Randazzo in northern Sicily, grows exclusively the indigenous varietals of Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Capuccio, Inzolia and Carricante. The vines are some of the highest in Europe growing on the slopes of Mount Etna. Thiselevation along with the mineral enriched soil produce graceful, elegant wines similar in style to Burgundy and Barolo. Etna Bianco "Le Vigne Niche" 2007 is 100% Carricante matured in cask for 10 months. Smoke, licorice and orange peel lend to the complexity of this full bodied white while a fresh persistent finish makes it ideal for a cheese and coppa pairing. –LR
Dei Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2001 - $84
Another addition to the ever expanding and evolving wine list here at Otto comes from the Dei winery located in the heart of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG. The Dei family has been producing wine since 1985. Under the care of Caterina Dei the estate is now considered among the elite in the region. Along with winemaker Niccolo d’Afflitto, Dei has been creating wonderful expressions of the Sangiovese grape called “Prugnolo gentile” locally. The Dei 2001 Vino Noblile di Montepulciano is no exception. From the stellar 2001 vintage, this wine is lush with lots of ripe fruit, black cherry and perfume on the nose, powerful, yet balanced. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures before being placed in Slovenian oak casks for 24 for months and then aged in bottle for additional 12 months before released. This wine is drinking amazingly right NOW. Click here for technical data from the winery’s site -JA
Frappato Valle dell’ Acate 2009 - $34
The Sicilian winery of Valle dell’Acate has a long and storied history amongst the top estates in Sicily, as the Jacono family can trace back their winemaking roots here to the nineteenth century. It is located in the southeastern corner of Sicily, on the elegant Bidini Manor in the hills of the DirilloValley. The estate comprises over one hundred hectares of land, both for grapevines as well as Sicily’s famous blood oranges.
Valle dell’Acate’s Il Frappato bottling is comprised, no surprisingly, of one hundred percent Frappato, and aged in stainless steel tank prior to bottling to retain this varietal’s lively red-fruited, highly-aromatic and floral profile. As is typical of this grape, the wine is light to medium-bodied and delivers a lovely base of soil tones from the calcaire, sandstone and clay strata of soils that lie beneath the estate’s vineyards. A perfect summer wine, it drinks well with a light chill. -MR
19Apr2010
Winery Profile Tasting: Maculan Winery Tuesday May 18th 6:30 PM Hi all,
We are pleased to announce the arrival of Angela Maculan who will be representing her family's wines from the Veneto.
For three generations the Maculan family has been selecting and vinifying the best grapes in Breganze, an enchanting village set like a small jewel at the foot of the Alps in Italy’s Veneto region. The surrounding mountains protect the area from cold winds, creating a perfect microclimate for the cultivation of vineyards. The winery specializes in both white and red wines, and has earned many accolades for its highly specialized dessert wines.
From childhood, Angela Maculan has been assisting her father in the cellar concerning all things wine. She now handles many of the primary tasks and is slowly taking the reins of this highly acclaimed winery in Italy. Join us as Angela guides us through her latest-released wines from one of Italy's most important wine regions, Veneto.
Ci Vediamo!
Tuesday, May 18
6:30 PM
($30 + tax)
For reservations, please contact events manager, Becky Smith, at bsmith@ottopizzeria.com. 212-995-9559 ext. 101
16Mar2010
New Tuesday Wine Classes Added for March
We are pleased to announce we have added more Tuesday evening wine classes at OTTO.
Classes begin at 6:30 PM and last roughly one hour. ($30 + tax)
Tuesday, March 23 - Wines of Southern Italy
Tuesday, March 30 - Wines of Piemonte
We look forward to seeing you at class!
24Feb2010
New Wine Classes Added for March/April
Hello Students of Wine,
We've just updated our wine class schedule for March and April.
Wine Tasting with Isabella Oddero of the Oddero Winery in Piedmont
The Oddero winery was founded in 1878, in the area of Santa Maria, located within one of eleven defined Barolo communes. The family owned estate is one of the oldest producers of Barolo, thanks to a centralized mentality that has kept the distinctive, traditional style of winemaking in tact for over a century. Throughout the generations, the Oddero family has gradually expanded its vineyard holdings to an impressive 60 hectares, many of which are occupied within the illustrious Barolo vineyards of Brunate, Rocche di Castiglione, Villero and Mondoca di Bussia. Since 2001, with the help of young and talented winemaker Luca Vaglio, Oddero winery has become one of the leading producers in Barolo.
On Tuesday, February 23rd, we are pleased to receive Isabella Oddero, one of the future stars of Piemontese winemaking. She will discuss the splendors and struggles of winemaking in one of Italy’s most important winemaking areas.
Tuesday, February 23rd
6:30 PM
($30 + tax)
For reservations, please contact events manager, Becky Smith, at bsmith@ottopizzeria.com. 212-995-9559 ext. 101
Ci Vediamo!
28Jan2010
Grappa Tasting with Antonio Nardini
The Nardini Estate was founded in 1779 by Bartolo Nardini. Throghout his lifetime, he revolutionized the Italian distillation process, quickly establishing himself as the leading producer of grappa in Italy. Subsequently, as the distillery was handed down from father to son, each generation made a progressive contribution toward refining the distillation process, allowing the firm to achieve the prestige of which Bortolo Nardini only dreamt.
Eight generations later, Antontio Nardini oversees two distilleries in the Veneto region of Italy: one in Bassano del Grappa, in the Vicenza Province and the other in Monastier, in the Treviso Province. Combined, the two distilleries and state-of-the-art manufacturing systems make grappas and grappa-based liqueurs that evoke the rich traditions of this region.
Join us as we taste through some of Antonio's featured grappas as he discusses his family's rich history and tradition with distillation in Italy.
Tuesday, February 9th
$30 + tax
6:30 PM
Ci Vediamo!
21Jan2010
OTTO's New Late Night Enoteca Menu
Greetings Oenophiles,
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new late night Enoteca Menu.
From 10 PM to 12:30 AM, Sundays thru Thursdays, guests are entitled to Chef Dan Drohan’s assortment of antipasti with their choice of a bottle of wine for $33.
Antipasti includes Grana Padano cheese, house-cured salumi, and pickled vegetables.
Sunday – Thursday
10 PM to 12:30 AM
We hope to see you soon
18Jan2010
Calabrian Wine Tasting with Gregorio Odoardi of Azienda Agricola Odoardi - Saturday Jan. 23rd
Join us this Saturday afternoon at 2 PM in our enoteca for a unique wine tasting featuring the wines of Gregorio Odoardi from Calabria. Calabria, the sole of Italy, (pun intended) is going through a wine revolution as more wineries are focusing on quality wine production.
Gregorio Odoardi is a winemaker located along the western coast of Calabria just north of the city of Lamezia Terme. The vineyards lay in the countryside crossed by the Savuto River and in the hills facing the Tyrrhenian sea where cooler coastal breezes mitigate the hotter daytime temperatures. Odoardi specializes in cultivating native grape varieties such as Gaglioppo, Magliocco, and Greco Nero, as well growing international grapes such as Cabernet and Riesling.
Join us this Saturday as we taste through some of Gregorio's wines as he discusses life and wine from the fabled region of Calabria.
Tasting includes a sampling of OTTO signature house-cured salumi and imported Italian cheeses.
Hi all,
The Oddero winery was founded in 1878, in the area of Santa Maria, located within one of eleven defined Barolo communes. The family owned estate is one of the oldest producers of Barolo, thanks to a centralized mentality that has kept the distinctive, traditional style of winemaking in tact for over a century. Throughout the generations, the Oddero family has gradually expanded its vineyard holdings to an impressive 60 hectares, many of which are occupied within the illustrious Barolo vineyards of Brunate, Rocche di Castiglione, Villero and Mondoca di Bussia. Since 2001, with the help of young and talented winemaker Luca Vaglio, Oddero winery has become one of the leading producers in Barolo.
The Nardini Estate was founded in 1779 by Bartolo Nardini. Throghout his lifetime, he revolutionized the Italian distillation process, quickly establishing himself as the leading producer of grappa in Italy. Subsequently, as the distillery was handed down from father to son, each generation made a progressive contribution toward refining the distillation process, allowing the firm to achieve the prestige of which Bortolo Nardini only dreamt.
