Little Italy /w/ a Big Italian Chianti Classico!!! CastelVecchi, 2012

Link To Episode 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFQ_WsOmLys

one of the great questions of life:what is chianti classico? it is the noble red wine of tuscany primarily made from the sangiovese grape and often blended in small percentages with the canaiolo grape…growing up we all knew as the cheap and rough wine in the bottle surrounded by a basket…often kept and used for candles to drip and drip…and yes chiantis could be rough and harsh…I have often said…their worst expression is like a dusty, dirty shag carpet in your mouth…well now some great news…the gorgeous and sexy marisa visocaro, owner of Little Italy restaurant, found one of the most stunning Chianti Classicos, CastelVecchi, 2012-bright red fruit such as ripe cherries, raspberries and a depth of elegance with an addictive finish that makes me want to drink the whole bottle…i could drink this wine all day…(and i have)…of course, the obvious pairings: eggplant rollatini, mussels,  all pastas with red sauce(I love rigatoni), pizza but this wine would also be harmonious with light red meats such as burgers or a delicate steak…where to find it..@ Little Italy, 824 Afterglow, SATX, 78216 @JS Fine Wines, 638 W. Rhapsody, SATX, 78216….thank you marisa for finding this life changing chianti classico!!!

 We’re Stuck on Fruiliano!!!

Link To Episode 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmL7LrgA8qY

The most awesome Kye Silver McCammon selected a  refreshing wine to launch Summer of 2016, Scarpetta Fruiliano, 2013 that comes in under 20$$$ hailing from Northeastern Italy, Friuli, the white grape is known as fruiliano.  It has a vibrant balance of earth and fruit-fresh, ripe strawberries, stone fruit such as apricot and crunchy minerality.  I love this wine with any type of salad especially simple salads with white balsamic vinegar. It would also be tasty with any type of salami or prosciutto…speaking of great food …this wine is the project of Master Sommelier,  James  Beard Award winner , French Laundry experienced , Friuli fanatic Bobby Stuckey who  owns the world-acclaimed restaurant, Frasca in Boulder , CO…his passion for Northeastern Italy finds it way in every bottle of Scarpetta Wine…to be truly enjoyed with the light meals of summer or by itself while experiencing the  heat of summer…wc

check out this wine & his other wines: http://www.scarpettawine.com/

The Rocket Scientist Discovers A Stunning Burgundy Rouge for Under 20$$$!!!! albert bichot, bourgogne rouge, 2012

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Link To Episode 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woXHhCczlao

the brilliant, passionate and insightful aleisha weston knockenhauer discovered just recently a sassy, classic, and explosive bourgogne rouge(pinot noir from burgundy, france)…one of the most prized wine producing regions in our world for under 20$$$...albert bichot, 2012, sourced from 4 different vineyards….it fulfills all our burgundy demands…dried tart fruit, orange zest, and an earthiness that sends you somewhere else…to nirvana…perfect with all our seasonal poultry dishes-turkey, duck, quail, etc….the genius of burgundy is the pure, complex, and opulent balance that the french are masters at…this wine delivers…thank you aleisha for your discovery!!!

found at:                                    joe saglimbieni fine wines/js fine wines, 

                                         638 w. rhapsody, san antonio, tx, 78216, 210.349.5149

Saumur: Les Pouches, 2013,  Loire Valley, France …Grape: Chenin Blanc…12.99 …4200 cases produced…

Link To Ep. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpobXY6VuOk

it has been worth the wait....all summer without a post… mr. ron bechtol…insightful wine & food reviewer for the san antonio current discovered this hidden gem @ joe saglimbenis/aka jsfine wines & spirits/aka joe sags(638 W Rhapsody, San Antonio, Texas 78216)
(210) 349-5149)…its upscale cousins made from the same grape…chenin blanc…similar terroir…sauvienneres and vouray command 25-60$$$ because they are known…this gem @ 12.99 is a steal….racy, enduring acidity /w/ crisp green apples makes this a wine to be enjoyed almost /w/ any food…I just had it with some spicy boiled gulf shrimp…perfect harmony…Kathy, the food consultant at joe sags had it /w/ mussels and reports it is stunning….this wine really really flies under the radar and once you drink it….you will want more and more….just only tell people who love wine about this gem…really would like to keep it flying under the radar especially at this price point, 12.99…the wine chairman…check out the episode #3 /w/ mr ron bechtol discussing this wine…

gessami: stunning wine chosen by the most stunning chelsey!!!

the most gorgeous chelsey(my business manager) chose this blockbuster spanish white wine that is exploding with aromas of jasmine, ripe apricot, and lychee…4 dynamic  aromatic varietals that always deliver…gewürztraminer,  2 different varietals of muscat, and the backbone of this wine- sauvignon blanc…imported by the one of the best: eric salomon(As an importer, we wish all our wines to speak distinctly of a “place”-that their expression is one of the particular locale…unobscured by winemaking interventions.”)  has the talent to find these gems from spain…origin: penedes: the home of our beloved cavas...this wine is so enticing and mesmerizing that my buddy rodman and i drank it within ½ hr. sunday nite on the wine chairman’s patio…we paired it with some lite cheeses and salamis…a must pair with thai food and of course, under 20 dollars!!!

Please watch the video….with the ever lovely chelsey and the winechairman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on3muxqwUD0

pouilly fuisse=unoaked chardonnay from burgundy,france

pouilly fuisse is a great entry to white burgundies for under $20…100 percent chardonnay and almost always no oak…great acids, great fruit flavors- green apples, guava, pineapple…tropical fruits…often these wines are very expressive and pair with summer foods such as grilled seafood, shrimp and oysters from the gulf, summer salads and light fruit and cheese plates…you can find these wines at joe saglimbienis, whole foods, central market and heb…if they don’t have a pouilly fuisse…ask for a macon…the next best wine that has similar characteristics and are under 20$$$...a great way to begin your study of white burgundies!!!  Also…here is a great website…quick and easy that i use all the time as a reference for french wines… 

http://www.terroir-france.com/

the wine chairman

malbec and bonarda…the durigutti brothers unlock the beauty of argentine malbec & bonarda!!! (both under $20 @ central market & joe saglimbeni’s!!!)

about 4 years ago, a colleague of mine presented me with a bottle of durigutti malbec for my birthday while working in houston, tx….i  took it back to my hotel  room thinking….a malbec…yuck…they are all bad…bad oak…bad alcohol…bad thinness! i opened the bottle, poured it and did the “sniffy sniff”…wow…the floral notes hit me… the fresh violets…the balance…like i never experienced with a malbec…all my wine friends began to have a love affair with this argentine star….now this week I just picked up their bonarda…bonarda is a grape that possibly came from france, italy, croatia…known as charbonno in cali, where there are some plantings…this wine is fresh rain on violets with stunning balance…both wines are awesome with red sauce, burgers, steaks or just because it is a red wine night! the chairman loves both of these wines and thanks the durigutti brothers for their attention to delivering the beauty and essence of these two grapes…malbec & bonarda…cheers…salud…nostrovia…thank you durigutti brothers!!!