2017 Albino Armani Corvara Pinot Grigio (Valdadige)

The Wine: Subtle aromas of citrus blossom, orchard fruit and a whiff of crushed herb waft out of the glass. It’s fresh and straightforward, offering Granny Smith apple and ripe pear flavors.

(From Wine Searcher) Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for Pinot Gris, a white mutation of the Pinot family which shares its genetic fingerprint with Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc et al. The term Pinot Grigio has become strongly associated with lighter wines produced in great quantities, particularly in northern Italy.

The refreshing Pinot Grigio style has enjoyed great success in various countries, most recently the United States, (where it is fondly nicknamed “Greej”) and Australia. The most common descriptors of the style are “light”, “crisp” and “dry”. These characteristics are complemented by aroma notes citing lemon, green apple and blossoms.

This “everyday” Grigio style is achieved by harvesting the grapes relatively early, in an attempt to retain as much fresh acidity as possible; the variety is naturally quite low in acidity. To retain freshness and “zing”, fermentation and storage typically take place in stainless-steel tanks. If barrels were used, this would add palate weight and sweet vanilla-like aromas, which would detract significantly from the clean, simple style. This type of Pinot Grigio wine is almost always intended for consumption within a year or two of harvest, so extended cellaring is neither required nor advisable.

The Winery:  The land in the Adige Valley is characterized by constant wind which magically combines with the mild, Mediterranean climate of Lake Garda. Here grapevines grow in soil which is of porphyry/limestone origin, which exalts the typical characteristics of many varietals. Among them, the company’s favorite, is an autochthonous varietal called “Foja Tonda”, officially called Casetta Doc Terrradeiforti, which, until just a few years ago, was in the phase of extinction. Consequently, glorious “Foja Tonda” is a symbol of the biodiversity, characterizing a valley gouged out of the soil by its river, and squeezed in between the mountains.

From the year 1962 onwards, the centerpoint of the company has been Dolcè, where grapevines decorate an enchanted strip of land that connects the Regions of Veneto and Trent. This area offers the scenery for a marriage project to espouse tradition with innovation. It is in Dolcè where all Albino Armani wines are bottled. And that is why Dolcè is precisely the place where the project becomes reality, and why the wines of the Adige Valley and of the “Terra dei Forti” stretch simply carry the name “Albino Armani”.

Read more at: https://www.albinoarmani.com/en/home/

 2016 Trimbach, Riesling, Alsace

The Wine: Wet stone and fresh lemon are faint but distinct on the nose. A pure lemon flavor streaks across the slender, taut palate, with a comet-like spray of freshness. This wine is dry and, if it weren’t for juicy glimpses of ripe lemon, would be almost austere.

The Winery: (From Wine Searcher) Trimbach is one of the oldest wineries in the French wine region of Alsace, dating back to 1626. Located in Ribeauville, it is surrounded by limestone- and fossil-rich vineyards protected by the Vosges Mountains. Trimbach is known for its wines made from Riesling, and in particular the one made from the small Clos Sainte Hune vineyard, which is considered one of the finest Alsatian expressions of the grape. The house has been in the Trimbach family for centuries, but it wasn’t until 1898 – when Frédéric Emile Trimbach received the highest distinction for his wines at the International Wine Fair in Brussels – that the wines of Maison Trimbach began to attract attention.(From Wine.com) Jean-Frédéric Trimbach, born in 1811, was appointed Gourmet of Hunawihr, a position designed to protect the quality of wine exports. He transferred the Maison Trimbach business to Hunawihr, where he served as mayor for many years.Jean-Frédéric and his son, Frédéric-Emile continued the family tradition, and Frédéric-Emile traveled extensively to promote the wines. In 1898 he received the Certificate of Highest Quality at the Brussels International Show.

With Frédéric-Emile at the helm, Maison Trimbach began bottling its wines in Alsace rather than selling in bulk, providing a new guarantee of quality and authenticity. The contribution of Frédéric-Emile Trimbach was recognized when the family adopted his initials in the firm’s official name: Maison F.E. Trimbach.

Today, the tradition of quality continues with the 11th and 12th generations of the Trimbach family. Hubert and his older brother Bernard, along with Bernard’s sons, Pierre and Jean, have continued operations and currently produce approximately 80,000 cases of wines annually. Over one-third of their production is exported to the United States. While one of the smallest of the many producers in Alsace, they are nonetheless the largest, most widely recognized Alsace brand in the United States.

View spectacular pictures of th winery here: https://www.trimbach.fr/en/

2016 Domaine Chatelain Chablis Fourchaume Premier Cru, Chardonnay

The Wine: Chablis, Burgundy, France- Intense aromas of baked Granny Smith apples and ripe pear appear in the bouquet and on the palate. The racy acidity is one of the first things you notice along with mineral and flint sprinkled through the long mouth feel. Premier Cru, single vineyard wine.

The Winery: (From Wine.com) The source of the most racy, light and tactile, yet uniquely complex Chardonnay, Chablis, while considered part of Burgundy, actually reaches far past the most northern stretch of the Côte d’Or proper. Its vineyards cover hillsides surrounding the small village of Chablis about 100 miles north of Dijon, making it actually closer to Champagne than to Burgundy. Champagne and Chablis have a unique soil type in common called Kimmeridgian, which isn’t found anywhere else in the world except southern England. A 180 million year-old geologic formation of decomposed clay and limestone, containing tiny fossilized oyster shells, spans from the Dorset village of Kimmeridge in southern England all the way down through Champagne, and to the soils of Chablis. This soil type produces wines full of structure, austerity, minerality, salinity and finesse. Chablis Grand Cru vineyards are all located at ideal elevations and exposition on the acclaimed Kimmeridgian soil while most of the vineyards in the outlying spots are referred to as Petit Chablis. Chablis Grand Cru, as well as some Petit Chablis, can age for many years.

Fourchaume is one of the best known Premier Cru vineyards in Chablis. The vineyard is located just to the north of Chablis town on the eastern banks of the Serein river. Here, a favorable southerly aspect and high-quality limestone soils beget a distinctive Chardonnay-based wine, distinguished from other Chablis Premier Crus by its rounded lemony flavors that nevertheless retain a fresh minerality.

 2017 Vento Vermentino, Bacci, Terri Di Talamo, Toscana

The Wine: Toscana, Italy- Delivers a structured array of complex perfumed aromas of pineapple, vanilla, sweet pear, minerals and herbs. Refined and elegant on the palate with good balance. Finishes long, with the distinctive flavor of rosemary, wild summer honey and licorice.

Vermentino is a white-wine grape grown in various locations around the western Mediterranean: northwestern Italy, southern France and the neighboring islands of Corsica and Sardinia. It goes by various names, among them Pigato in Liguria, Favorita in Piedmontand Rolle in Provence, although there is long-standing disagreement over which of these are synonyms of Vermentino and which are distinct varieties in their own right. Whatever the truth, Vermentino wines, Pigato wines, Favorita wines and Rolle wines have a lot in common, most obviously their refreshing acidity and attractive aromas of peach, lemon peel, dried herbs and a whiff of saline minerality. Read more about Vermentino here: https://www.wine-searcher.com/grape-525-vermentino-rolle

The Winery: Terre di Talamo is located south of Grosseto, in the Tuscan Maremma. The D.O.C.G. is Morellino di Scansano.The 52 hectares estate is on a hillside facing the sea, and offers a view from the Port of Talamone to the Argentario promontory.The vineyards extend over about 32 hectares. They are planted with Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Alicante, Petit Verdot and Vermentino.

At Terre di Talamo the following wines are produced: the Morellino di Scansano “Tempo”, the Morellino Riserva, a Petit Verdot based IGT named “Percecco” and the Alicante passito “Ser Ciccio”.Three white wines are produced: the “Vento”, pure Vermentino, the Vento Forte (late harvest, fermented in oak) and the Vento Teso (pure Viognier).The range is completed by the rose’ wine Piano Piano made with Sangiovese and Cabernet.

The terrains, which are quite stony, consist of a mixture of brown clay, with exposures from Southeast to Northwest.

The Maremma rose to prominence in the 1960s when Sassicaia brought the area’s potential to the wine world’s notice.  In fact, wine had been produced on the hills surrounding the Maremma for centuries but Sassicaia was the first to experiment with Bordelais varietals (and the first to plant vines on the recently drained coastal plain).

Some 150 kms farther south the vineyards surrounding Scansano predate the more fashionable DOCs of Bolgheri and Val di Cornia by many centuries.  Terre di Talamo is located in the heart of the Morellino DOCG on a south and east-facing hill with direct maritime exposure.  Compared with Chianti or Brunello the days are cooler, nights warmer, and Sangiovese ripens that bit quicker.  Vintage variation is less acute and the tannins are softer.

See beautiful picture and read more about Bacci wines and this winery her:ehttp://www.bacciwines.it/en-talamo

2017 Val Do Sosego Albarino Rias Baixas, Spain

The Wine: Rias Baixas, Spain- Delicious peach, mineral and citrus aromas and flavors leave a vibrant, racy impression on the palate. Ideal as an aperitif or companion to seafood dishes and spicy entrees. Perfect with tuna.

Clear, brilliant wine, with an extremely elegant lemon-yellow colour. An intense aroma on the nose, with persistent quality aromas, reminiscent of green apple and tropical fruits (pineapple). Glyceric finish, lingering on the palate, with a perfect acidity harmonizing with its body, making this a very pleasant wine full of sensations.

The Winery: Rías Baixas is a DO wine zone in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain, located along the Atlantic coastline. Although a comparatively young DO (established in 1988), Rías Baixas has rapidly grown in stature thanks to the efforts of its various enterprising producers, who have adopted modern winemaking techniques to showcase the region’s signature grape variety, Albariño. Not surprisingly, the Atlantic Ocean is a key influence on the Rías Baixas climate. Average rainfall is very high here, sometimes exceeding 71 inches (1800 millimeters) a year, and mists and fog from the sea also add to the cool climate. This climate is why Rías Baixas is so successful with Albariño – the cooling ocean influences help the grapes to retain the crisp, mouth-watering acidity so vital to the distinctive style of the local wines. The finest Rías Baixas wines are characterized by their intense aromatics, and long, pleasant floral aftertaste, often further lifted by a slight fizz. The area’s granite soils help imbue the wine with intense minerality.

The brand is born from the hand of Simón Ferro family who purchased these wine cellars in 1975, where wines of the County were elaborated since 1862.

At the time, the property had roughly a hectare of traditionally grown vineyard and, what began as a complementary activity to the familiar economy became over the years in a company itself, true to the vision of the family who from the beginning was enthusiastic in obtaining a premium quality white wine. Nowadays, the company is property of the founders’ four sons.

In 1986, the winery is built up and it participates as D.O Rias Baixas founder. At this point a progressive growth is established and it has gone from producing 8.000 bottles per year to 520.000 in less than a decade at the present time.Nowadays, the winery has its own vineyard covering a surface area of around 50 hectares and, in the last five years, it has made investments in machinery and equipment amounting to almost 600.000 Euros; special focus being given on adaptation of technological developments to the traditional method of wine elaboration. These investments refer to all aspects of production, from the own viticulture to the upgrading of wine storage, bottling line and traceability systems; not forgetting the economic and financial management.

4.  CV Members Rating

View full evaluation here: 203 Summary of Scores

Best Rated Wine: 2016 Domaine Chatelain Chablis Fourchaume Premier Cru, Chardonnay

Best Buy: 2017 Albino Armani Corvara Pinot Grigio (Valdadige)

5. Technical Notes 

See the guide to pairing wine and fish on this Wine Folly page: https://winefolly.com/tutorial/wine-with-fish-pairing-guide/