May Featured Wines – Castellani Vermentino & Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva, Italy

We are back to Italian wines in May. The Castellani Family has a history of winemaking for over 150 years. They continue to perfect the varietals that flourish in Tuscany. The Castellani Vermentino vineyards are close to the Mediterrean Coast where the grape is perfectly acclimated to the sea breezes and sunlight. 2022 Castellani Vermentino is our selection. There are few white grapes that do well in this part of Tuscany. The red is 2017 Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva from the Chianti region of inland Tuscany. To be considered a Chianti, wines produced in this region have to meet certain conditions which are mandated by law. All Chiantis must have at least 70% Sangiovese. To be a Chianti Classico the wine must have 80% Sangiovese. Reserva means it has been aged for 24 months.

2022 Castellani Vermentino, Tuscany, Italy $16

In color this wine is straw yellow with light golden hues. The bouquet is complex with floral notes, white flowers, with stone and Mediterranean spices, sage, rosemary and mint. It is a full bodied and well-balanced wine. An easy white to pair with seafood and poultry. Alcohol: 12.5%

2017 Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva, Italy $16

This is a clear, medium ruby wine. There are notes of tart red cherry, raspberry, and red currant along with savory dried thyme, and earth. There are also notes of baking spices, and perhaps some cedar.This is a good wine with medium complexity of aromas and flavors.Of course, perfect of Italian food. Alcohol: 13%

May Featured Wines – 2022 San Felice Perolla Vermentino & 2020 San Felice Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

Agricola San Felice is recognized as an innovative Italian estate, partly because of its ability to spot trends before they develop and partly because of its intense research and experimentation. At the same time, however, its production style accentuates the uniqueness and typical character of its territory by retaining a close attachment to tradition. The estate is situated in the municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga, near Siena, in other words, right in the heart of Tuscany’s Chianti Classico territory. This is the type of producer we like to offer wine club members.

The white selection, Agricola San Felice Perolla Vermentino (2021), is grown southwest of Siena in Maremma on the coast of Tuscany. A traditional grape in the Maremma, Vermentino ripens to perfection on the hills of the Perolla estate, thanks in part to the moderating influence of the moderating influence of the nearby Mediterranean.

The red selection, Agricola San Felice Chianti Classico DOCG (2020) is the first Chianti we have carried in a long time. Wine Spectator scored this as #24 on the best price list. This Chianti, mostly Sangiovese with 10% of each Colorino and Pugnitello has received rave reviews from buyers.

2022 San Felice Perolla Vermentino, Maremma, Tuscany $15

This is a dry, yet smooth white wine with a rich fragrance. On the nose, scents of grapefruit citrus emerge, along with spring blossoms and newly-mown hay. The palate shows a refreshing crispness, with subtle citrus in the background. Alcohol: 13.0%

2020 San Felice Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany $19

This is an example of a light and classic Chianti. Ruby red in color with the typical orangish, brick red hues of Sangiovese. It has complex notes of tart cherries, herbs like oregano, leather, tobacco, Italian salami. Light bodied, soft tannins, medium acid, and a medium long dry savory finish. Alcohol: 13.0%

October’s Featured Wines – 2016 Blu Giovello Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy & 2014 Villa Pillo Borgoforte, Tuscany, Italy

2016 Blu Giovelll Pinot Grigio, Friuli, Italy                                 $12

This wine is produced in Friuli, Italy. This white has a crisp acidity in the mouth with an almond-like finish. Before you taste, catch peach, apricot, melon and pineapple for a fruity sweetness on the nose. This is a dry wine that is light and crisp. It is a great pairing for creamed vegetable soups that are a nice fall menu item. Plus the unique blue bottle is easy to find on our shelves! Alcohol: 12%

 

2014 Villa Pillo Borgoforte, Tuscany, Italy                                   $18

Borgoforte is a classic Tuscan wine. Each year Villa Pillo adds selected wines – Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot – to blend for a subtle complexity and richness. Considered a “Super Tuscan,” this has aromas of violet, black currant and rosemary accented by licorice and tobacco flavors. Grapes picked at optimum ripeness ensure a wine which expresses itself in its ripe black fruit components and full body. For smooth body and elegance, the wine is aged in small oak barrels. Wine Spectator named this as #25 in their Top 100 wines of 2016. This is a great wine with pasta, red meats and game of any kind. Alcohol: 13.5%

 

January Featured Wines – 2014 Angelini Pinot Grigio, Veneto & 2011 Terrilogio Toscana, Montepulciano

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2014 Angelini Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy             $11

2014 Angelini Pinot Grigio is produced in the northern region of Veneto. This is 100% Pinot Grigio grapes and has a soft, well balanced flavors of tropical fruit and a clear, fresh finish. There is a hint of white peaches. The color is straw yellow and the nose makes one think of freshly baked bread. This is a perfect wine for winter seafood soups with fresh bread and cheese.

 

Terrilogio Toscana

2011 Terrilogio Toscano, Montpulciano, Italy    $11

2011 Terrilogio Toscana comes from the area near Montepulciano. This is a “Super Tuscan” blend with 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. It has complex aromas of crushed berries, cherries and hints of tobacco. This is a full-bodied with round tannins and a long finish. Consider this a winter wine since it is ideal with all Mediterranean dishes, roast, game meat and spicy cheese.

Wine & Food Passport to Tuscany – October 10-17, 2015

Wine galleryJoin Bishop’s Stock’s “Wine & Food Passport to Tuscany” in October 2015

The gallery is working with travel consultant Paula Sullivan to create a wonderful immersion in wine and food in Italy. The trip will be from October 10-17, 2015. We will explore Chianti, one of Tuscany’s most iconic wine-producing regions. We will visit wineries and meet the winemakers, learning first hand what their expectations are for the current vintage. We will  taste their wines and pair them with the exquisite cuisine of the region. In Lucca we will visit an enoteca with a tasting room in caves under the city. Thousands of bottles line the ancient walls. We will have a primer on olive oils and how to sample them. Get ready to roll up your sleeves for two hands-on cooking classes, one with our own Abbondanza Toscana chef and a second with our friend Stefania Balducci in Chianti who will share her family’s recipes. Learn about Lucca on a cultural and historical tour of the old town center and plan to spend some time browsing the shops. A full week of gastronomic pleasure awaits you on this tour! Contact the gallery for more details and check www.abbondanzatoscana.com to see where we will be staying.

Conversation with Paula Sullivan

 

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Paula Sullivan, the travel consultant organizing our Wine & Food Passport to Tuscany will be in the gallery to provide information about this great opportunity to experience the best of Tuscany. The tour is set for October 10-18 with space for just 10 guests.

Opening Reception for Winter Abstracts

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Just when cold winter weather wears on us, Bishop’s Stock offers color and movement with Winter Abstracts. The work will feature non-objective and mixed media formats in all sizes. New gallery artists showing are Abbi Custis, Tom Hogan and Phyllis Jaffe.

Wines of the Month – 2012 Damilano Langhe Arneis and 2011 Tommasi Rompicollo, Italy

Label on Damilano Langhe Arneis bottle

2011 Damilano Langhe Arneis, Piedmont, Italy       $21

This wine is 100% Arneis, a grape often referred to as “white Barolo” because it is grown close to some of the most famous areas of Barolo and has a similar richness. It is fresh with bright acidity, vibrant peach and passion fruit flavors and an a delightful hint of almond on the finish.  There is a nutty edge, structured with a hint of tannin. On the nose there is a bit of cut grass. This is an un-oaked wine suitable for appetizers, fish courses and white meats. Alcohol: 13%

 

Tommasi Rompicollo featuredat Bishop's Stock2011 Tommasi Rompicollo, Maremmma, Tuscany, Italy    $15

The 2011 Rompicollo is a 60-40 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its name, roughly translated as “neck-breaking” in English, was inspired by the backbreaking labor required to farm in the Tufo-rich soils of the area. Sweet cherry and blackberry aromas are followed by a mild mouthfeel. There is initial plushness here but the wine’s texture is compact and streamlined overall. This is a great blend for something as simple as gorgonzola  with hearty bread or a tradtional as a lamb shank. It is considered a smart buy receiving a 92 from Wine Spectator. Alcohol: 13%