2004 Fattoria Alois Trebulanum Campania IGT

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  11/9/2009, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (TREBULANUM Alois) UPDATE: Pizza My original article a year or two ago on The Pizza Man caused such an uproar (around the globe, not just here) that I still receive comments about it. What began as an editorial on one of the finest (and most eccentric) pie-masters in the world, has grown into a separate life-form with an entire email list of pizza-nibbling and seeking enthusiasts that just want great pie. For the past few years (in response to that original article), I've compiled a list of the top ten pizza establishments in the world (according to me) and this year's group will debut on Dec 1st. I've decided to do something a bit different for the 2009 list by soliciting input from our email base as well as my own gullet. Everyone has an opinion on pizza and it is usually backed up with plenty of venom and passion. I will probably pen two separate lists - one as a synopsis from the community and one of my own but there is sure to be plenty of interesting dicta - stay tuned on Dec 1st for an informative missive on one of the world's most popular (and competitive) foods. If nothing else, this list will serve as an impetus to go out in the world and experiment with each of the establishments that makes the grade. The competition has been severe this year but I already have a tentative 10 best with one more pizza eating trip to make before the first of the month. We will see. If you have passion for a particular pizza (anywhere around the globe), please let me know. To submit a list of eateries (or even one entry - with a few sentences backing up your claim): pizza@garagistewine.com If you do not wish to submit an entry but still want to sign up for the "pizza" email list (for random thoughts, pizza reviews, travel tips with a pizza slant, etc), you may use the same email address: pizza@garagistewine.com Look for the complete 2009 "best of" editorial at the start of next month in a Garagiste UPDATE. - Jon Rimmerman *********************** Dear Friends, Here are two wines we've offered several times in the past and both have risen to the top of the re-order request file. Someone, somewhere must have opened this pair over the weekend (at a large gathering, I presume) as I had a fresh new set of requests this morning. That was the nudge I needed to find a new parcel of both wines and (little did I know) the result of my quest would prove very fruitful for you. Neither wine is readily available on the open market so this has been a bit tricky to coordinate but the effort was certainly worth it - the result is pricing that is almost too good to believe...the last parcel available of each wine - at half price. To be blunt, both are crazy deals at this price level. Take your pick - both are the same price, both have been perfectly stored - I would be quite happy to see either arrive in a guest's hand at a dinner party and, judging by the number of inquires I had this morning, there are several of you that agree: *********************************** 2004 Alois Trebulanum (Casavecchia) Campania Made entirely from the indigenous Casavecchia grape grown in the foothills of the Caiatini mountains (Campania), the Trebulanum has struck a chord with our customer base but also with the sommelier circuit in the US. The top wine from Alois, it competes favorably with the best examples of the South with far more intrinsic appeal than most at this price (or at its original $40+ tariff). The flavor spectrum runs from pepper and Aglianico-like spice to mineral driven, citric, very dense fruit akin to Bolgheri. While the overall frame is far more medium in weight than something like Cabernet, the wistful, initial presence is quite deceiving. This wine was coddled from bud-break to bottle and it provides a mouthful of flavor and interest - it harnesses the exciting attributes of Casavecchia while riding a fine line between modern and traditional. In addition, the Trebulanum is quite diverse - it pairs with a grilled steak just as easily as woodsy, aromatic fare (pasta with morels or black truffles?). We don't have very much to offer so I'll leave it at that: 2001 Bisceglia Aglianico del Vulture Riserva (Basilicata) (this is not the less expensive Gudarra; you'll probably have to check listings from a year or two ago to find any in the US) The second entrant in today's two-step is from neighboring Basilicata. This wine is drinking beautifully right now and it shows the potential of this backwater region (which is among my favorite in all of Europe). The 2001 Riserva has a haunting nose of smoke, pepper and sinfully pungent Aglianico perfume with a palate that is medium bodied while still coating the senses. Femininity aligned with power, the 2001 Riserva is reminiscent of something from the Northern Rhone with a twist of the highlands above the Ionian Sea for complexity. Normally priced about the same as Molettieri Taurasi (you can do the math), today's tariff is less than the cellar door: ************************************ Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy5813 Italy5814

RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  7/19/2009, (See more on RJonWine.com...) 93 points

  (Fattoria Alois Trebulanum Campania IGT) Opaque black violet color; spicy plum, lavender, baked berry nose; ripe, rich, tasty, spicy plum, berry, black fruit, herbal and mineral palate; medium-plus finish

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  5/6/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (TREBULANUM Alois) UPDATE: I’ve decided to add an improved and requested feature to our web site - a forum board that we hope attracts as much action as our spontaneous blog sites that have sprung up around the world. Every shipping season, as wine is delivered, opened and consumed by our extended family (you), there are always a few dozen that incite spontaneous celebration and a few dozen that inspire ire, suspicion and discontent. Wouldn't it be fun if everyone could talk about this in a non-threatening and educational forum? My guess is the discussion will continue all year, not just during the shipping seasons so we hope this will become a regular part of the Garagiste experience. To make it even more interesting, I will chime in from time to time as I’ve retasted wines and to answer questions regarding ageing, how certain wines are showing, etc. If a wine we’ve offered is great, let’s say so - if it it’s poor, let’s say so and talk about why. We’ve never been one to hide behind anything and I believe this openness it is a central part of why so many of you feel like a part of our operation and not just customers - honesty and the ability to speak your mind. Sometimes family members impress you and other times they let you down - you talk about it, argue, rectify and then move on. I think a Garagiste forum board will go a long way toward continuing the enlightening process that an original wine offer only scratches the surface of. Wine changes, morphs, shuts down, etc and I’m sure there are thousands of other people that would like to know if you’ve tried a wine that is not showing well or is showing brilliantly (so they can plan accordingly). We will have a subject line for each wine we’ve offered and you will be able to easily look up discussion on the wine. We will also have a general section where discussion of any topic will be encouraged. Stay tuned... - Jon Rimmerman ************************* Trebulanum Dear Friends, This is an “are you kidding?” wine and for individuality and stand-out quality, it is going to really throw people for a loop. If you are looking for wine that few will have or have the gumption to experiment with, this is your beverage of choice. I rarely start laughing out loud when I taste something but this amazing wine from Campania reminded me of the first time I stumbled upon Fattoria Galardi on my way to Ischea with a backpack on (before the Parker reviews or any reviews for that matter and when a backpack was all I needed - those were much younger days but there are times when I long for that freedom, when the sunrise was my only guide for the day). It was obvious that Galardi would ascend to the very highest ranks and the winery has never let me down since that first sip. The Trebulanum has a chance to imprint its stamp on wine culture in a similar way for three reasons - uniqueness, exceptional price/quality and it’s made from a grape that few know about. In other words, Alois has the chance to cement what Casavecchia (the varietal) means to the world populous and that is an opportunity that few wineries will ever have the chance to encounter (simply because most work with varietals that are already known throughout the world). A known commodity brings expectations but the unknown creates them. 2004 has been well-documented as one of the best vintages of the last decade along the Italian coast and this wine is one of the stand-out examples among the very top-end. I can’t possibly do it justice or accurately describe this wine in normal wine-verbiage as it is so singular in aromatics and presence. It lies somewhere between ripe Hermitage, Taurasi (Aglianico), burned evergreen trees and Montevetrano masquerading as 2003 Leoville Poyferre. It has a huge presence but is still balanced and low in alcohol (I believe it is only 13%?). The Trebulanum has an incredible array of rainbow spice, pepper, ember and tannic tobacco tones buffered by fresh acidity and structure that is as much mouth filling as it is mouth watering. There are buckets of gorgeous fruit but the wine is about more than just the obvious. An experience that is as fascinating as it is fabulous - a dinner party conversation starter that should age well for the next decade or more: VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - only 100 cases for the entire US. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price with perfect provenance (about the same price as in Campania) 2004 Alois Trebulanum Please give us your maximum umber up to 6/person and we will allocate accordingly Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Bord7760