RJonWine.com

• By Richard Jennings
  10/17/2010 (link) 86 points

  (Bisceglia Aglianico del Vulture Riserva) Dark red violet color with pale meniscus; oak, herbal nose; herbal, tart berry, green palate; medium-plus finish (has seemingly closed down and/or shed most of its original fruit; was much better when I've had it in years past)

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  11/9/2009 (link)

  (BISCEGLIA Aglianico Riserva) 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
  9/6/2009 (link) 92 points

  (Bisceglia Aglianico del Vulture Riserva) Dark red violet color; nice spicy cassis, berry, plum, sage and charcoal nose; tasty casis, berry, sage, charcoal palate, tight yet; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.

• By Richard Jennings
  3/4/2008 (link) 93 points

  (Bisceglia Aglianico del Vulture Riserva) Sexy tart plum, herb and blackberry nose; chocolate, nice tart plum, black fruit palate with herbal edges; medium-plus finish