presented by Mark Luna from Kellogg Selections
Sartarelli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico ~ 2023
The Sartarelli estate was founded in 1972 by Ferruccio Sartarelli, a skilled and successful baker turned entrepreneur. Today the estate is run by Donatella, Ferruccio’s daughter, and her husband Patrizio along with their children. The family’s dedication to the Verdicchio grape and the wines produced from it has never wavered. They continue to be a leading estate in the Marche region and all this dedication has put them at the very top of Verdicchio producers, as well as cemented them as one of the top white wine producers in all of Italy.
Appellation: Marche, Italy
Grapes: 100% Verdicchio – 13% ABV
Tasting notes: Straw yellow color with intense greenish nuances. It is considered a simple but uncommon wine, with white peach, elder, and hawthorn aromas. A well-structured wine, fresh and tasty at the same time, soft on the palate, has a good alcoholic structure and the characteristic slightly bitter almond aftertaste (typical of this varietal).
Pairing: Excellent with seafood, hors d’oeuvres, spaghetti with mussels, risotto, mixed fried fish and vegetables.
Producer: Sartarelli
Macon-Villages, Terres de Pierres ~ 2023
The fruit for Maison Verget wines must be of the highest quality. From the start, they’ve aimed high in their crafting of fine wine, so it’s no surprise that the fruit selected is at the heart of the project. This is what Maine and Jean-Marie Guffens-Heynen have done. For over 30 years now, experimenting has been key to the winemaking process. It’s a more spontaneous way of doing things, led by intuition
Appellation: Mâconnais, France
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
Tasting notes: Bright straw yellow color. Aromas of pink grapefruit & white flowers with mineral, chalky & honeyed tones. Flavors of stone fruit, zesty sherbet & honey with floral notes & wet stone minerality. A racy streak of lemony acidity conveys freshness & tension. Long & clean finish.
Pairing: Try pairing with fish, seafood, salads & roasted vegetables. Wonderful with stuffed calamari.
Producer: Maison Verget
Les Athletes du Vin, Gamay ~ 2022
Les Athlètes du Vin is a négociant label established in 2016 by a group of like-minded producers in the Loire Valley. This large and diverse group is part of a collective that labels itself “Vini be Good”. The idea behind creating the Les Athlètes du Vin label was to showcase the diversity and beauty of Loire Valley and the wines produced there. The Gamay for this wine comes from in/around Saint-Porçain, an area known to produce wines similar in style to those of Beaujolais.
Appellation: Loire Valley, France
Grapes: 100% Gamay – 12.5% ABV [Organic Farming]
Tasting notes: Intense aromas of red fruits, sour black cherries, and some spiciness from the carbonic maceration. Palate: Medium-bodied Gamay with plenty of blackberries and black cherries on the palate, lovely ripeness and volume. Gamay is a super special grape (and a VIP for the holiday season)
Pairings: It would be challenging to find a food that this DOESN’T pair with.
Producer: Les Athlètes du Vin
Arnot Roberts Syrah ~ 2023
Arnot-Roberts was founded in Healdsburg in 2001. The focus is to produce distinctive, site-driven wines that highlight the nature of the unique terroirs in which the grapes are grown. Syrah is well suited for life on the Sonoma Coast as the loose clusters and thick skins manage the cool, windy and often damp growing conditions well.
Appellation: Sonoma Coast, California
Grapes: 100% Syrah
Tasting notes: Saturated with savory, roasted meaty notes that are overlaid by pretty, floral, and dark-fruited aromas.
Pairings: Stinky Cheese, Gamey Meats, Braised Things, Steak!
Producer: Arnot-Roberts
