The Valtellina region of Lombardy near the Swiss border is one of the world’s most mountainous and one that provides a different look and taste to Nebbiolo and its many clones.
Like cold-climate Pinot Noirs, these Alpine Nebbiolos (locally called Chiavennasca) are leaner and more bracing than what you’ll find in Piemonte and have a lighter, yet intense, fruitiness. We have three of them from Tenuta Scerscé, whose vineyards are shown in the above photo.
2022 LangeTwins “Jahant Woods 01 Vineyard” Jahant Fume Blanc ($22). From the Lodi region, this Sauvignon has a pure, clean texture with good flavors of pear and citrus and a hint of cream in the finish.
2022 Appassionata “Uber” Chehalem Mountains Sauvignon Blanc ($40). This one is for green fruit lovers – weedy, crisp, linear with a bracing finish of lime and green herbal notes.
2022 J Vineyards Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($40). Delicious mellow apple flavors with hints of candied fruit and touches of fresh orange juice.
2023 Rombauer Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay ($42). For better or worse, Rombauer is the benchmark for lightly sweet apple flavors with plenty of toast in the finish.
2022 Early Mountain Virginia Petit Manseng ($65). Virginia has found it makes wine from this grape better than they do in its native Southwest France, here with vibrant apple and apple- skin flavors, metallic minerality and bright acidity.
2019 Scerscé “Incanto” Sassella Valtellina Superiore ($30). Very light in weight but with flavors of dark raspberries and a very lean for food friendliness.
2022 Chamisal Vineyards San Luis Obispo Coast Pinot Noir ($38). Smooth, long on the palate, somewhat lean with haunting raspberry flavors.
2023 Scerscé “Nettare” Rosso di Valtellina ($52). Almost nouveau-like with its fresh black cherry fruitiness, except there are more tannins here.
2018 Scerscé “Infinito” Sforzato di Valtellina Nebbiolo ($60). From dried grapes, enjoyable flavors of cherries and some cranberries with great depth of flavors and a crisp, slightly gamey finish.
2021 Early Mountain “Quaker Run Vineyard” Virginia Cabernet Franc ($85). Lovely dark fruit aromas, smooth on the palate with rich flavors of black raspberries and baking spices.
Cockburn’s “No. 1” Special Reserve Porto ($25). A perfect ruby Port for those looking for an affordable everyday Port with rich, creamy fruitiness – or for someone needing an intro into the category.
Jura 14-YO American Rye Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($75). Smooth as satin with mellow cracked grain and honeycomb flavors to go with the lightly peated smokiness – delectable!
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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