As some of you might know I recently began a collaboration with VDLT Community (aka Voix de la Terre wines - www.vdltwine.com). I’ve spent so much time traveling throughout Italy and have discovered so many wines that I wanted to buy here in the states, but couldn’t, until I discovered the guys at VDLT. They’re wine lovers who bring in wines for exactly the right reasons: to be able to share our hard to find favorites. While they have historically focused on fine French wines, particularly from Burgundy, Champagne, Rhone, and the Loire, last year they introduced Italy and I’m proud to be able to source some Italian wines to add to their portfolio.
As you know, Italy has been the hardest hit country outside of China during this Coronavirus pandemic. Let’s give them a show of support and drink a few bottles of their, and our favorite wines.
The Chianti Terroir Sampler six pack is priced at $181 with free shipping. You can order it here: https://vdltwine.com/collections/subregion-tuscany-italy/products/christophe-pichon-6-pack-expected-fall-2018. Until June 15th, VDLT is waiving its $200 membership fee to join their Community. So, you can access all their wines at member prices.
The Chianti Terroir sampler includes the following wines:
2011 Caparsa Caparsino Chianti Classico Riserva - Radda - From a north facing vineyard, this is a powerful, deep, muscular example of Chianti Classico, mature but perhaps not quite at peak, there’s so much going on here with a deep imprint of soil driven terroir. and vibrant fruit. (A VDLT selection prior to our collaboration that I knew and admired as well).
2012 Fietri Chianti Classico Riserva - Gaiole - From one the highest, and most unspoiled vineyards in Chianti Classico, this is fully mature, delicate and elegant exhibiting the perfumes of the vineyard, great terroir and a very unique expression of Chianti Classico
2016 Villa Pomona Chianti Classico Riserva -Castellina — Just terrific, from a mix of marine and sedimentary soils, great complexity, terrific benchmark style of Chianti Classico that blends some modern fruit with classic leather and herb complexity.
2016 Montefioralle Chianti Classico Riserva - Greve - Grown on an east facing slope at altitude, pure limestone soil, this has such beautiful limestone tannins, is precise and sleek in sort of the Monsanto way but with more depth and structure
2016 Marchesi Gondi Pian dei Sorbi Chianti Rufina Riserva- Traditional production but vineyards in a warm spot in Ruffina with great soil that produces wines that have a ton of fruit, feels kind of modern in its youth, alcohol kept in check around 13.5%, made terrific strides over the past 5 vintages to clean up things and the wines show really well, a crowd pleaser!
2013 Marchesi Gondi Villa Bossi Chianti Rufina Riserva- Not what I would expect to like, it’s got a dollop of Cabernet in the blend and is aged in some barrique, but boy is this good, if in a slightly Super Tuscan kind of way. A joy to drink with stunning balance and depth to the fruit. There’s no way I thought I’d be recommending this, but it is that good!
I love these wines but you should also check out what the following respected Berserkers have to say about these wines:
John Fodera: Intro: Fattoria Pomona - John Fodera's Tuscan Vines
Loren Sonkin: http://bit.ly/3d58wsg
Bob Hughes: The return of Friday night Pizza TNs (VDLT sampler) - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers
Brina Tuite: TNs: A couple Chiantis from the VDLT Sampler - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers
Keith Levenberg: Tasting Notes from 'Keith Levenberg' - CellarTracker
We sincerely hope you’ll share our enjoyment of these wines. The sampler set is a great way to get to know Chianti better, discover some terrific new producers and show some support for all of our Italian friends who are going through such hard times.
Grazie e un abbraccio dal cuore. (Thank you and a heartfelt hug!)