March roared in like a lion and just kept roaring… winds across the country like I’ve never seen before, especially for the mid-Atlantic states. So, when combined with a couple of key reunions and the general tempestas around us geopolitically, we clearly needed to soothe our frayed nerves with good wine.
Fortunately, we had the pleasure of sharing several special bottles with friends and family, as well as welcoming a new delivery of beautiful premium tinned fish from Bela, for a little vernal equinox festivities.
The spring travels continued, and we picked up several parties along the way, with opportunities to enjoy both our friends and a few pleasing wines. The most revelatory? A Friulano from Friuli in northern Italy, which makes us want to explore this region more.
2020 I Clivi Friulano San Pietro
From a tasting at their local Italian restaurant, friends Gretchen and Karl brought home a bottle of this lush Friulano from I Clivi in the Friuli Colli Orientale, the eastern hills of the Friuli region northeast of Udine. With a light to medium body, this wine showed the colors of sunshine in the glass. Lemony petrol danced on the nose, with lemon meringue pie on the generous, nearly unctuous palate. Loved it.
Socalcos do Bouro 2023 DOC Vinho Verde
From our visit to the Wine Authorities in Durham, we brought back this along with gems from Quinta de Sant’Ana. A branco blend with Loureiro, Trajadura, and Arinto grapes, at 12% abv this was a daisy-yellow color, and light in weight, a little frizzante. Elderflower, yuzu aromas met with bright yuzu syrup, meyer lemon, and granny smith apple flavors.
Quinta de Sant’Ana Branco 2023
We loved the chance to check out the latest vintage of this wine from Quint de SantAna that had always featured in our house wine rotation on Travessa Alfredo Keil. The VR Lisboa blend of Fernão Pires and Arinto grapes balances so nicely in the glass. With a golden straw color, and light to medium weight with a little bit of frizzante on the tongue, it brought forth a hayloft in summer, with golden apples and a pearly shine on the nose, and golden chains of apple slices with a hint of cardamom on the palate.
