Tanaro River Imports

OUR WINES:

It is our pleasure to introduce the following wines to America:

Bondonio......Bosco Agostino......Germano Angelo......Beck-Hartweg

Bindi Sergardi

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Azienda Agricola Olek Bondonio

Tanaro River Imports is excited to offer the following Bondonio wines:

2005 Barbaresco DOCG
The noble Nebbiolo based wine that is known throughout the world as Italy’s “Queen of Wines.” Though only produced in small allotments, this particular offering by Olek is already gaining attention in Europe. This past summer, Enogea, the premiere Italian wine industry publication dedicated to the tasting and rating of wines, gave this wine a rating of “very good” (87 points) noting that “the sometimes rough tannins give way to a wine that is a good traditional offering of this variety” and that the sincerity and effort of the winemaker is obvious in every glass. This hearty wine perfectly compliments a hearty meal of stewed/roasted meats, especially game as well as aged cheeses. It is little wonder that the quality of this wine is already gaining attention – the Bondonio Estate abuts immediately adjacent to the vineyard where Angelo Gaja produces Sori Tilden.

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2007 Piemonte Grigniolino DOC
This varietal represents a true “mystery” to most American pallets. At first glance, the extraordinarily light hue of this wine might suggest that one is to enjoy a wine that falls into the blush category. A quick check of the nose, and one is left trying to reconcile the hints of red fruit and evergreen. Finally, as the wine hits the pallet, there is the unmistakable bite of white pepper than ends in a bath of red fruit. Even with its good levels of acidity, this is a wine that is meant to be drunk young. Olek’s offering of this grape is a playful, deceiving, and most importantly – delicious! It pairs well with creamy dishes or try it at your next fondue.

2007 Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
This is another wine that flies under the radar of most American wine drinkers. If you have ever visited Northern Italy, especially the areas around Torino (Turin) or Alba, and had a glass of “house wine,” you have no doubt enjoyed this wonderful, unassuming grape. Fruity on the nose, with lots of ripe plum and berry coming through before finishing on the palate with the grapes’ characteristic “bitter almond.” This varietal is a delight with rich pasta dishes and risotto, but don’t be afraid to try it with a pizza.

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Bosco Agostino

The three offerings by Bosco include the following:

2007 Dolcetto d’ Alba DOC
The wine magazine Tasted ranked the 2005 offering as one of its “top picks,” noting a wine “with plenty of red cherries, rich fruit on the palate with good grip and marked tannins, fuity and fresh with a long finish.” The current version picks right off where the earlier offerings finished as this deep purple wine offers ripe cherry and rich fruits with a hint of dark chocolate on the finish. Like all Dolcettos, this wine is meant to be drunk while young.

2006 Barbera d’ Alba DOC
As mentioned above, the Barberas have been the star of the Bosco offerings. A modern offering with loads of black fruit, minerals and licorice up front that last and last on the finish. A complex mixture, spice, cinnamon and toasty new oak. This wine has a smooth attack, weighty mid-palate with smoky, plum notes, and a lively acidity on finish. Firm but fine tannins. Given the high acidity of this wine, it will also do well if stored properly for 5 - 7 more years.

2004 Barolo DOCG
This wine is created from only the best Nebbiolo grapes from each of the three family vineyards in the village of La Morra. Bright fruit on the nose with a hint of violets, citrus, and coconut, this wine has oaky notes, fine tannins, and a balanced finish. Some dried fruit and sweetish roasted notes in the background. Very good persistence, deep, attractive to good finish. A little tight right now, this wine will hit its stride in 2010 and last under proper cellaring for another decade.

To learn more about the history and philosophy of the Bosco Winery, please visit their website: http://www.barolobosco.com/eng/azienda_Bosco_Agostino.htm

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Germano Angelo

germano logo

The five offerings from Germano Angelo include the following:

2007 Barbara La Soleggiata DOC
This racy plum and dark fruited wine is the perfect accompaniment to rich pasta and red meat dishes. It has a medium finish that will delight the palate of those seeking a ready-to-drink wine that, with proper cellaring, will reward one’s drinking experience for the next 5 – 7 years

2006 Barbara d’Alba Mondoca Dardi DOC
WOW! This powerful wine is loaded with dark fruit and stewed plums. It finishes silky-smooth. The wine is intensely fruity with the characteristics of the Barbera grape. Given the high acidity of the wine, this offering will improve with age well into the next decade.

2005 Nebbiolo Langhe DOC “Sori Villa Giovinne”
This Nebbiolo is very similar to a Barolo but displays a delicate ruby red color instead of Barolo’s garnet red. The broad nose reveals a delicate raspberry flavor typical of the grape from which the wine is made. The palate is soft and velvety, fine and balanced. The bouquet is austere and offers fruity notes. For its even vigor and refinement, it pairs marvelously both with strong and delicate flavors.

2003/2004 Barolo DOC
Barolo, one of the finest wines in the world, is made from Nebbiolo grapes and requires three years of ageing, two of which in barrel. Germano winery uses only oak barrels. This wine is garnet red in color with orange highlights. The palate is smooth, velvety and bright. The intense nose starts with violet and withered wild rose scent, then shows canella and cloves aromas to end with an ethereal and unique bouquet. The palate is full, harmonic and austere and offers long lasting sensations. Due to its alcoholic content, it can be best appreciated after three years of aging and it is suited for long aging (up to 20 years). It pairs well both with roasted and braised beefs, game dishes or aged cheese as a first course.

label 2004 Barolo “Vigna Rué” DOCG
The vineyard from which this grand cru hails is situated in the municipality of Barolo, and its rich grapes produce a ruby-red wine with garnet highlights. The nose is complex and intense. Fruity notes, and, more particularly, the smell of cherries submerged in alcohol, prevail, as is usual in young wines. The Barolo made with these grapes has well structured and intense tannins, which give it vigor in the first years. This peculiarity makes it suitable for long aging (up to 20 years). The tannins in this wine will evolve into complex flavors and aromas reminiscent of rich dark chocolate. This Barolo, bought when young, is a great investment wine. But it is also an excellent and forceful wine to be drunk young. This wine is only released after an additional year of aging beyond the compulsory three years. This most recent offering was rated a “very good” rating of “88” by Enogea in July of 2007. The review noted that this wine was an “enjoyable and well expressed” Barolo that achieved the “usual balance and tannic quality” that one has come to expect from Germano Angelo wines.

Please note that due to the popularity of this wine in Italy and the rest of Europe, we were only able to secure a very limited amount of this wonderful wine. Only small quantities will be made available to those interested in carrying this wine. Having barrel tasted the 2005 offering in September, we can tell you that the next vintage is already displaying an even deeper color, bouquet and level complexity. May we suggest you pre-order the next vintage soon.

For more information, visit this La Morra winery: www.germanoangelo.com

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Yvette and Michel Beck-Hartweg's Winery in
Dambach La Ville on the Alsace Wine Road in France

The six offerings from Beck-Hartweg's include:

Beck-Hartweg 2006 Gewurztraminer
Grand Cru Frankstein
Key lime zest and Kimmeridgian limestone are highlighted by an extremely floral component (lilacs, daisies, and a variety of other white flowers.) Once on the palate, the Key lime character shines through, almost turning into a pie with soft sweetness and a pie dough characteristic. Softer residual sugar and a firmer acid structure make this one purely quaffable.

Beck-Hartweg 2006 Pinot Gris
Grand Cru Frankstein
The greatest of wines are those that present an experience rather than just a variety of aromas and flavors. This is one such wine. Stone fruit aromas of apricot and nectarine integrate seamlessly with a meaty herbaceous quality bringing to mind lemongrass and cattails in a cool mountain stream. On the palate is where you're in for a trip to that mountain stream. Wet granite covered in moss presents the image of a hike through a deciduous forest as you round a corner to see a waterfall with moss along the sides and watercress at your feet. You can almost hear the muted roar and feel the mist on your cheeks as the great acidity cleanses the palate and lasts for 30 seconds +.

Beck-Hartweg 2006 Riesling Cuvee Prestige
Tropical tones of papaya and passion fruit lead into crushed honeysuckle blossoms and a sliver of petrol undertone. On the palate, the wine maintains the tropical tones, yet turns greener with Kiwi added to the mix. Well integrated acidity lends to the flinty minerality on the finish.

Beck-Hartweg 2007 Gewurztraminer
Cuvee de L'Ours
Scents of marigold and candied Bartlett pears are complemented by a touch of nectarine skin and minerals. Inside the mouth, the stone fruits explode with peaches in syrup and candied apples followed by a subtle acidity.

Beck-Hartweg 2007 Pinot Gris Cuvee Prestige
Subtle white peach with cracked stone and freshly-mown Bermuda grass on the nose. Hitting your tongue, the white peach grows and is complemented by the meat of kiwi fruit. The stone turns into rain drenched granite gravel and green moss. Acidity is subtle, yet very much present.

Beck-Hartweg 2007 Riesling Grand Cru
Frankstein
Minerality and floral aromas drive the notes of candied grapefruit blossoms, lilacs, daisies, and honeydew melon found on the nose. Through the mid palate the wine grows fleshier, picking up a meaty cantaloupe characteristic. The finish is soft and lingering with a very lively acidity.

For more information about the winery visit
http://vins-beck-hartweg.chez-alice.fr/index_angl.htm

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Bindi Sergardi

Here are the descriptions for the new offerings from Bindi Sergardi.

CHIANTI COLLI SENESI
Our fresh modern wine respects its territorial origins and traditions.

CHIANTI CLASSICO
This wine best represents Bindi Sergardi and the Chianti Classico territory. It benefits from the age-old Tuscan tradition of Sangiovese grape selection.

ORIOLUS IGT TOSCANA WHITE
Traditionally, our vineyards always contained white grape varieties. Curiosity has made us want to discover what kind of wine they would produce on their own, given dignity as a white wine instead of simply contributing to the complexity of the red Chianti. Oriolus is the result of that questioning.

CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA
This wine is refined and complex. Here we have selected the best grapes grown in our finest vineyards and, we submit the exceptional result to your palate.