Joe Biden - Our Next Vice-President, Verbose Gaffer, and Italian Wine Lover

The Italian Cellar is pleased to report on another lover of Italian wine, Delaware Senator Joe Biden, who on Saturday was selected by Barack America to be his Vice Presidential running mate. Biden, whose verbosity is only outmatched by his follicular challengedness (is that a word?), was reportedly chosen by Obama because of his vast foreign policy experience garnered by years of serving as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Interestingly enough, Biden failed to use this vast experience and voted in support of invading Iraq. Biden is also famous for two other things; his ability to put his foot in his mouth and his love of Italian wine; sometimes even mixing the two. Let's look at a couple of examples of this: When announcing his candidacy for the Presidency in the spring of 2007, Biden mused about a Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto as "The first mainstream Italian wine that is articulate, clean, and nice looking." In another instance, Biden, when speaking to an Indian-American supporter, said that in Delaware, "You cannot go into a 7-Eleven to buy a Rosso di Montalcino unless you have an Indian accent!" But after eight years of tee totalling with recovering alcoholic George Bush, The Italian Cellar looks forward to an Italian wine lover in the White House.

Nino Franco Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Rustico (NV) Veneto

A tasty off-dry Prosecco from Nino Franco, a winery located in the Valdobbiadene zone of Veneto; an area known for producing Italy’s finest Prosecco. In addition to serving on the governing board for the Prosecco DOC, third generation winemaker Primo Franco produces a full range of Prosecco, from bone-dry to slightly sweet, including a dry Rose called Faive made from Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Franco’s Rustico (their best seller and lying ½ way between dry and sweet) is made from 100% Prosecco that receives both its initial and second fermentation in stainless steel. I enjoyed this wine as the base for Bellini cocktails.

Gerardo Cesari Boscarel (2005) Veneto

A surprisingly good Italian red wine from Cesari, a large producer of inexpensive Veronese wines, including Amarone, Soave, and Valpolicella. Their 2005 Boscarel is a blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet, and 15% Sangiovese that are grown on Cesari’s Boscarel vineyard, which lies in the region of Calmisano, on the Verona side of Lake Garda in Veneto. Each grape is fermented separately then blended together prior to winter storage. The wine is bottled the following spring. The wine has a deep, ruby-red color and a strong nose of dark berries. The wines greatest feature is its rich, voluptuous mouth feel and long, smooth finish. A very elegant wine at a modest price.

Tenuta Olim Bauda Gavi di Gavi (2006) Piemonte

A light Italian white wine from Tenuta Olim Bauda, a relatively small (61 acres of vineyards) Piemontese winery owned by the Bertolino family. The Bertolino family, known mostly for Barbera's, boast of an unbroken line of four generations of estate ownership and winemaking. Their 2006 Gavi di Gavi is 100% Cortese that is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. The wine is a typical Gavi; light in body, color; with balanced acidity and a delicate floral nose. The wines petite frame may be too unsubstantial for some tastes.

La Valentina Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo (2005) Abruzzo

A sturdy, Italian red wine from La Valentina, a new (1990) winemaker from the town of Spoltore, located in the hills near Pescara, a few miles from the Adriatic in Abruzzo. The winery continues to increase their use of "green" farming methods that limit the use of chemicals and technology in order to allow the regions special qualities to mark the wine. La Valentine’s Montepulciano is deep, ruby-red in color with a full, dark-berry nose. 15% of the wine is aged in wood. The remainder is aged in stainless and cement before its all blended together and bottled. For my taste, the wine is a little abrupt on the finish. La Valentina also makes several single-vineyard Montepulciano’s that are grown on premium sites and receive more wood aging.

Piazzo Langhe Chardonnay (2007) Piemonte

An elegant Italian white wine from Piazzo, a small multi-generational winery located on the hills of the Langhe. Made of 100% Chardonnay (grown in Piemonte since the late 1800's) that sees no oak; the wine is both a terrific partner for seafood or on its own. A refreshing change from over-oaked California Chardonnay. Albeisa bottle.

Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano (2007) Tuscany

A delicate, floral Italian white wine from Fontaleoni, a small (28 hectare) Tuscan producer of Vernaccia, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Chardonnay. The estate was established in 1959 when the Troiani family, vignerons for generations, moved to Tuscany. In the 1990's the estate was rebuilt, the cellar renovated, and new vineyards were planted; all to improve quality. The estate practices "lotta integrata" and "inerbimento" viticultural practices (which sound sexier than integrated pest management and the use of cover crops) in order to produce a "green" white wine. Fontaleoni's Vernaccia is clear, straw-yellow in color with a light, peachy nose. This soft, fresh wine pairs well with similarly light dishes. Fontaleoni also produces a critically acclaimed single-vineyard Vernacci/Chardonnay blend called Vigna Casanuova.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson: “Cutter-Off of Nuts” and Italian Wine Lover

The Italian Cellar has discovered through a careful examination of the videotape of Reverend Jesse Jackson’s recent “hot-mic” incident, that not only is he still a relevant political figure, but a lover of Italian wine as well. Let’s take a look at the Fox News transcript of the July 9th episode of "The O'Reilly Factor," in which Reverend Jackson leaned over and whispered to fellow panelist Dr. Reed V. Tuckson, executive vice president and chief of medical affairs for UnitedHealth Group:

Reverend Jesse Jackson: “See, Barack been, um, talking down to black people on this faith based ... I want to cut his nuts off ... Barack ... he's talking down to black people." (Jackson appeared to make a stabbing or cutting motion with his hand as he made the remarks.)

Dr. Reed V. Tuckson: “Jesse, keep it down, the mic’s are on!”

Rev. JJ: “You know what Doc? After the show, what do you say we go out for some deep-dish and some dego red?” (Jackson appeared to make an eating and drinky motion with his hand as he made the remarks.)

Dr. RVT: “Uh, we’ll see Jesse.” (Dr. Tuckson appeared to roll his eyes in disbelief.)

Rev. JJ: “Do you know what word rhymes with Montepulciano?”

Reverend Jackson did not reply to requests for comment by The Italian Cellar.

Castello di Luzzano Carlino Bonarda (2006 ) Lombardia

A 20 megaton fruit-bomb from Italian winemaker Castello di Luzzano. The 120 hectare estatate, recently purchased by the Flying Fugazza sisters, Giovannella and Maria, lies in the Oltrepo Pavese DOC in Lombardy near the border with the region of Emilia-Romagna. Made of 100% Croatina (Bonarda), and aged entirely in stainless, this Italian wine is dark, ruby-red/purple in color with a beautiful young fruit nose. I was disappointed with the short length. (Thankfully, I have never heard that said of me - then again, I don’t hear that well.) The wines fantasy name is the nickname of winemaker Carlo Ferrari, who passed away a few years ago. The wines label is graced with a beautiful design taken from an 18th century vase found on the estate.

Damilano Langhe Arneis (2006) Piemonte

A refreshing Italian white wine from Damilano, a family run Barolo maker that has been around since the late 1800’s. From their small Piemontese winery, the great grandchildren of original owner Giuseppe Borgogno make a traditional line up of Barolo’s, Dolcetto’s, Barbera’s and Arneis. The 2006 Arneis is a light straw-yellow in color, with a fine, fruity nose. Aged entirely in stainless. Fresh and elegant, this wine is perfect with appetizers, fish and white meats. Albeisa bottle.