Senator John McCain’s Goiter - Sub Dermal Protrusion, Italian Wine Lover

In a continuing series on the 2008 Presidential election, The Italian Cellar is pleased to present an exclusive interview with another lover of Italian wine, Senator John McCain’s goiter.

The Italian Cellar: "Senator McCain’s Goiter, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview."

Senator McCain’s Goiter: "It’s a pleasure to be here – and by here, I mean both doing this interview and on the Senator’s face."

TIC: "What first attracted you to Italian wine?"

Sen.McC'sG: "Well, since I am a goiter, I can’t see or smell, so I think I would have to say taste. Because of their wonderful sense of proportion; the balance of fruit, acid and tannin, Italian wines accentuate, rather than dominate the food they’re served with. The regional differences of Italy also impart their nuances on the wine; the heat of Puglia adds spice, the fog of the Langhe helps ripen the plush Nebbiolo. The regional nuances are also reflected in the regional foods; each is blessed by one another’s company. Italian wines are truly unique in this regard."

TIC: "Has Senator McCain had you looked at by a doctor?"

Sen.McC'sG: "I’m asked that all the time. Of course he has; the Senator has been declared fit as any seventy-one year old man with skin cancer and a goiter!"

TIC: "Red or White?"

Sen.McC'sG: "Red, of course!"

TIC: "How does someone not know how many houses they own?"

Sen.McC'sG: "Well…..you know the words "house" and "own" can be tricky things to define….."

TIC: "Sarah Palin??!!"

Sen.McC'sG: "No comment."

TIC: "Senator McCain’s Goiter; thank you for your time."

Sen.McC'sG: "It was my pleasure."

Primaterra Primitivo (2005) Puglia

An inexpensive, spicy Italian red wine from Primaterra; a funky, young winery from Puglia. Puglia (the sun baked heel of the Italian boot) was formerly a mass producer of bulk wines, but because government subsidies for the large co-ops have been drastically reduced in recent years, the area has been slowly evolving into a producer of better quality bottled wines; particularly their two most popular reds, Negroamaro and Primitivo. The 2006 Primaterra Primitivo is 100% Primitivo, a clone of the California Zinfandel (an American wine that’s one of my favorites) that has a nice spice from the Puglian heat, and a ripe dark fruit nose. A perfect wine for an end of the summer barbeque. 40% of the wine is aged in oak and the remainder is aged in stainless steel. The partial oak aging slightly softens the spice and helps smooth the finish. All of Primaterra’s wines have a cartoon line drawing on the label; the Primitivo has a drawing of a hen laying an egg. Synthetic cork.

Aldo Conterno Dolcetto Masante (2006) Piemonte

A delicious, luxurious, everyday Italian red wine from Poderi Aldo Conterno, whose Barolos consistently rank as some of the finest wines in the world. Their vineyards, located in the heart of the Langhe, enjoy both the choicest soil and exposure. This, coupled with the skill gleaned from five generations of winemaking that both respect tradition and embrace technology, is a recipe for outstanding wine. While Conterno's Barolos are priced beyond everyday enjoyment, their Dolcetto's (and Barbera's) are wines that exhibit all the breeding and talent given to their more expensive cousins. The 2006 Aldo Conterno Dolcetto Masante is full of fruit on the palette (the wine both vinified and aged in stainless steel) and has a long, smooth finish; a wine that is terrific with food or on its own. Albeisa bottle.

Potazzine Rosso di Montalcino (2004) Tuscany

A below average Italian red wine from winemaker Giuseppe Gorelli of Le Potazzine, a new (1993) Tuscan estate dedicated solely to the growing of Sangiovese Grosso. Their Rosso di Montalcino is made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso (the same grape used to make Brunello) that are planted near the hilltop town of Montalcino. Following maceration for about 30 days, the wine is aged for 12 months; partly in Slavonian oak casks and partly in French oak barriques. The Wine Advocate, who rated the 2004 with an 88, called the wine “beautifully expressive” with “excellent length and freshness on the finish”. I found the wine watery and thin, with a short, flat finish. Cute chickadee’s on the label, though.

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.