Rivera Cappellaccio Aglianico Castel del Monte Riserva 2013, Puglia, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Aglianico 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 90-92 Points

🔹 Classic Aglianico nose with aromas of wild berries, black cherries, black currants, dried fruits and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with excellent freshness, textured by fine grainy tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium-long with a savoury edge, tart berries and espresso notes.

🔸 Interesting experience here! These notes are from one week ago. Last night I opened another bottle to a very different experience. I double checked my bottle to make sure that the store didn’t switch vintages. No, it was the same vintage, but the second Aglianico was much more tannic with more earthy and barnyard notes. Both bottles were very enjoyable, last nights bottle was more typical of what I expect from an Aglianico (Score 90), while the previous bottle was softer and more elegant with a wonderful combination of freshness and weight (Score 92). Based on these experiences there’s definitely some bottle variation, but either one of them are strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Rivera Marese Bombino Bianco 2018, Doc Castel Del Monte, Puglia, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Bombino Bianco 100%

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

🍁 My Score 89 Points 

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A beautiful, delicate nose with aromas of apples, melons, minerals, lemon zest and light floral notes. On the mouthfeel light bodied with a slightly creamy texture, fresh balanced acidity and flavours of citrus, melons and bitter almonds on the finish.

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I am quite familiar with the reds of Rivera, I have been a fan for many years.  On the other hand this is my first experience with one of their white and it’s also my first experience with this varietal.  A charming experience especially when paired with the right food. In this case it was paired with poached cod served with sautéed cherry tomatoes, chilli oil roasted crispy shallots and garlic toppings, fresh mint and coriander. The result of a perfect pairing is when the wine enhances the flavours in your food and the dish makes your wine even better. Awesome value at $18 🇨🇦 dollars, strongly recommended my wine friends. Cheers 

Rivera Cappellacio Aglianico Riserva 2010, DOC Castel del Monte, Puglia, Italy 🇮🇹

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🍇 Aglianico 100%⁣
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🧐 Alcool 13.5%⁣
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🍁 My Score 89 Points ⁣
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Intriguing nose with aromas of black cherries, plums, dried figs, damp earth, leather, espresso and smoky notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, savoury, leathery fruit flavours, lively acidity and firm, grainy tannins. Very good length on the finish with flavours of sour cherries, dried fruits, earthy and savoury herbs all wrapped up with drying tannins. ⁣
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A different type of Aglianico for me, slightly rustic, earthy with more dried fruit than fresh fruit, lots of savoury notes and those trademark tannic structure of the varietal. It keeps getting better The longer it breathes. Definitely a very tasty wine experience. Cheers my wine friends.
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Poderi Angelini Primitivo Di Manduria 2008, DOC, Puglia, Italy

This wine is 100% Primitivo grapes (Zinfandel big brother) with maturation in barriques for 6 months and alcohol comes in at a generous 15%. 

An interesting bouquet on this Primitivo with aromas of raspberry-cherry fruit, stewed plum, exotic spices, wood smoke and light herbal notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, soft seductive fruit and light cedar flavours, balanced acidity and silky tannins. On the finish, medium length with a beautiful soft texture and well integrated flavours. 

I wasn’t sure what to think about this Primitivo at first, but it really grew on me. There is a real Italian feel and charming rusticity to this Primitivo and I especially loved the savoury soft maturing fruit character of this wine. The surprising thing for me was how well integrated and almost unnoticeable the 15% alcohol was. It was ready to go after a one hour decant and best served at around 17ºC or 18ºC. Great value and strongly recommended. Score 90 points. 

Purchased February 2, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (268136) at $17.95

Rivera Il Falcone Riserva 2007, Doc Castel Del Monte, Puglia, Italy

This wine is a blend of 70%  Nero di Troia and 30% Montepulciano grapes, maturation took place in French oak barriques for 12 months with alcohol coming in at 13.5%.

This wine opened up with aromas of dark plum, cherry, prune, woodsmoke, chocolate, leather and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, very rustic with low acidity and dusty tannins. Interesting farmy, leathery character with mild dryness on the finish. For me, Rivera Il Falcone Riserva 2007 did not quit achieve the elegance of their 2006 vintage but it still an enjoyable and recommended wine. Score 89 points.

Purchased September 1, 2012 LCBO New Release (177295) at $22.95

Pasquale Petrera Fatalone Primitivo 2006, DOC Gioia Del Colle, Puglia, Italy

Here is an interesting mature wine, everything from its colour, intriguing aromatics and mouthfeel with no resemblance to its sibling in California (Primitivo is the same grape as Zinfandel). This wine is 100% Primitivo, estate grown grapes (organic farming with no irrigation), with ageing process of 6 months in stainless steel tanks and six months in Slovanic oak casks.

This wine opens up with aromas of sour cherry, blueberry, dried fruit, soft leather, nutty and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (alcohol coming in at 15%), low acidity and fine dusty tannins. A medium length on the finish, very smooth with flavours of sour cherry, dried fruit and spices lingering. I would pair this wine with an antipasto platter or grilled white fish. This Primitivo taste like a Tawny Port without the 40% alcohol. An off the beaten path wine that is worth the detour, score 89 points. 

Purchased July 21, 2012 LCBO New Release (279729) at $16.95

Rivera II Falcone Riserva 2006, DOC Castel Del Monte, Puglia, Italy

Every once in a while, I stumble upon a bottle which was not on my shopping list, but is strongly recommended by my local LCBO Product Consultant, Mario, here in the Glebe, in the city of Ottawa. I trust his recommendations, he has a good palate and he is quite knowledgable of French and Italian wines.
This blend of 70% Nero di Troia and 30% Montepulciano and was aged 1 year in French oak barriques, opens up with aromas of cherry, blueberry, sweet balsamic, leather, earthy and spicy. The palate has great structure with firm and gritty tannins, lively acidity and good fruit concentration. An explosion of flavours on the finish with a trace of minerality and silky tannins. With Mario's help, I have discovered a new favourite, a full bodied red with a lot of personality, strongly recommended.

This wine was purchased on September 3, 2011 LCBO New Release at $22.95
This wine is also available at the SAQ in Québec (10675466) at $24.00