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The Chianti Classico of Isole E Olena, owned by Paolo De Marchi is the only wine Corti Brothers has bought in every vintage since 1975. To my mind this is quintessential Chianti Classico. One can find fuller bodied wines, bigger wines, more tannic wines. But one cannot find better Chianti Classico. Coming from the province of Florence end of Chianti Classico, where wines can be thinnish in some vintages, (Chianti di galestro,) they always have that “Chianti-ness” to them that makes Chianti such a charming, delicious wine. Paolo does make a more concentrated wine from straight sangiovese called Cepparello, but his Chianti Classico is really classy. Jancis Robinson, writing in her Financial Times column, November 29-30, 2008, entitled “Festive Drinking Reds,” remarks about Isole e Olena 2006: “Truly excellent this year–positively pulsates with life. Very, very good.” She always gives the range of prices in England for the wines she talks about and Isole Chianti sells in London for between 16.99 and 17.49£ per bottle. At Corti Brothers it is $17.99 per bottle.
Also from Paolo De Marchi, we have just received the new release of his Piemontese property Proprietà Sperino 2005. This is the second vintage of a nebbiolo based wine made at his family’s ancestral property in Lessona. Lessona is one of those rare nebbiolo based wines that are now being resuscitated in eastern Piemonte. In 1900, this very same Lessona was the most expensive wine sold on the Italian market. Barolo was one quarter the price, Barbaresco even less, and Brunello di Montalcino did not exist. This second vintage of Proprietà Sperino Lessona will surprise you with its flavor, finesse, and power. The 2004 is sold out. Here is your chance to own the second bottling of a splendid Piemontese wine from a magnificent vintage.
Corti Brothers again has a selection of teas from our longtime tea supplier, Lock Cha Tea in Hong Kong. There are some old favorites and some new productions; everyday teas and special purpose teas; young pu-er for drinking and for aging like vintage port; and white teas for immediate consumption. Not everything for everyone, but a wonderful selection. Organic Teas: All these teas are produced from the same cultivar, tieguanyin, from the same grower in Fujian, by using different processing methods. These are good teas, not expensive teas.
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Corti Brothers
Sacramento CA
