Roero, Piedmont, Italy
The Giovanni Almondo estate is one of the Roero’s benchmark producers of the fickle yet delightful Arneis grape. The darling of many Manhattan somms, we’re fortunate to have Almondo’s wines in our fair city and are delighted to have secured enough to feature this reference-standard Arneis. A brilliant pale lemon-gold in the glass, Almondo’s Vigne Sparse Arneis casts juicy aromas of Comice pears, fresh straw, and lemongrass. Bristling with energy on the palate, the Vigne Sparse explodes with suggestions of jasmine, ginger, bay leaf, and grapefruit zest. Fresh, zesty and packed with character, Almondo’s Vigne Sparse finishes by revisiting its juicy core of citrus fruit and adding complex notes of crisp fennel, slivered almonds, and fenugreek. This is fantastic Arneis and a superb call for a crisp, aromatic white wine on a warm summer day. Enjoy this now and over the coming year with steamed clams, sauteed zucchini, angel hair pasta dressed in a light white sauce, and seafood or vegetable paellas.
An August 2017 newsletter selection