Translation missing: en.ACellars Newsletter 10th February, 2022 - Wines for Valentine's: Girolamo Russo + Laherte Frères Champagne: ACellars Newsletter 10th February, 2022 - Wines for Valentine's: Girolamo Russo + Laherte Frères Champagne
Valentine's Day with Wine: A Labour of Love
"Where there is no wine there is no love."
Euripedes, some 2400 years ago
"Where there is no love there is no wine."
Annandale Cellars, today
At Annandale Cellars we love bringing you the stories behind the wines we select to sell in our store; stories of the blood, sweat and tears of the winemakers as they face nature in all her glory, striving for perfection, often against the odds to offer us the structure, complexity (or sometimes maybe not) and taste we desire.
This Valentine's Day, no matter the kind of love you are celebrating (lived, lost, passionate, compassionate, platonic, self), pour yourself and your loved company something special that celebrates wine, the labour of love.
--------------------------------------
Girolamo Russo
Love is all around in the vineyards of Girolamo Russo. Founded in 2005 in the village of Passopisciaro on the northern slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily, Giuseppe Russo established his estate in loving memory of his late father. His love of the earth is evidenced in his organic farming of the 100 year old vines grown in the volcanic topsoil. A former pianist, his passion saw him as one of the early wave of producers championing the indigenous varietals of the Mediterranean island that speak of minerality and character.
See Giuseppe's passion for yourself with his stunning Bianco (mostly Carricante, but Giuseppe confesses it it hard to know what he picks as many of the old vineyards are inter-planted), his powerful Rosato (dry, savoury and textured), and his romantic Rosso (a Narello blend which supports the notion that Etna is the Burgundy of Italy).
Con amore. Find it here.
--------------------------------------
Pinot Meunier: the shy wallflower often sitting in the corner of the Champagne dance, with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir taking the spotlight. But nurtured in the right hands, Pinot Meunier can shine, and in a glass of the Laherte Brothers' Rosé de Meunier, the result is "dazzling".
The Rosé is a blend of Pinot Meunier done three ways: 60% is pressed off directly as a "white wine", 30% as a saignée rosé, keeping the juice in contact with the skins for a short period, and 10% made as the red wine it is.
The result is fruit. Romantic red fruit with vibrancy and complexity. Take her for a twirl. The dance starts here.