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Sharon
Ufberg & Charles Rich
Wedding Registry
Selected Gifts:
CHEERS
TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM
Raise your glass with fine Italian wines to celebrate the
wedding of Sharon and Charles. Look through the complete
page using the links to the left under Selected Gifts to
guide you through your search for the perfect gift.
The selected sommelier for this event is Debbie Miller
Nelson. Please feel free to contact him with any questions
at debbie@italianwinemerchant.com or
212.473.2323 x132. If you would like to share this page
with others, please click
to send this page to a friend!
BAROLO:
[bah-ROH-loh]
This masculine, full-bodied wine should display elegance,
depth, and a wealth of tastes and aromas that only the
Nebbiolo grape can deliver. These wines come from the prized vineyards
of Barolo, which sit in the Langhe Hills of the Piemonte region, just
southwest of the town of Alba. This thin-skinned grape, much like the
noble Pinot Noir, is difficult to grow due to climatic conditions. In
fact, Nebbiolo is named for the autumn fog that descends over the Piemonte
hills during the harvest. However, with the cooperation of Mother Nature
and the artisanship of its winemakers, it can produce a uniquely perfumed
and powerful red. At the close of the millennium (1996–2001), Mother Nature blessed the tiny Piemonte
region in the foothills of the Alps with some of the greatest vintages and wines
produced since the birth of the grape. As in Burgundy, vineyard site, vintage
character, and producer style all contribute to flavor variations here. This
is especally true in the hands of traditional style producers like Mascarello,
Borgogno, and Giacomo Conterno, who use extended masceration periods and aging
in large oak casks to emphasize the leaner, more tannic side of Nebbiolo. Looking
outside the Boot for inspiration, modern-minded producers adopted new techniques
such as shorter macerations, aging in new French barriques, and bottling crus
separately, creating much more approachable wines that were easier for many foreign
consumers to understand and appreciate. Whether modern or traditional, Barolo
is the epitome of a "thinking wine," privileging finesse and complexity
rather than forward fruit and density.
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Rare
Value:
Il Favot offers
an exceptional opportunity to taste this Barolo master’s
Nebbiolo without the hefty price: As the year’s
intense heat precluded production of Barolo,
Conterno picked early from his younger vines and made
Il Favot his sole representation of Nebbiolo from the
2003 vintage.
Aldo Conterno 2003 Il Favot |
Price: $49.95
Inquire |
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Historic
Vintage:
Derived from the historic vineyard Cappella Santo Stefano
di Perno, this wine represents the cru
dei cru of Valentino's single-vineyard Barolos.
The defining characteristics of both structure and
ripeness, respectively, are amply represented in the ’96
vintage and constitute classics Barolo.
Rocche dei Manzoni 1996 Barolo ‘Vigna Cappella di Santo Stefano’
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Price: $73.00
Inquire |
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Traditional
Barolo:
Bartolo Mascarello— the icon of tradition
and master of classic Barolo honors Piemonte
winemaking tradition with his classic cuvee.
The estate follows the tradition
of crafting Barolo sourced from
the best fruit of several vineyards,
a protocol that ensures wines of balance and
harmony.
Bartolo Mascarello 2001 Barolo |
Price: $90.06
Inquire |
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Cru Barolo:
Upon release, the Cicala Vineyard invariably proffers
the most tannic of Aldo Conterno’s portfolio
of crus. Yet, for the collector
of patience, waiting for 'Cicala' provides a revelation
of what some regard as the most genuine expression
of Nebbiolo in the winemaker’s portfolio.
Aldo Conterno 1999 Barolo 'Cicala'
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Price: $98.70
Inquire |
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Piemonte
Legend:
A profound passion for Piemontese wine handed down
for three generations…Bruno Giacosa, a man of
few words but eloquent talent, practices an extremely
simple philosophy based on the respect of traditions
both in the vineyard and in the cellar.
Bruno Giacosa 2003 Barolo Falletto*
*Indicated Pre-Arrival Sale |
Price: $124.99
Inquire |
BARBARESCO
[bar-bar-ESS-koh]
Barbaresco ranks third among the most collected wines of Italy. It is commonly
referred to as Barolo’s younger sibling: where Barolo is king, Barbaresco
is queen. The Barbaresco DOCG sits ten miles northeast of Barolo in the hills
of the Langhe. This small area, which is broken up into three subzones around
the villages of Barbaresco, Neive, and Treiso, existed in complete obscurity
until Bruno Giacosa and Giovanni Gaja (producer Angelo Gaja’s father) began
to market the high-quality wines they made from the native Nebbiolo. Barbaresco
tends to be slightly finer, less tannic, and more elegant and approachable than
Barolo for a variety of reasons: its grapes grow in a cooler climate and ripen
for a shorter period, and it has a lower alcohol level requirement (12.5% compared
to Barolo's 13%) and less stringent aging requirements (Barbaresco ages for at
least two years with at least one in barrel, while Barolo ages for at least three
years with at least two in barrel).
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Barbaresco
to Drink:
Along with crafting
outstanding Barolo, Giacosa is renowned for his work
with Barbaresco. The 1999 vintage offers structure
and longevity, and serves as an excellent example
of a wine demonstrating desirable
traits early in its life cycle. Simply put, it is
elegant and well-balanced.
Bruno Giacosa 1999 Barbaresco Falletto |
Price: $124.99
Inquire |
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Barbaresco
to Store:
The Gaja name is synonymous with outstanding Barbaresco.
Though most recognized for his work with cru bottlings,
this Barbaresco pays homage to tradition.
Nebbiolo is sourced from various vineyards making
it complex, balanced, and true to its origins. A
true cellar staple for collectors!
Gaja 2003 Barbaresco |
Price: $169.95
Inquire |
BRUNELLO
DI MONTALCIO
[broo-NEL-loh dee mon-tal-CHEE-noh]
The most recognizable of all the collectible red wines
of Italy is Brunello, or “the little dark one” in
Tuscan dialect. Located south of both Chianti and Siena,
the Sangiovese grape thrives in this unique microclimate.
In this dryer, hotter, and more Mediterranean climate of southern Toscana, a
limestone-and-sand soil produces a more muscular grape capable of producing a
rich, dark, concentrated red (heavier and more tannic than Chianti). Tongue-curling
tannins and firm acidity allow these wines to age, catching the eyes of wine
collectors. The differences in altitude and exposition throughout the zone play
a substantial role in the vegetal cycle of the vines. Due to high altitudes,
cooling conditions from winds, and evening temperature drops, vineyards like
Il Greppo at Biondi Santi (480m+ above sea level) sustain a slower cycle than
is found in lower altitudes, such as the southwestern site where Argiano (250m
above sea level) undergoes a more advanced cycle assisted by the sandier soils.
This variance is quickly captured by juxtaposing these two wines from the same
vintage: you will experience a denser, low-acid, more approachable wine in the
Argiano, for instance, while the less developed Biondi Santi is marked by structured
tannins and high acidity, an ideal framework for longevity.
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Refined
Brunello:
As a founding father of Brunello,
Piero Talenti’s wines have resisted the trend
of new wood and jammy extraction—instead
demonstrating complexity and finesse. Under
Riccardo Talenti, the estate has undertaken
modernization that improves wines without
upsetting the family style.
Talenti 2000 Brunello
di Montalcino |
Price: $54.95
Inquire |
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Artisanal
Brunello:
Caprili reinforces traditional protocol
in its aging as wines are
wedded exclusively to Slavonian oak and
undergo extended maceration.
Despite preference for tradition,
the Riserva delivers a considerable fruit.
Recent vintages of Caprili are best experienced
following 5-6 hours aeration.
Caprili 2001 Brunello
di Montalcino*
*Indicated Pre-Arrival
Sale |
Price: $57.79
Inquire |
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Ageworthy
Brunello:
Ironically, Il Palazzone—“The Big
Palace”— is a small estate in the
heart of the Montalcino production zone. In order
to craft ageworthy Brunellos of the best quality,
the estate allows an extra year of aging beyond
the DOCG standard and releases each vintage
at least six months after most other wineries.
Il Palazzone’s
wines achieve a remarkable equilibrium
between finesse and concentration; bottle
age realizes substantive maturation.
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Il
Palazzone 2000 Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $89.10
Inquire
Il Palazzone 1999 Brunello
di Montalcino
Price: $95.70
Inquire
Il Palazzone 1998 Brunello di
Montalcino
Price: $75.90
Inquire
Il Palazzone 1995 Brunello
di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $107.35
Inquire |
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Structured
Brunello:
While situated southwest of Montalcino,
La Fuga is grouped with the estates of the
north for the purposes of characterizing
style associated with the elements of this
terroir. The wines are marked by finesse
and a delineated structure. The Riserva bottling—Le
Due Sorelle—is
crafted only in vintages that inherently support
the crafting of such premium cuvées.
La Fuga 2001 Brunello Riserva 'Le Due Sorelle'*
*Indicated Pre-Arrival Sale |
Price: $79.95
Inquire |
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Balanced
Brunello:
This rising star estate was purchased in 1990
by the Ciarpella family who completely renovated
the property. Over half of the grapes used
in the Brunello coming from 70-year old vines.
This is a wine of elegance and balance—bright
and tightly structured with considerable
fruit presence.
Casisano-Colombaio 2001
Brunello Riserva*
*Indicated Pre-Arrival Sale |
Price: $87.95
Inquire |
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Model
Montalcino:
Located in the northern zone, Castiglion del Bosco experiences
a cooler climate resulting in wines of impressive ripeness and structure. Delivering
a decidedly modern evocation, this Brunello is aged in
French barrique for 24 months, followed 1 year of bottle maturation. This stylistically
inclined estate is presently run by fashion mogul Massimo Ferragamo.
Castiglion
del Bosco 2001 Brunello di Montalcino
(1.5L) |
Price: $99.95
Inquire |
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Brunello
Value:
The Silvio Nardi estate secured prominence
following Montalcino’s DOC designation,
becoming one of the first members of the Consorzio
del Vino Brunello.
While Nardi incorporated new technology
that served to enhance quality,
his admission of modernity did not
compromise his devotion to the expression
of specific terroirs. This Brunello
is aged for one year in French barrique,
followed a year’s refinement in Slavonian
oak cask
Silvio Nardi
2001 Brunello di Montalcino (1.5L) |
Price: $99.99
Inquire |
SUPER-TUSCANS
While the objective of the DOC system is quality assurance,
the viticultural regulations sometimes limit creativity,
individuality, and the qualitative expression of terroir.
In the sixties, it was the drive and foresight of Mario
Incisa della Rocchetta, along with guidance from Giacomo
Tachis (also Piero Antinori's winemaker) that made enological
history and created the Super-Tuscan movement. No one had
ever considered making a Bordeaux-style wine on Italian soil, much less in a
region like Bolgheri, which was not yet established viticulturally. The use of
Cabernet Sauvignon coupled with maturation in small oak casks automatically demoted
the wine to vino da tavola or “table wine” status—a difficult
sell in the quality wine market. Despite these obstacles, Sassicaia entered upon
the world stage in 1968 to critical acclaim, earning renown as the Super-Tuscan
Pioneer.
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Monovarietal
Sangiovese:
A single-vineyard pure-varietal Sangiovese
bottling, Le Pergole Torte was the first of
its kind to be produced in Toscana. This wine
is only produced in select vintages, with a limited
case production averaging 1,500 bottles. While
a wine of appreciable intensity, its expression
is restrained, characterized by a medium body
and fine-grained tannins.
Montevertine 2003 Le Pergole
Torte |
Price: $83.95
Inquire |
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Bold
Varietal Blend:
Established during the Renaissance, this estate
was passed from a noble family to the Cinzanos
(of the eponymous Vermouth). To craft
a wine with international appeal, renowned
enologist Giacomo Tachis was enlisted to develop
this powerful blend of Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Argiano 1999 Solengo |
Price: $89.95
Inquire |
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Super-Tuscan
Value:
Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah
undergo vinification separately. Only after a full
year of aging in barriques are the best lots selected
through extensive tasting and assembled into the
final blend, which then undergoes further aging
in both oak and bottle. Camartina typically reaches
maturity between 4 and 7 years—enjoy this
gem today!
Querciabella 1999 Camartina
(1.5L) |
Price: $147.34
Inquire |
VENETO'S
VALPOLICELLA
Perhaps one of the best values in Italian wine based
on a price-to-quality ratio is Valpolicella Superiore. At
the Superiore level, Valpolicella must achieve higher
alcohol content, receive longer aging, and display more
body and structure than the simple Valpolicella.
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Artisanal
Master
The wines of Quintarelli inspire contemplation
and wonder. Comprised of old-vine Corvina, Rondinella,
and Molinara, with smaller percentages of Negrara,
Cabernet, Nebbiolo, Croatina, and Sangiovese—this
Valpolicella is one of the greatest of its kind,
and is superior to many Amarones.
Quintarelli 1999 Valpolicella
Superiore
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Price: $82.50
Inquire |
HOW
TO ORDER
Italian Wine Merchants is honored to participate in
the wedding preparations of Sharon and Charles. Throughout
this page you will find an assortment of fine Italian
wine gifts selected to suit the palates of the bride
and groom.
(1) Finding a Gift: Browse the page and order
online or select the gift of your choice. If you want
to learn more about the wine(s) you are selecting or
need assistance with anything, please call Debbie Miller
Nelson at 212.473.2323 x132.
(2) Placing the Order: Once the gift is selected,
please proceed to the checkout page by clicking order and
follow the instructions to finish the order. Should you have
any question please call Debbie. Should you wish to order
by phone, Steve will be available to process your order as
well.
What if the gift is not available? Alternative wine
selections with similar characteristics are available at
identical price points. IWM has selected the wines with the
bride and groom in mind and we will be happy to provide additional
options.
(3) Card Inscription: All gifts will include a special
note. Indicate what you would like in the 'to,' 'from,' and
message areas of the card. Your selected words can also be
e-mailed to Debbie at debbie@italianwinemerchant.com or
handled via phone.
(4) Gift Confirmation: We will notify the bride and
groom as gift orders come in and they will receive a delivery
from our New York store, where our wines are preserved in
cellar conditions. You will also receive a gift confirmation.
If you have any further questions or special instructions,
please feel free to contact Debbie Miller Nelson at 212.473.2323
x132.
(5) Terms and Conditions: The listed wines and gifts
have been selected based on choices made by the bride and
groom along with Italian Wine Merchants. Due to market conditions
and inventory availability wines are subject to change. Should
a wine change, it will be replaced with a wine of similar
quality and characteristics. This wedding registry will be
made available for up to 12 months past the official wedding
date. Pricing does not include tax.
ABOUT ITALIAN WINE MERCHANTS
At Italian Wine Merchants, wine lovers find both well-known
names and some of Italy's great secrets. Principal
partner Sergio Esposito directs the efforts to supply
only the best of the best at any price point by traveling
to Italy frequently in search of producers who are
passionate about their wines. "I don't carry everything
- I only purchase the best quality wines at the best
price points. So if we have only one Gavi di Gavi,
that is because it is the best one on the market."
Sergio's partners Joe Bastianich (Babbo, Esca, Otto, Lupa)
and chef Mario Batali (Food Television Network, Babbo,
Esca, Otto, Lupa) help share the rich and diverse culinary
heritage of Italy that Italian Wine Merchants exemplifies.
All sizes are 750ml unless otherwise noted.
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