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Oregonians love Italian wine. While we at Avalon Wine specialize in Northwest wines online, we have a deep enthusiasm for Italian wines in our Corvallis store and our home cellars. Marcus is our resident expert, and he brings some of our favorite Italian winemakers to Corvallis for tastings and wine dinners.
We have access to one of the best selections of small, artisan made Italian wines in the country, many at killer prices. We seek out the gems in the rural countryside of Italy, finding stellar wines from Italian "Indies" missed by the big boys. Just like Avalon finds the best of the Oregon and Washington "Indie" wines and delivers them to you!
The Piedmonte region of Italy, where Barbaresco is located, is almost as well known for its truffles as for its wines. The parallels of the Piemonte to Oregon (Nebbiolo and truffles, Pinot noir and Oregon's growing fame for its truffles) are intriguing. Add both regions' obsession with fine, locally produced cuisine, and the Piemonte deserves to be called Oregon's "Sister Gastronomic Region"!
Barolo and Barbaresco, the king and queen of wines from Italy's Piedmonte, have a similar allure to that of Oregon Pinot noir. They have complexity and intrigue - certain qualities that are simply hard to put into words. Perfect partners for food.
Ca de Baio Gems Found in Rural Countryside of Italy
One of our favorite wineries in the Piedmonte region is Ca del Baio. Ca del Baio's wines are called "Barbaresco", referring to the village where the winery is located. The wines are made from Nebbiolo, the star grape of the region. Nebbiolo is the diva of Italian grapes- temperamental, low yielding and late ripening, it is often compared to Pinot noir in its variability and for the quality of its best wines.
Ca del Baio is owned by the Grasso family (father and son winemakers in photo at right,) grapegrowers and winemakers since 1680.
Their farm is in Treiso, a village near Barbaresco. Ca del Baio's vineyards are
both at the winery (45 acres) and in nearly Asili, a village near Treiso. Asili is respected as one of the best grape growing areas in the region. While best known for their Nebbiolo based wines, Ca del Baio also grow Dolcetto and Barbera and make
Docg status wines from the grapes.
Avalon's Selection of Italian Family Wines
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It always makes sense to have a Barbera in the house - such a versatile wine. The Paolina, from one of my favorite Barbaresco producers, has all the charm of the warm 2009 vintage balanced by food-friendly acidity. You can pair this with just abou...
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I'd love it if Brunello was something I could drink on a regular old Thursday night, with homemade meatballs. Since that's not in my budget I reach for San Giovanni Vino Nobile 05. It's made from Sangiovese (a local clone, Prugnolo Gentile) wit...
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This is our most traditional
Barbaresco, made exclusively in large casks;
complex, possessing little muscle but lots of
elegance. - the winery
100% Nebbiolo.
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The most recent arrival in the Ca’ del Baio
winery. Their first Cru Macarini was made in 2003
from a vineyard only 10 years old. Sufficient time
is necessary to best appreciate this wine.
100% Nebbiolo from vines planted in 1998.
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Parker Wine Advocate 95 points!
To celebrate the official arrival of summer, we're offering our customers a sale on one of our favorite Italian wines -- from one of the...read more
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Classic Barolo filled with licorice, tar, roses, brown spices, massive fruit and grippy tannins. We tend to drink Barolo way too young, so we'll be cellaring two bottles for every one we drink. For Monchiero, the 05 Barolo vintage was excellent...
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Unoaked Chardonnay from Italy's Piedmont - damn straight. One of the wines I look most forward to this time of year. We had our first bottle with Albacore sashimi - wow. Clean, citrus flavors aren't complex, they're just perfect. This wil...
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580 cases made.
Wine Advocate 92-95 points!
Wine Advocate - The 2004 Barolo Riserva Vignolo explodes from the glass with tons of super-ripe, perfumed red cherries, r...read more
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Change of name from the previous vintage (Bric del Baio 2008)
2008 note - I'll spare you the flowery descriptions - Ca del Baio is giving this wine away! I can't recall a Nebbiolo that has been so full of character, so perfect, for the ...
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Wine Advocate 90-93 points!
Wine Advocate - The 2005 Barolo Bricco Boschis is gorgeous and linear in its expressive aromatics and focused core of fruit. Medium in body, ...
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Wow. This stunning Barbera Superiore is one of northern Italy's best values. Armujan comes from 60 year old vines in the prime Barolo village of Monforte d'Alba. It's rich and dense, flowing with ripe black fruit, exotic floral notes and spi...
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I'm not a big "color guy" when it comes to wine, but it's so easy to be captivated by the deep color of Corsini Barbera. That's only the beginning, as intense aromas of violets, chocolate, and mixed black fruits hit you.
Rich, with vibra...
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Decanter Magazine 4 Stars
#10 Rated 2006 Barolo
Decanter Magazine - Subtle blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon, toast and floral perfume. Lovely concentrated and classy fruit which has been excellently ...
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A contender for the best value Barolo. Floral and mega-aromatic, the Roere treats you to the allure of Nebbiolo - it smells like no other grape varietal. Dried rose, licorice, truffle-mushroom, dark cherry, fall leaves, resin and more. The ta...
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What do you drink while you're waiting for your Barolo to age? Corsini Nebbiolo! Classic aromas of licorice, tar and flowers are backed by sweet dark cherries and blackberries linger on the youthfully tannic finish. Better decanted, but very en...
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New release, February 2011, from one of our favorite Italian wineries.
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2008 Vintage Tasting Notes
Podere Ruggeri Corsini Dolcetto d'Alba 08 -
All estate vi...
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Lots of lush cherries and blackberry with hints of leather and minerality. Refined tannins with zippy acidity. Intense aromas and complexity. Long finish.
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2006 Vintage...
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A ‘very Piemontese’ wine which displays simplicity and straightforwardness. Cultivated in the township of Treiso on the lesser exposures of the Valgrande and Macarini vineyards.
100% Dolcetto, vines planted in 1970. ...
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Wow. This stunning Barbera Superiore is one of northern Italy's best values. Armujan comes from 60 year old vines in the prime Barolo village of Monforte d'Alba. It's rich and dense, flowing with ripe black fruit, exotic floral notes and sp...
read more |
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Wow. This stunning Barbera Superiore is one of northern Italy's best values. Armujan comes from 60 year old vines in the prime Barolo village of Monforte d'Alba. It's rich and dense, flowing with ripe black fruit, exotic floral notes and sp...
read more |
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Seductive aromas of licorice, black berries, crushed rose, and resin. The scents from a glass of Barolo are hypnotic and ethereal--there are few wines like it. Maybe the best thing is realizing the aromatics will only improve with time.
The...
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A bit of oak helps this wine stay crisp and rich.
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All estate vineyard 100% Dolcetto grapes, from parts of the vineyard from ten to thirty years old.
Fuschia tint over a deep dark ruby color, supple body and perfume, including scents of ripe cherries, blackberries, and floral tones. This Do...
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That's a mouthful, and so is the wine. This is serious Dolcetto, with significant structure more in line with Nebbiolo. Blackberries, crushed flowers, truffles, licorice, minerals, creating a match for lamb or anything else hearty you can put o...
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Seductive aromas of licorice, black berries, crushed rose, and resin. The scents from a glass of Barolo are hypnotic and ethereal--there are few wines like it. Maybe the best thing is realizing the aromatics will only improve with time.
The ...
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