Recommendations

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Although these wines are red, serve them well chilled to accentuate their fruit flavors and the fizz of the bubbles.

Coppo "Passione" Brachetto d'Acqui 2006
***
Piedmont, Italy, $28

With a color leaning more toward orange than strawberry red, this wine features flavors of dried orange peel and spices such as clove and nutmeg, but there is plenty of enticing strawberry fruit underneath.

Winebow: available in the District at Chat's Liquors, Circle Wine & Liquor, Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits, Continental Wine & Liquor, Good Libations, Morris Miller Wine & Liquor, Potomac Wine & Spirits; on the list at 2 Amys, Cafe Milano, Spezie, Tosca.

Marenco "Pineto" Brachetto d'Acqui 2008
** 1/2
Piedmont, Italy, $28

There's a hint of cocoa here, which makes this wine echo the cordial center of a chocolate-covered cherry.

Country Vintner: available in the District at Ace Beverage; on the list at Cafe Milano, Komi, Posto, Proof.

Fracchia Antichi Giochi Piemontesi Casorzo "Voulet" 2008
** 1/2
Piedmont, Italy, $13

Aromas of cherries and raspberries fairly dance out of the glass, and this exuberant wine follows through with bright, sweet fruit and a light, refreshing fizz.

Downey Selections: available in the District at Bell Wine & Spirits, Chat's Liquors, Cork 'N Bottle, Paul's of Chevy Chase, Rodman's, Wine Specialist. Available in Virginia at Arrowine, Curious Grape, Il Vino and the Italian Store in Arlington; Cecile's Wine Cellar in McLean; Rick's Wine & Gourmet and Unwined in Alexandria.

Sant' Evasio Brachetto d'Acqui 2007
** 1/2
Piedmont, Italy, $20

Ruby-red color advertises bright cherry and strawberry flavors. This wine is more floral than others, giving it an added dimension.

Potomac Selections: available in Maryland at the Purple Tooth in Annapolis, Hair o' the Dog in Easton. Available in Virginia at Vineyard of Virginia in McLean; Out of Site Wines and Vienna Vintner in Vienna; the Wine House in Fairfax; on the list at Bazin's on Church in Vienna.

Fracchia Antichi Giochi Piemontesi Casorzo "Sulin" 2007
**
Piedmont, Italy, $13 (500 ml)

This is a single-vineyard Casorzo, which hints that it is trying to be more serious than the type of wine would suggest. It is darker in color and flavor than the Voulet, suggesting Rainier or Montmorency cherries, and would make an excellent partner for Black Forest cake.

Downey Selections: available in the District at Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits, Wine Specialist. Available in Virginia at Cork & Fork in Gainesville, Rick's Wine & Gourmet, Unwined in Alexandria.

Rosa Regale Brachetto d'Acqui 2007
**
Piedmont, Italy, $18

It's the king of Brachettos, if only because the marketing clout of the Banfi wine empire makes it easy to find. Bright red color, strawberry and cherry flavors, with appealing sweetness on the effervescent finish. Delightful.

RNDC: widely available, including in the District at Calvert Woodley, Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits, Circle Wine & Liquor, Magruder's, Paul's of Chevy Chase; on the list at Next Door, Co Co Sala.

Ca' Bona Sangue di Giuda 2006
* 1/2
Lombardy, Italy, $10

Sangue di Giuda, or "Blood of Judas," is a blend of several grapes, including barbera and pinot noir. The wine is not nearly as morbid as it sounds; in fact, it's delightful, with bright bing cherry and cocoa flavors and a light fizz.

Siema: available in Maryland at Finewine.com in Gaithersburg. Available in Virginia at Rick's Wine & Gourmet in Alexandria, Tastefully Yours in Occoquan, Kybecca in Fredericksburg.

Cantina Gabriele Spumante Rosso
*
Italy, $17

Labeled kosher for Passover, this blood-red wine is excessively fizzy, almost climbing out of the bottle. It shows nice, deep raspberry flavors and a pleasant sweetness.

M. Touton: available in the District at Cairo Wine & Liquor, Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquor, Paul's of Chevy Chase, Pearson's; available in Maryland at Bradley Food & Beverage in Bethesda, Kosher Mart in Rockville; available in Virginia at Curious Grape in Arlington, Leesburg Vintner in Leesburg.