Roanoke Island is home of the ‘Mother Vine’

Suzanne and Peggy have a valuable sale at Nassua Valley Vineyards, until Sunday, April 12. They are practically giving away some of their delightful wine. Visit the website for information here: www.nassauvalley.com/. Their recent posting has a leg 'o lamb recipe and a listing of medals won at recent expos. I don’t want to steal their thunder, but Cape Rose’ has been on a roll for the past several years. They won gold at the San Francisco International Wine Expo. In 2015 Laurel’s Red and True Blue Blueberry have each won two medals. I enjoy True Blue. It may be a bit pricey for some, but gets two McD price points for value.

Luigi Pirs Barbera D’Alba 2012 are delicious. You can find a case for $210; bottles probably $20. The Piri's Barbera are a bit unique. Unlike many Barbera they spent a year in oaken casks. When fermented and kept in stainless or old oak, these are juicy, fruitier and medium bodied. The use of oak was very helpful here, providing more body plus, spice and vanilla.

Anthony Galloni claims the Nebbiolo is quite a bit better also. I haven’t sampled the 2012 Nebbioli, but have had good luck following Galloni’s recommendations. He claims the 2012 are better than 2011s. I have sampled several Langhes Nebbioli 2011 and found them nice little wines.

Here’s a little factoid, for those who may visit Roanoke Island, N.C. It is home to the “Mother Vine,” a 400-plus-year-old Muscatine vine, covering nearly an acre, which was initially established by the Indians and then propagated by descendants of Sir Walter Raleigh. Initiation to North Carolina wine starts with the Italian varietal clones; such as Montepulciano and Sangiovese. I’m surprised we aren’t working with them more in Delaware.

Locate Raffaldino, Sangiovese Riserva, Swan Creek, 2012. Blended with some petit Verdot and Merlot, they resemble “super Tuscans.” Garnet color, opens to pomegranate, herbs and strawberry aromas, followed by juicy red currant flavors riding a well-balanced tannin/acid frame; 91 McD; buy it for $25 or $240/case. Your local wine shop pal can get info here: www.raffaldini.com/cart/

Another North Carolina wine to bring in is the Biltmore Estate Limited Release Chenin Blanc 2013. North Carolina producers seem to be having quite a bit of good luck with this varietal wine; 89 McD points. It garnered silver at San Francisco, IWC.in 2015. May be found priced under $ $175. Pretty fruit nose opens to tropical fruit ( pineapple) honey and spice flavors; semi dry with sufficient acid backbone. You can also find thir generic Chenin Blanc for about $10; 87 points. Biltmore Blanc de Blanc 2009 when it won best of class at SF Chronicle and LA IWC plus a gold in San Diego is another I reviewed here, and the mainstream snobs only awarded an 85. That gem can still be found at $25, but you will need to search.

I gave it 92 points, and well deserved. The Biltmore Estate, in Asheville, N.C. is an excellent tourist site.

Those who are interested in how wines are judged and wish to see all scores from San Fran IWC can go here: winejudging.com/medal-winners/2014-medal-winners/2014-247/

Titus Andronicus, Napa Valley Red, 2012 are tasty treats, worth 92 points, priced under $30. Dark ruby with purple tinge, the bouquet is nearly overwhelming; a complex blend of roses, cherries, strawberries and plums. On the full-bodied palate a fruit bomb of ripe black and blueberries undergirded by barrel-driven pie spice, all riding a supple tannin and balancing acid frame. Drinking well now, will cellar through 2020.

Although this wine is exciting, it does not compare to the eponymous play attributed to Shakespeare or Bacon, or Marlowe or DeVere, which many claim is the original driver of modern day movie and TV violence.

The play has scads of dead bodies, plus kniving, swording, amputation of body parts, madness, plotting and revenge. In the denouement Titus kills his treacherous daughter; then hashes the children of his tormentor, Empress Tamora, into a pie, which he feeds to her. The finale is a rash of killings, a buried alive scene and Tamora’s corpse thrown to the animals. Too bad HS kids get stuck with R&J, Merchant and Othello that pale by comparison.