OK, lets try some Feudi di San Gergorio wines.

Great tasting this week downtown. FDSG is based in Campania, started up in late 1980s. Volcanic soil so interesting terriors for the reds I`d say. Serbico is their top red but not available for the tasting. Maurizio di Rosa presided, assisted by the lovely Jenn Klinck Vendemmias Wines, a very good agency.

Whites.

I have posted on the sparkling Aglianico elsewhere this week. The `08 Falanghina was a medium straw color, not a lot of tropical fruit here. Great acidity, minerally. Dryish style, high elevation wine. "Good with brinery food" was one comment. Then moved onto the `07 Fiano di Avellino, nutty aroma naturally, very chalky soil here. Pale straw color, nice nose appeal. More full-bodied than the above.

Reds.

The `08 Primitivo was pretty easy drinking imo. Smooth velvety, would go well with most foods. Not sure why in the line-up? The `06 Rubrato was a different matter! Big bold, berry and earthy nose. Aglianico can impress, good finish and grip. Still tannic, will need a couple of years. We (36 of us) finished off with the `06 Taurasi, great value for the $45 one has to shell out. Big complex aromatic nose, cocoa, tobacco and tea on the finish. Went well with the basil scented beef stew but more elaborate food would work too. Mention of " pork loin stuffed with pecorino cheese". Will invite Jenn over for that!!

Usual great DeVines tasting, look forward to the next one....Portugal.

It surprises many to learn that since 2006 Feudi di San Gregorio has also released kosher cuvees. No contradiction at all in the laws of kashrut and making fine wine. In Italy what is required is (a) from the moment the grapes come into the winery and until bottling the wine can be handled only by Sabbath observant Jews; (b) the yeasts and other materials utilized in the winemaking process must be kosher; and (c) the kosher cuvee must be separated from regular editions so that there is no chance for "contamination". Following are recent tasting notes for various of the winery's kosher cuvees.

Best
Rogov

Feudi di San Gregorio, Rubrato, Aglianico, Campania, Italy, 2007 (Kosher Cuvee): Garnet toward royal purple, medium- to full-bodied with spicy wood and somewhat chunky tannins, those nicely balanced by fruits. On the nose and palate purple plums, wild berries, black cherries and generous peppery notes. Drink now–2012. Score 87.

Feudi di San Gregorio, Rubrato, Aglianico, Campania, Italy, 2006 (Kosher Cuvee): Dark ruby toward garnet, medium- to full-bodied with gently gripping tannins and generous plum and wild berry fruits. Not at all a complex wine but a very appealing one. Drink now. Score 86.

Feudi di San Gregorio, Fiano di Avellino, Maryam, Campania, Italy, 2009 (Kosher Cuvee): The best white kosher edition from this now well-proven winery. Dark golden straw in color, medium-bodied, with a smoky, earthy nose parting to reveal appealing yellow peaches, green-gage plums and citrus peel. Complex yet remarkably easy to drink. Drink now–2012. Score 90.

Feudi di San Gregorio, Fiano di Avellino, Maryam, Campania, Italy, 2008 (Kosher Cuvee) : Although the Fiano di Avellino grape has been well known since the Middle Ages, until a few decades ago because it has such a sugar content it was used entirely to make sweet wines. Today it is also used to make elegant whites. This release shows the grape at its best, with a floral and tropical fruit nose yielding comfortably in the glass to flavors and aromas of yellow peaches, citrus and citrus flowers all on a background of earthy minerals. Crisply dry with a taste of candied citrus peel that come in on the finish. Delicious. Drink now. Score 88.

Feudi di San Gregorio, Fiano di Avellino, Maryam, Campania, Italy, 2007 (Kosher Cuvee): A virtual twin to the regular (i.e., non-kosher) edition. Golden straw in color, with a nose rich with peaches and wild flowers, opens to show a generous array of aromas and flavors, those including peaches, papaya and citrus fruits all on a background of candied citrus peel. Crisply dry and easy to drink. Drink up. Score 88.

Well, I`ll be darned! Thanks Rogov, your notes rather more detailed than mine but I only had 2 oz and was busy helping out!

Whites.

I have posted on the sparkling Aglianico elsewhere this week. The `08 Falanghina was a medium straw color, not a lot of tropical fruit here. Great acidity, minerally. Dryish style, high elevation wine. "Good with brinery food" was one comment. Then moved onto the `07 Fiano di Avellino, nutty aroma naturally, very chalky soil here. Pale straw color, nice nose appeal. More full-bodied than the above.

Bob, I do think that I have posted on my thoughts re White Italian wines. That being what it may be, I must say that the white wines of Campania are some of my very favorites. In particular I have enjoyed the Falenghina, Greco, and Fiano wines/ The good ones are mostly above $20 and in some locations near $30, still they are delicious. Thanks for the note.

Bob, pity you didn't get to try the Greco Di Tufo and the Greco Cutizzi. IMO they are their best whites. They have some very ambitious reds which from memory are rather muscle bound. Here are my TNs from the last time I tasted their range in October last year.

Feudi San Gregorio, Campania
I have always enjoyed the brightly fresh whites here but the reds have sometimes seemed heavy and oaky. The presenter told me that the estate was moving away from new barriques and using far more large barrels thus reducing the wood contact. I still found notes of dry caramel on the reds, which are made from Aglianico.
Albente IGT 2008 (B) (€9), made from Falanghina, Coda di Volpe and Fiano, was fresh and generously fruited but a bit simple; 14.5/20.
Fiano di Avellino 2008 (€14) was smoother, more aromatic and fuller than the previous with attractive minerality; 15.5/20++.
Greco di Tufo 2008 (€14) had a more ample, ingratiating and spicy character with good minerality; 16/20.
Greco di Tufo Cutizzi 2008 (€17) was richer, smoother and silkier preserving minerality but with just a touch of bonbon aromas detracting from the whole; 16/20.

Rubrato 2007 (R) (€12) showed nice dark fruit and tar but strongly laced with dry caramel; 13/20.
Taurasi 2005 (no price given) showed much greater finesse in its fruit as well as power and structure but some dry caramel still lingered on the finish; 15/20.
Serpico 2005 (€50); I liked this better than last year; the whole seemed better integrated, more refined and structured with less dry caramel than noted then; passage of time, fresher bottle or more congenial temperature? 15.5/20.
I have had better experience with more mature reds from my cellar which leads me to think that the dry caramel notes may recede with time justifying better ratings then.

You seem to have been luckier with your Rubrato 06 than I was with the 07 and two years extra bottle age may have helped a lot.

Hi Bob -

Thank you for the notes. I also like the basic FdSG Greco di Tufo and the Falanghina, as well as the Ros'Aura. It has been a while since I have had their Taursasi (1999 Piano de Montevergine), but I remember enjoying it a few years ago.

Will look out for the sparkling Aglianico - Italy has a lot of interesting sparkling reds.