1. Visciole QuerciAntica (12.5%; www.DomaineSelect.com; L12009) SanMarcello (AN) NV: Very dark/black color; very intense black cherry/black cherry cola/maraschino cherry/boysenberry bit licorice beautiful nose; very tart slightly sweet (4%-6%?) very intense black cherry/marschino cherry/boysenberry slight dusty/earthy flavor w/ some hard tannins; very long very intense black cherry syrup/maraschino cherry/boysenberry/licorice bit dusty huge fruit finish w/ light coarse/gritty tannins; huge cherry syrup fruit; absolutely delicious stuff. $23.00 (CB)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Viscole: This is a wine that folks should become much more familiar with. It is made from an indigenous sour cherry and Lacrimma di Morro d'Alba grape. From the Velenosi WebSite:
The recipes for this wine significantly differ from place to place, from winery to winery. The basic ingredient for vino di visciole is sour cherry (visciola), an ancient wild cherry species (Prunus cerasus), a deep dark red and slightly sour cherry. Based on the traditional recipe, sour cherries are harvested – they ripen during the first weeks of July – and left to soak in sugar, partly whole and partly smashed. This product is then decanted for a few days and finally filtered. A syrup with a high concentration of sugar is thus obtained, which is then mixed with wine. This triggers a re-fermentation process combining the two different identities (wine and syrup). Fermentation stops when a 14 % alcohol content and the resulting residual sugar makes this product pleasant.
Lacrima do Morro d'Alba is a grape variety that makes some very attractive wines in The Marche. It should be better known. It often resembles Refosco in character w/ lots of plummy/black cherry character. Visciole, which range in sweetness from dry to slightly sweet, are quite unique. Highly recommended.
Tom