Mile High's Wine of the Week: October 23rd
Casa Contini Biferno Riserva 2008
Regular Price:
$14.99
Sale Price:
$8.99
Sale End:
10/26/2014
Who doesn’t love a fine Italian Red? We know that we certainly do. This week we have a lovely aged Biferno Riserva from our friends at Small Vineyards. This sleek red blends the wonderful richness, roundness, and polished character of Montepulciano with the power and structure of Aglianico to create a wine that is so good that it could easily become your new “house red”. Elegant notes of worn leather, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and earth are the source of real intrigue on the nose. Then when you go in for a sip you’ll find a generous palate that begins with appealing flavors of red cherries and dusty plums as well as some really cool secondary flavors that come, no doubt, from several years of bottle aging. Hints of marzipan, Maraschino liqueur, damp soil, tobacco leaf, and grilled bread all make appearances on the long, lush finish. It is at a particularly interesting point in its evolution with plenty of ripe red berry fruit and quite a lot of underlying secondary character too. Sip this delightful Riserva over the next year or 2 whenever you want a great, but not overbearing, red.
On to the Tasting Notes:
Our friends at Small Vineyards continue to deliver fantastic, traditionally made wines at simply unbeatable prices. We really are fortunate to have such a good relationship with them. This week we have another delightful example of the kind of quality and value that has made their wines such staples here at Mile High.
The 2008 Casa Contini Biferno Riserva marries the best attributes of its two grape varietals. The bulk of the blend is composed of Montepulciano which gives the wine a lush, pleasant, and generous flavor profile. But the addition of a portion of Aglianico adds structure and backbone to the otherwise soft Montepulciano. The end result is a red that has a sense of finesse that doesn’t come at the expense of power or food friendliness. The nose is intriguing with rustic notes of damp soil, dried rose petals, and a touch of tar. The Old World style becomes immediately apparent on the nose and the theme continues on to the medium bodied palate. It begins with a vibrant shot of red berries. Hints of cranberry and red cherry are quickly apparent. Then the flavors begin to get darker with notes of black currants and ripe blueberries coming through on the mid-palate. The finish is seamless with a pleasantly rounded texture and classic flavors of earth, bramble, cinnamon, and cedar lingering long after you’ve finished your sip.
Food Pairing:
The ‘08 Casa Contini Biferno Riserva really is a versatile bottle of wine! I think that it would be totally at home if you paired it with an antipasto plate containing the usual assortment of cheeses, olives, and cured meats. But if you wanted to serve it with something more special, then I think it would be really at home with one of my favorite roast chicken preparations. I love to take a mix of black olives, sundried tomatoes, and roasted red peppers and mince them up in the food processor. Then I stuff the mix into a nice thin layer underneath the skin of a whole butterflied chicken. Then I either grill it or roast it until it’s just cooked through. Delicious!
You MUST mention this special or print it out to receive the price on the above wine.
This price expires 10/26/2014 at 6pm and is limited to in-store quantities.
No rain checks given. Call (303) 936-0272 to reserve bottles with a credit card.