EXCLUSIVE WINE ALERT!

Today’s wine is an exclusive selection from a very small an unique boutique Italian producer.

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Mission Codename: Incredibly Indigenous

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an allocation of the elusive and delicious Umbrian classic for our operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Raina – Francesco Mariani

Wine Subject: 2009 Umbria Rosso IGT

Winemaker: Francis Mariani

Backgrounder:

Today’s Umbria IGT wine hails from the Umbria region of West Central Italy, is famous for producing some of the most unique and distinctive wines of Italy. Today’s selection is a blend of indigenous grapes including Sangiovese and Montepulciano and was aged exclusively stainless steel thus preserving the grape’s unique character.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep and ruby red in color with a brilliant clear core that shows bright streaks when held to the light that pales just slightly along the edges. When swirled, slow thin legs of varying speeds hand on the side of the glass and thin as they descend.

Smell – Bright and tangy red and black cherry as well as other tangy bramble berries lead you in and are followed by a touch of green herbal notes, exotic and peppery spice and zesty tar. Subtle floral notes and hints of candied fruit adds depth.

Feel – Bright and tangy with vibrant acidity and youthful tannins great you and the attack of this medium-to-full bodied dry wine. The etched minerality is tightly woven in with the tannins and acidity provide a slightly chewy feel.

Taste – Bright, fresh and tangy red and black cherry along with other red fruit blend with zesty tar, mocha coffee, green herbal and peppery spice notes.

Finish – Medium long in length with the textured minerality, tannins and acidity drying the palate as the fresh and ripe fruit gently fades leaving behind just a hint of spice.

Conclusion – The 2009 Raina Umbria Rosso IGT shows great varietal character and purity with its fresh and tangy red fruit on the nose and palate. Its vibrant acidity, youthful tannins and textured minerality makes this wine one that you both taste and feel – and lends itself very well to a variety of foods! Enjoy this wine tonight (after a little breathing time) or cellar for the next three to five years.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Francis Mariani

WINE EDUCATION: For the first two years we have collaborated with Tiziano Vistali, from whom I certainly learned a lot. Currently we have no enologist. Me and my cellarmaster, Andrea Mattioli, personally follow the cultivation of the vine and all stages of winemaking products. Then individually decide about the processing techniques, aging and assembly, as we are clear on the kind of product we want to achieve.

WINE JOB BRIEF: Personally, besides the experience gained working together with Tiziano Vistalli in 2003 I followed the courses of innovative techniques for the cultivation of vines. Also in 2006 I attended a course in oenology, lasting five months, in Parma, near Alma International School of Italian Cuisine "by Gualtiero Marchesi.
Andrea Mattioli, after graduating and receiving a degree as an agricultural expert, he attended courses related to the cultivation of the vine. Also 3 years experience at the winery “Colsanto” group "Livon, besides the three years of work completed in my company.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: We firmly believe that a wine should be a full expression of Terroir: First, the wine is made in the vineyard. We take care of yourself so all stages of cultivation, from pruning to Suckering from thinning to harvest. All these operations take place manually. Then try to limit the use of chemicals in the vineyard and do not use herbicides. The aim is to always get a product that, upon collection, be healthy, intact and has reached an appropriate degree of ripeness.

In the cellar, we are convinced that the product should not be chemically altered in any way: we do not use aromas or additives to change the typical characteristics of wines. The use of sulfur is minimal and we do not filter which we believe diminishes the wine. As for the aging in wood barrels we use strictly French oak barrels.

To further ensure quality, we use Technological systems for pumping next generation fermentation tanks with temperature control, soft pressing …

These tools, in addition to preserving the quality of products, help us to always work in a clean way: that is, in our opinion, fundamental.
This leads to wines of living, distinctive and interesting, full expression of the territory, with a strong personality and at the same time, very drinkable (we are not interested in produce wines for tastings and competitions).

WINEMAKER QUOTE: Life is too short to drink bad wine.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of the Raina in Sagrantino can be seen in this satellite photo.