organic box wine

I Love Organic Wine – A Barbera From Piedmont, Italy

Barbera is one of the most widely planted red grapes in all Italy. There are several varieties, and to be frank Barbera del Monferrato is not at the top of this list. Nuova Cappelletta is dedicated to organic food and wine production. They are located in Vignale Monferrato of the Piedmont region of northern Italy, where they breed cattle and grow cereal on hundreds of acres of which some 74 acres are vineyards. I can only imagine how their wine pairs with their beef. Let me quote the company website concerning their commitment to organic production: “The entire estate is a certified for organic farming since 1986 and all its produce meets the Demeter standards for biodynamic agriculture. According to these principles, the farm is managed for sustainability, and all activities are interconnected. As an example, culture rotation and cattle manure together with the diversified cultivations are fundamental to maintain a well balanced and sustainable land fertility.”

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY: All wines that we taste and review have been purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed: Nuova Cappelletta Barbera del Monferrato 2007 13.0% alcohol cost about $15.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Description : Winner of a Gold Medal at the Concorso Internazionale del Vino Biologico del BioFach 2009. The fruit for this wine is certified organic and biodynamically grown. A easy-drinking wine with lots of cherry, cranberry, tobacco and underbrush aromas. This well-balanced, ripely fruity Barbera is a good choice for beef or lamb stews, or mushroom risotto. Our Quality Assurance Laboratory has determined that this wine contains 35 mg/L of free sulphur. And now for my review.

At the first sips the wine tasted of dark chocolate. It was chewy and showed great balance between its acidity and tannins. Its first pairing was with home made chicken “nuggets” with Mediterranean spices to which I added an orange slightly sweet, slightly spicy Thai dipping sauce. The wine’s acidity increased somewhat. This Barbera was long with dark cherries and a touch of tobacco. The wine really knew how to deal with the accompanying potatoes roasted in chicken fat. The acidity washed the grease away and the tobacco taste intensified. There was also an overly spicy salsa with tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and cilantro that did not mute the wine.

The next meal involved a boxed eggplant parmigiana that I slathered in grated Parmesan cheese. The wine exhibited some chocolate; it was long with a good balance between its acidity and tannins. I enjoyed the wine but felt that it was wasted on this meal.

My final meal was composed of barbecued beef ribs in a sweet ketchup-based sauce. The wine was mouth filling with the usual black cherry and tobacco but there was more. It was hearty. The accompaniments were the same as in the first pairing and the results were basically the same except that the salsa was able to cut the wine a bit.

I ended the bottle with two local cheeses. When paired with a relatively tasteless brick cheese, the wine was mouth filling and had nice length and good fruit. This was a good combo. When it met a tastier Swiss cheese, the Barbera became somewhat sweet. It was long and fruity, tasting of cherries.

Final verdict. I liked this wine and I liked this price. I would buy it again but instead I’m going to look for a “better” Barbera.

TLS Web Tasting – Pepperwood Grove & Broke Ass

[groupmage source="groupon" location=0 display=5]
[groupmage source="crowdsavings" location=1 display=5]

Numi Organic Tea 40101 Display Rack,Holds 8 Boxes of Numi Teas,17 in.x7 in.x14-1/2 in.,NTL $23.18 Sturdy, convenient display rack holds up to eight boxes of Numi teas. Rack is made from iron and hand-wrapped rattan. Hang on a wall or set on a counter. Rack includes a side bracket that can hold flyers or menus….

Numi Organic Tea Flowering Gift Set in Handcrafted Mahogany Bamboo Chest: Glass Teapot & 6 Flowering Tea Blossoms $27.19 Packaged in an exotic hand-made dark mahogany bamboo case, this Flowering Gift Set holds a bin of Numi’s Bouquet Flowering Tea that is filled with bouquets of tea leaves and Numi’s Teahouse glass teapot through which to observe the blooming tea petals. A simple luxury that heightens the tea experience and makes for a singular conversation piece, this reusable case will have a long-lasting impressi…

Lindt Excellence Extra Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa, 3.5-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12) $30.65 Delicious, decadent chocolate truffle from world-class Lindt chocolatiers….

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Bar, Markham Valley Semi-Sweet (68% Cacao), 3-Ounce Bars (Pack of 6) $30.00 Amazon A+ Description pageSCHARFFEN BERGER Chocolate Maker sources and blends the world’s best cacao beans using the highest quality ingredients and a wine-maker’s expertise to build layers of chocolate flavor. Our commitment to artisanal chocolate making guarantees consistent quality and taste in every bar from start to finish.Our Chocolate FlavorsMilk Chocolate Bar — 41% CacaoWith hints of lux…

Hungry Girl 300 Under 300: 300 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Dishes Under 300 Calories $11.59 “Super-simple, low-calorie, great-tasting meal ideas aren’t easy to come by. 300 Under 300 will offer up so many guilt-free breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes, it’ll make your head spin! It’s meal-mania, HG style! This book features three hundred satisfyiTitle: Hungry Girl 300 Under 300Author: Lillien, Lisa/ Bourassa, Val (PHT)Publisher: St Martins PrPublication Date: 2011/03/29Number of Pages: 54…

Earth to Table: Seasonal Recipes from an Organic Farm $17.97 There is nothing more delightful than a tomato still warm from the sun, or a strawberry so perfectly ripe that it stains your fingers. Why not eat this way all the time? The healthiest and most delicious food comes from farmers and artisans just down the road—though it is often easy to forget when we are surrounded by food shipped to our supermarkets from around the world and by highly proces…

Sweet and Sugar Free: An All Natural Fruit-Sweetened Dessert Cookbook $1.99 Minimal shelf wear to cover. All pages intact and clean. Binding is tight. SHIPS NEXT BUSINESS DAY!…