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Paola Bea is a legendary figure in the world of Italian wine, particularly in Umbria. The family is renowned for their commitment to natural winemaking and has been instrumental in establishing the reputation of Sagrantino di Montefalco as one of Italy&#39;s most distinctive wines.

The Paola Bea estate, located near the town of Montefalco, has been in the family for generations. However, it was under Paola&#39;s stewardship that it gained international recognition. The vineyards are farmed organically without any chemical intervention and minimal mechanization.

Paola Bea wines are known for their intense character and depth of flavor. They reflect not only the unique terroir but also Paola&#39;s dedication to traditional winemaking methods such as long maceration periods and aging in large oak barrels.

His approach results in wines that are expressive, complex, and have a strong sense of place &ndash; characteristics highly valued by wine enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you&#39;re tasting the acclaimed Sagrantino or lesser-known blends like San Valentino Palo Bea, you can expect an authentic representation of Umbrian viticulture at its finest from this esteemed producer.

Review of San Valentino Palo Bea

San Valentino is a highly esteemed winery located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Known for its dedication to organic and biodynamic farming practices, this producer has carved out a niche for itself as an innovative and sustainable wine creator. The vineyard was established by Umberto Cesari in 1965, who passionately believed in the potential of Sangiovese grapes from Romagna.

Color:

The San Valentino Palo Bea presents a rich, deep ruby red color that is almost opaque. This intense hue hints at the concentration and complexity within each bottle.

Nose:

On the nose, this wine offers an enticing blend of ripe black fruits like cherries and plums mingled with earthy undertones of leather and tobacco. There are also delightful notes of spices such as clove and cinnamon which add depth to its aromatic profile.

Tannins:

The tannins in San Valentino Palo Bea are well-structured yet supple, providing a robust backbone without overwhelming the palate. They contribute to its full-bodied nature while ensuring longevity for cellaring.

Taste:

Upon tasting, one can expect an explosion of flavors echoing those on the nose - ripe dark fruits layered with spice and earthy nuances. The finish is long-lasting with hints of sweet vanilla oak from barrel aging.

Critic Score &amp; Reviews:

San Valentino Palo Bea consistently receives high scores from critics around the world due to its exceptional quality. It frequently garners ratings above 90 points from renowned publications like Wine Spectator and Decanter Magazine. Reviewers often praise it for its balance between fruit intensity, tannic structure, acidity levels, making it both approachable now but capable of aging gracefully over time.

Food Pairing:

Given its robust character and complex flavor profile, San Valentino Palo Bea pairs wonderfully with hearty dishes such as grilled red meats, game, and rich pasta dishes. It also complements aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Romano.

San Valentino Palo Bea is a testament to the winemaking prowess of its producer. Its full-bodied nature coupled with complex flavors and aromas make it an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality Italian wine that showcases the potential of Sangiovese grapes from Emilia-Romagna.

Paola Bea is a legendary figure in the world of Italian wine, particularly in Umbria. The family is renowned for their commitment to natural winemaking and has been instrumental in establishing the reputation of Sagrantino di Montefalco as one of Italy's most distinctive wines.

San Valentino Paolo Bea an Italian treasure

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Craft

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Craft L.A., a Chef Tom Colicchio restaurant. 

Wine List Review of Craft, Los Angeles

Grace Hood

Craft L.A.

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you!

&nbsp;

GH: Hey hey Robert!&nbsp;

&nbsp;

RT : Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules. We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that&nbsp; list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

&nbsp;

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

&nbsp;

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Grace, what fabulous spot are we chatting about today?

&nbsp;

GH: We are diving into the wine list at Craft LA, which is Tom Collichio&rsquo;s seasonal west coast location.

&nbsp;

RT: Oh I love Tom&rsquo;s restaurants. I bet the wine list is just as good as the cuisine.

&nbsp;

GH: You&rsquo;re not wrong Robert! Definitely a boutique style list.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

RT: Shall we kick it off with some sparkling then?

&nbsp;

GH: Oh why not haha they actually have one of my favorite domestic sparklings &ndash; the 2009 Soter Brut Rose from Willamette Valley. But if you&rsquo;re a tried and true champagne drinker, you can&rsquo;t go wrong with the J&aacute; Lasalle Premier Cru

&nbsp;

RT: Yum &ndash; love to see those smaller producers like Soter. Now how are they looking for whites Grace?

&nbsp;

GH: For super light White, they&rsquo;ve got one of my faves &ndash; a 2018 Txakolina from Ameztoi in Spain, Another light White you could do is this 2017 Alber Boxler Pinot Gris from Alsace. Or the 2019 Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris Blend from the wild and wacky Robert Sinskey out of Caneros in California.

&nbsp;

RT: All those sound super refreshing. Great choices Grace. Now how about some chardonnay for our bold and buttery friends?

&nbsp;

GH: For my Chardonnay drinkers &ndash; my Oregon pick would be this 2014 Gran moraine from yamhill carlton, my california pick would be the 2014 Littorai from Sonoma Coast, and my french pick would be 2014 Mersault from Domaine Genot &ndash; Boulanger. 

&nbsp;

RT: Ah can&rsquo;t go wrong with any of those. Alright Grace how about some red wine? Starting off with pinot I presume?

&nbsp;

GH: You know me too well Robert hahah yes starting with pinot- My California pick would be the 2018 Caraccioli from the Santa Lucia Highlands. And my French choice would be 2001 Grand Cur Clos de Vouget from Francios Parent. 

&nbsp;

RT: We love to see it. How are they looking for something medium bodied?

&nbsp;

GH: Oh we talking about my other favorite red Syrah? I got you &ndash; they&rsquo;ve got a 2014 Mollydooker from the McLaren Vale in Australia as well as a 2016 from sine qua non out of the central coast of california.

&nbsp;

RT: Hmm we don&rsquo;t see nearly enough love for Australian wines.

&nbsp;

GH: I know right? Don&rsquo;t sleep on Australian wines yall! They&rsquo;re affordable and delicious

&nbsp;

RT: Two things we love here a CorkRules. Alright Grace should we hit our listeners with some cabernet?

&nbsp;

GH: Hit em up style haha my Cabernet picks for Craft La would have to be the 2005 corison from napa valley. Or if you&rsquo;re feeling a french cab, they&rsquo;ve got a 2008 from cheateau haut brion.

&nbsp;

RT: Two classics for sure. Alright Grace what would you recommend for our friends who want some budget friendly bottles?

&nbsp;

GH: I pick up what you&rsquo;re putting down buddy. Affordable but delicious. For a White I would pick the 2020 Austrian Gruner Veltliner from Hirsh. and for red, the 2020 Land of Saints Pinot Noir from San Luis Obisbo 

&nbsp;

RT: Sold haha and what about those special occasion bottles?

&nbsp;

GH: Gonna have to be the Egly Ouriet Grand Cru Rose Champagne. Or the 1995 E Guigal Cote Rotie 

&nbsp;

RT: We will take one of each! Grace, thank you so much for helping us navigate the wine list at Craft LA.&nbsp; To our audience, Thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.&nbsp; If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@</a><a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">CorkRules</a><a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">.Com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

&nbsp;

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists. Follow us on social media @CorkRules and @wineswithgrace

&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

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