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| As part of our on-going wine features in conjunction with the Wall Street Journal, this week's article describes a wine region known to few but loved by those who have had the privilege of enjoying it's rare viticultural treasures. The northwestern Italian region known as the Valle d'Aosta (Valley of Aosta) is nestled high in the Alps with the region of Piemonte to the south, France to the west, and Switzerland to the north. If you stand on top of one of the towering mountains surrounding the valley you can see the most famous peaks of the Alps all in one panoramic view. The massive Mont Blanc to the west, Gran Paradiso, the highest peak within Italy's borders, to the south; and the Matterhorn to the northeast. The Wall Street Journal has featured the most famous of the five regional wine co-ops known as the Institut Agricole Regional where many of the region's nearly-extinct grape varieties are being rescued and processed into some very distinctive wines found nowhere else in the world. With fewer than 1000 bottles a year making it to the United States from the entire region it is nearly impossible to find the wines of the "Institute" in Colorado. However, the most famous and considered the best of the region's private producers; Les Cretes is available in extremely limited quantities. Currently at Incredible wine and spirits we have three different bottling from Les Cretes and all of them posses the balance, finesse, purity, and character to make them stand out as far more than mere novelties. Because of the high-alpine environment with the intense sunshine and dramatically cooler nights, the grapes are able to achieve a beautiful ripeness while still maintaining the vibrant acidity found in cooler climate growing regions. Available at Incredible wine and spirits; Les Cretes Coteau la Tour 2004 Syrah $39.99 A sensational syrah with a very stylish fruity profile wrapped up in a lightly peppered and silky-smooth tannic structure. This syrah is produced at the same latitude as the famed wines of the Rhone valley in southern France. However, the dramatically different climate helps to showcase the delicacy and finesse of this amazing grape. This is a wine any true lover of syrah must try! Les Cretes Valle d'Aosta Petite Arvine 2005 $32.99 Petit Arvine is a varietal found in Switzerland and is known for making lighter, flinty wines with hints of grapefruit and mandarin orange. The Les Cretes wine also has some exceptionally precise flavors and aromas of white clover, lemon zest, and talcum powder. This wine has been featured at Luca d'Italia restaurant and we are the only Colorado retailer to carry this wine. Les Cretes Valle d'Aosta Chardonnay Cuvee Frissonniere Cuvee Bois 2005 $74.99 This wine is considered by most to be Italy's greatest chardonnay. Awarded the prestigious "tre Biccheri" for the NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR by the writers of the Italian wine bible known as the Gambero rosso. The Cuvee Bois brings grapefruit, aniseed, and golden delicious apple aromas to join the gentle and impeccably balanced oakey framework. The wine is simply sublime and again, we are the only Colorado retailer to carry this gem! 5 bottles available. Click here for a link to the original Wall Street Journal Article |