The famed Wilhelm Haag in his day had a reputation that he could crush the bones in your hands so powerful were they from working in the vineyards for decades. While I have a great fondness for him, I can confidently say that Motalli Renato would turn Haag's hands (or even Mike Tyson's) to dust if they went at it. Motalli Renato has been working this brutal winemaking region for decades and these powerful hands are his badges of honor for his spectacular work over the years. The vines struggle for nutrients in the rocky, steep clay soil. These are truly some of the most individual and distinctive wines we sell. And because Renato has focused on his craft as opposed to marketing, they are ridiculous deals.
The first wine is the 2008 Motalli Renato Valtellina Superior "Le Urscele" for $24.99 (each on a 4 pack purchase). So first off, please do not think of this like a $24.99 wine - think of it more like a well made $40 Barbaresco. It's 100% Nebbiolo and aged in large chestnut casks. This is old, old school winemaking by a master who has done it for decades. The nose is just gorgeous and so refined. Spice with a hint of strawberry. The palate is delicious but also a great platform for the internal aromatics. Super juicy fruit with the wonderful remnants and structure that come from of integrated chestnut wood. Lovely, lovely internal aromatics with fantastic spice. The finish is long and really refined.
If you can afford great Barbaresco and don't care that this is half the price, I get it but you should still buy this. It is just a different expression of Nebbiolo and the chestnut ageing makes for a totally unique wine so if you like Nebbiolo, you should get this. If $40 is above your price point, then this is a way to enjoy the uniqueness and wonderfulness of aged Nebbiolo for a song.
Next up is the 2011 Motalli Renato Valgella for $18.99 each on a 4 pack purchase. 100% Nebbiolo aged in large chestnut barrels. Man, I love this wine. It's a testament to the hard work that Motalli does in the vineyards. The nose is lovely cherry flower and a hint of spice. The palate is really, really refined. Fresh, first of season cherries with lovely spice. Really, really juicy. Perfectly balanced. It's a wine that is so well made and really floats on the palate and gives and gives - sort of like the wines of JJ Morel. The finish echoes spice and fresh cherries.
I'm also offering the 2013 Motalli Renato Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) Rosato for $19.99 and $17.99 each on a 4 pack purchase. So this is 100% Nebbiolo rose - so how cool is that? So I really almost never offer rose because roses mostly all have an particular flavor (from the skin contact) of which, frankly, I'm not a fan. This one does not have that. It is just so incredibly clean and well made. I'm offering this because, well, it's just simply really, really delicious. So good, I added it to my list of Top 10 Roses. The nose is just a field of fresh strawberries. Just gorgeous. The palate has a bit of spritz and then just pure strawberry flavor with awesome Fass Selections juiciness. Really makes your mouth water. Really nice juiciness on the finish.
So I know that we generally sell very serious, complex wines at Fass Selections. But I'm big enough to admit that some days I open bottles of wines like this. To drink on the roof. As an aperitif with friends. Or because I've had a lousy day and don't want to mull over over the complexity of a wine. And you know what? People love wines like this and so do I. Not everything is a super serious wine of Tolstoyan complexity.
2008 Motalli Renato Valtellina Superiore "Le Urcscele" - $26.99
($91.96 4-pack)
2011 Motalli Renato "Valgella" - $20.99 ($75.96 4-pack)
2013 Motalli Renato Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo) Rosato - $19.99
($71.96 4-pack)
This is probably a stupid question but I can't figure out how to order your wine on this site or the Fass site. I also haven't received any emails after signing up 2 weeks ago or more. Can you help?
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