VINO FRIZZANTE | by MEDICI ERMETE
MORE ON LAMBRUSCO: VINCENT GASNIER MATT KRAMER VINO ITALIANO IAN D'AGATA 1001 WINES
| Reviews of Italy's Coolest Wines | ||
| QUERCIOLI - SOLO - CONCERTO - BOCCIOLO - DAPHNE - NEBBIE | ||
| Concerto | ||
 THE 15 BEST [ITALIAN] SPARKLING WINES
AND ROSES UNDER $100
90/100 Lambrusco Reggiano Secco Frizzante "Concerto" You won't find a better Lambrusco than the ones made here, wines of uncommon depth and creaminess whereas other Lambruscos are all too often thin, tart, and unpleasant. The Medici Ermete family has been involved with Lambrusco for more than 100 years and today looks after 60 hectares of vineyards subdivided among three main properties (Tenuta Rampata, Tenuta Quercioli, and Villa Giada), doing considerable work on its grape varieties. The lambrusco family of grapes is large, and not all grapes are at the same level of quality. The "Concerto" by Medici Ermete is made with the superior lambrusco salamino variety, which tends to give Lambrusco more immediate appeal and is easier to understand for wine loveres who do not find fizzy red wines to their liking. This wine is crimson-purple in color, with loads of wild strawberry, raspberry, and ripe cherry aromas and a touch of red roses; it eners rich and round, with lots of lively acidity, delineating flavors similar to the aromas. The very long and unapologetically dry finish leaves the mouth fresh and salivating, and ready for another glass immediately. The "Solo" bottling (see the "10 Best Sparkling and Rose Wines at $25 or Less" list in section 2) is also very fine, but altogher different from the wine described here, due to the presence of the ancelotta grape variety (as well as the lambrusco salamino, quite different from the Marani sub-variety), which makes the latter wine much smoother and almost sweet." ~ Guide to the Best Wines of Italy by Ian D'Agata (2008) |
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Lambrusco is often bad-mouthed both in Italy and abroad. Unfortunate reputation comes from the fact that production of this wine is controlled by huge cooperatives of grape growers, which are paid by the ton regardless of the quality of the grapes. The lax production laws did the rest. |
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Medici Ermete Concerto Reggiano Lambrusco DOC 2006 |
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 "...Tasting Medici-Ermete's Concerto Lambrusco at lunch in an elegant restaurant with pumpkin ravioli and wood mushroom risotto is a completely different experience from the surreptitious suburban basement sips of my 70's youth. It's dry, and fruity. It fizzes off the tongue gently and doesn't assault the nose with bubbliness >>>."~ Pierluigi Medici has a mission. New Mexico Business Weekly - April 11, 2003 |
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| 86 | Medici Ermete Reggiano Lambrusco Arte e Concerto If you're serving roast suckling pig, this is the wine to pour. It's earthy, tannic and acidic, a bone dry foil to the fattiness of the pork. ~ Wine & Spirits (April 2007) |
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/ LAMBRUSCO Medici Ermete 2005 Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano Secco (Emilia-Romagna) "If you thought Lambrusco (a fizzy, red wine often served chilled) cannot pair with food, think again. The wine's effervescence and acidity make it perfect for cutting through cream- and cheese-based dishes. This dry version has a dark, ruby color with red berry aromas, clove and a touch of mint tea." ~ Wine Enthusiast (December 15, 2006) |
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 Medici ErmeteWhy they’re dudes: The sales rep who poured our glass wasn’t actually part of the winery but...he sold us. What’s their deal: An Italian winery that for 20 years has grown their own grapes for a series of Lambruschi, or naturally fermentation-carbonated wines, both white and red. Flagship wine: 2005 Lambrusco Concerto is a slightly fizzy red wine, which is an anomaly among American attempts at carbonated reds: Its bubbles are not upfront and neither is it’s sweetness. Instead it’s a dry, almost bitter, red wine that tastes like spicy cherries. This Lambrusco would be a good, meaty replacement for brunch champagne. ~ Hot Knives (09/01/2006) |
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Medici Ermete Lambrusco Reggiano 'Concerto'  An exuberant, dark red frizzante wine with a deep grapey nose, lots of dark berry character, a touch of bitterness and a touch of sweetness. Panelists were divided on the meats it paired best with; several said fatty salumi ("It cleanses the palate after the fattiness," said one), while others found it too fruity for salami, preferring it with soppressata, prosciutto and speck.~ The wines that sing with salumi. (08/30/2006) |
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Sparkling red wines don't get much respect in the U.S., but good lambrusco is worth a closer look. I don't mean the sweet stuff, but dry lambrusco, labeled secco to distinguish it from amabile and dolce (slightly sweet and sweet). Made in Emilia Romagna from the low-tannin lambrusco grape, good versions like Medici Ermete's Concerto taste like they are made for sipping with some thin-sliced salumi or arancini, Italy's addictive fried rice balls. The dried cherry flavors are light and savory with a slightly bitter black pepper edge that cuts through richness, while the soft bubbles give the wine a refreshing lift. It's an excellent wine with which to whet the palate on a hot day, or sip all the way through a meal. (It's 11 percent alcohol, so you can have more than a glass.)." |
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"The Ermete Medici is wonderful - the color alone is stunning - looks like liquid rubies. The taste is outstanding. Was tipped off last spring at Il Posto Accanto and have been stocked up ever since. Have tried others and have been not so happy." |
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| "Last week I served this with a great dry Lambrusco. (Yes, Lambrusco can be great.) Look for one called Concerto 2004 from Medici Ermete. It's spectacularly good, with intense color and substantial fruit, yet remains utterly dry and restrained. Serve it cool, but not cold." ~ A Recipe For Wine by Matt Kramer - June 14, 2006 |
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"Concerto 2003. Deep red. Wonderfully arromatic with juicy red and black fruit. A highly satisfactory mouthful of proper Lambrusco - nose dry, arromatic beautifully balanced and demanding food." |
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One of my favorite summer treats is a plate of fresh figs with shards of Parmigiano-Reggiano. In my quest to find a perfect wine match, I came across an article in New York Metro that had high praise for the rare Lambrusco wine from Italy. This fruity, effervescent red did the trick and I give it full marks as a summer wine. My good friend Max, a chef from Abruzzi, swears by Lambrusco, and now, I do too. Here are three great picks for the summer: |
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| "Cantine Medici Ermete is a century-old family business which aims for quality and a discriminating market sector. Its high-density vineyards produce much less than the authorised 18 tonnes/ha of grapes – for a cru Lambrusco like Concerto, the yield is 11 tons/ha – and the result is a wine with a more intense structure, concentration and vibrant aroma." ~ Bubbling up by Michele Shah (Decanter Magazine, 01-01-2003) |
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| Medici Ermete Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano 2000
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| "...Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano are guaranteed crowd pleasers. They're much drier than their mid-seventies incarnations, and they take a chill nicely because of the slight fizz. Marzovilla recommends that you serve them with their classic partners: chunks of Parmigiano-Reggiano and thin slices of prosciutto, or figs and walnuts. As easy as chips and salsa, and a much better consolation for the hazy view..." ~ Fair-Weather Friends. The New York Magazine - June 24, 2002 |
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Richard Mayson's Pick of Emilia-Romagna Wine |
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| QUERCIOLI - SOLO - CONCERTO - BOCCIOLO - DAPHNE - NEBBIE | ||
MEDICI ERMETE
KYLE PHILLIPS'S ITALIAN WINE REVIEW
Medici Ermete
More crimes have been committed under the name Lambrusco than under any other wine name. It’s a relief then to find an example that is a) dry, b) red, and c) very tasty.