By: Wineaux DLynn P
How can a wine that is so cult-ish and so unheard-of outside of the Swiss Sommelier community end up our hands?….That is, it was in our hands, and is actually now sold, and in the hands of one John Paine.
This Chambave Rouge hails from the mountains of Northern Italys’ Valle d’Aosta and was first produced in the 60′s. John tells me the story that this is the first winery Neal Rosenthal visited in Italy, and he immediately fell in love with Ezio and his style of wines and of course his “zany-ness”. Comprised “possibly” of Petit Rouge, Dolcetto, and Gros Vien, from a tiny little hamlet, this is a legendary bottle that will, in the next few days, end up in Neal’s cellar, or more than likely a Riedel Tyrol glass. I hope to hear your thoughts Neal. Let us know.
Ciao for now.
Rosenthal was never the exclusive importer for this wine. If that is the 1961 in the picture ( it looks like it might be) the wine was brought in via Armando de Rham through the Arwood Stowe company in Dallas. It sold like hotcakes and drank beautifully for years. I’d hate to tel you the cost, ridiculously low but close to the price of the ’68 Sassicaia ( that we also brought in).
coincidentally, I posted about the Chambave Rouge three years ago today
http://acevola.blogspot.com/2007/07/between-two-worlds.html