It is always a pleasure to go to my favorite wine shop and it was double the fun, because besides picking up the club selections at The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan; there was also going to be a special vertical tasting of Hillwalker Vineyards of Mt. Veeder, California.  A great daily double. 

As always there is a wine representing the Old World, and the New World and we will start with the Old World.  Monte del Fra Ca del Magro Custoza Superiore DOC 2019.  Azienda Agricola Monte del Fra is a wine producer near Verona in the Veneto region of northern Italy; they produce Veneto wines, Grappa and Olive Oil.  The winery dates to 1492, when it was owned by an order of monks.  The modern company was founded in 1958 and is owned by the Bonomo family.  The winery owns one-hundred-thirty-seven-hectares of vineyards and leases an additional sixty-eight.  Bianco di Custoza, also just Custoza as well as Costoza Superiore DOC are made using Garganega, Trebbianello, Trebbiano Toscano and Cortese grapes, and some view it as the white equivalent of red Bardolino, as the two overlap in the area.  The designation applies to dry white, passito sweet, and spumante wines.  As of 2019, seventy percent of the blend must be made from Cortese (Bianca Fernanda), Friulano (Tai), Garganega and/or Trebbiano Toscano, and no more than forty-five percent of any one variety; the balance can be Chardonnay, Malvasia, Manzoni, Bianco, Pinot Bianco and/or Welschriesling.  A Bianco di Custoza must reach 11% proof and be aged for three months, a Custoza Superiore must reach 11.5% proof and be aged for five months, and a Riserva must reach 12.5% proof and aged for twelve months.  Critics have rated this wine as one of the top five Bianco di Custoza wines.  Theis particular wine is a blend of forty percent Garganega, twenty percent Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc), ten percent Friulano (Tai), twenty percent Cortese, and ten percent Chardonnay.  The wine is described as “summertime in a glass” and is called refreshing and savory.  This wine is said to offer notes of white florals, botanical herbs, and yellow stone fruits.  On the palate it offers tones of apricot, honeydew melon, candied orange slices with a finish of bitter almond and traces of limestone, lemon, and lime.

Representing the New World is Stolpman Vineyard “Love you Bunches” Rosé Central Coast 2023.  Over twenty years ago Tom Stolpman found what he felt was the greatest viticultural site on Earth.  Hidden away on a limestone outcropping in the Central Coast region in Ballard Canyon.  He originally started with Syrah and Roussanne grapes, using sustainable growing measures and minimal manipulation. The original “Love you Bunches” was a Carbonic Fermented Sangiovese that they still make, and they also now make a “Love you Bunches” Orange using Orange Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Mourvedre.  The Rosé version is made from pure Grenache and the fruit is harvested from Southern San Luis, Obispo County and Santa Barbara County.  The fruit is pressed much more quickly for a pink-hued wine.  The grapes rest whole for twelve to twenty-four hours as Carbonic Fermentation begins, absorbing just a touch of pigment and texture.  The pun “Love you Bunches” refers to the extra “loving” treatment the grape bunches receive when the clusters are destined for Carbonic Fermentation.  The label shows the unique penmanship of their vineyard manager, Ruben Solorzano. A cool season, and late harvest allowed the wine to fully develop.  After the whole-grape Carbonic Fermentation, the grapes are then pressed and vatted in Stainless Steel tanks for a cool and extended fermentation for three months. The winery describes the wine as having a strawberry shortcake, fresh with a citrus zing.  A sassy pink wine that offers notes of fresh strawberries, florals, and citrus.  On the palate there are tones of upfront acidity, with traces of savory rhubarb with a dry finish of terroir with a spray of citrus.