INSIDER'S PICK: 2018 TENUTA DI TAVIGNANO VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI CLASSICO SUPERIORE 'VILLA TORRE' $16.99 (Wine Advocate 88pts)

At a time like this, it's pretty much impossible to be 'normal'. But it is important to try and keep what you can as close to normal as you can while you can. Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount on Thursday and Friday. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

With as hot as it has been around here the last few weeks, we ALL deserve a wine that does well with a nice chill on it, perhaps relaxing with some snacks because nobody wants to stand in front of the grill and sweat all over the food. This should be at the top of that list for most people. A lengthy name, but the thing to remember is that Verdicchio is one of the champion grapes in the Marche region of Italy, and Castelli dei Jesi is known as the premiere areas. For many years Tavignano has been on the very short list of consistently excellent producers that have helped build their reputation among American consumers, cluing us in on just how versatile and affordable their wines are. Unless the entire Eastern edge of Italy just falls into the Adriatic, these wines are super clean, fresh, and reliable. Aged in steel on their lees for 3-4 months before bottling, the Villa Torre has a wonderful pulpy aroma of citrus skin and white fruits, with a bit of grapefruity zest and cooling savory green herbal tones. On the palate the flavors are equally snappy and mouth-filling, with a cooling mintier side with a heavier chill that gets juicier and more tropical as it gets warmer (so, within 2-3 minutes if you're outside). This is a classic antipasto wine, working with salty and savory as well as citrus and fruit, or even a cheese tray if you like, but also can follow through to fish or poultry dishes.

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