One of the rules of this business is that one should only write about wines that are locally available. After all, what’s the point in waxing poetic about a wine that no one can buy?
Which brings us to the Neprica, a sample of which arrived this week and which I tasted immediately. That’s because it’s a $10 Italian red blend from Tormaresca, a very reliable producer that understands how to combine quality and value.
In fact, this wine is so good that I’m going to break the availability rule. Since I just got the sample, the wine probably isn’t in most stores yet. Never mind. Go to your local retailer and tell them to order some.
he Neprica is made with a local grape called negroamaro, plus primitivo and cabernet sauvignon. It’s darker in flavor than chianti, but it’s still low in alcohol and it’s not aged in oak. The latter gives it a fresher favor. I drank this with spaghetti and tomato sauce with mushrooms, and my only regret was that I didn’t have another bottle.
• Savor Dallas gets underway this weekend: The fifth annual event is Friday and Saturday. There is also a book party today for The Art of Terroir, featuring photos by the inestimable George Rose. It’s at 5 p.m. at the Nasher Sculpture Center downtown.
• Dallas loves its celebrity wine: Why doesn’t this surprise me? Dallas, according to a Nielsen study, is one of the five biggest markets in the U.S. for celebrity wine — wines associated with the a famous person. We’re fourth, behind Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
