We stopped by Uva yesterday to taste through Annie Lau’s fantastic selection of predominantly Italian imports. Despite the fact that Uva’s beautiful and intimate space was quite cramped and difficult to maneuver with the volume of tasters, there were some great wines offered. Here are a couple of my highlights…

Adami ’07 Spumante Dry – Valdobbiadene DOC “Vigneto Giardino” $30.90
This single vineyard and vintage dated Prosecco is some of the best I’ve tried (albeit I don’t seek out Proseccos very often). Fine mousse, lots of bright and clean citrus fruit – grapefruit and green apple. This is a Prosecco I would happily buy on the right occasion.

Gianfranco Alessandria ’06 Langhe Nebbiolo DOC $33.90
G. Alessandria is a smaller scale Piedmont winemaker, producing around 3,000 cases annually. This Nebbiolo brings vibrant strawberry fruit with hints of a dusty earthiness. Great soft texture, yet backed by the big tannins that Nebbiolo is known for. I liked it as it was a cleaner and brighter style of Nebbiolo, contrasting some of the stinkier/vinegary (slightly faulted) examples I’ve also enjoyed lately.

Gianfranco Alessandria’s ’03 Barolo DOCG “San Giovanni” was also very good. Tons of dark fruit and spice and very drinkable now with 6 years of age ($89.90).

Afterwards, Kurtis and I retired to Subeez for a much welcomed (and my first) Crannog Organic Bitter Ale. Delicious, refreshing stuff…