NEON CACTUS WINES

A typically Piedmontese wine, well-structured and good for ageing, in which wood and fruit blend to maintain the characteristics and typicality of the Barbera grape varietal intact. True to Cogno tradition, its principal qualities are its quaffability and freshness.
Bright ruby red in colour with clear crimson highlights. Deep, full perfumes, elegant, well-balanced and enduring, reminiscent of rose, undergrowth and oriental spices. Very powerful bouquet, sweetened by overall softness. Fine structure accompanied by lively acidic freshness. Flavours conjure up morello cherry and plum jam with a long finish of withered grape. Serve with tasty dishes such as pasta and red meat, medium-mature soft, fatty cheeses. $34.95*

OGIO Primitivo
Dark, ruby red wine with violet highlights. Intense and fragrant bouquet with submissive earthy aromas. A variety of textures with balanced acidity. Rich, and concentrated with flavours of zesty cherry, clove, wild blackberry, raspberry and spice. Best served with rustic Italian dishes or grilled meats. $12.95*
Silver Medal ~ Los Angeles international Wine Competition, 2010
Silver Medal ~ Winemakers Challenge, 2010

 OGIO Pinot Grigio
Intense straw colour. Melon and soft citrus notes on the nose. Palate is dry, soft and well balanced. Crisp and dry  fresh lemon and lime flavours with a hint of orange blossom. Excellent fruit concentration on the palate and balanced acidity. Enjoy alongside grilled halibut, pesto chicken or fresh summer salads. $12.95*
Silver Medal ~ Los Angeles International Wine Competition, 2010

Made from Prosecco grapes grown on the graceful slopes near the beautiful hill-top town of Conegliano, very close to Venice in northern Italy. Fruity aromas, especially of unripe apples, lemons and grapefruit, and a pronounced aroma of wisteria in bloom and acacia flowers. Pleasantly acid, fresh flavour, full-bodied and well balanced. Prosecco became the aperitif of choice for Venetians in the nineteenth century and its distinct personality made it renowned throughout Italy and beyond. Aromatic, refreshing and fruity, Canaletto Prosecco is an impressive, yet easy-going sparkling wine, perfect for any occasion.
Pair with antipasti or canapés, cheeses ~ fontina, goat cheese, gorgonzola, cambozola and ricotta ~ almonds, pasta, oysters and other seafood, and all kinds of vegetables and salads. $17.95*

[ Vino Spumante Italian Brut Casa Girelli Veneto Valdobbiadene]

NERO
100% Negroamaro grapes
Not surprising in a wine called “Nero,” which means “black” in Italian, this red is very dark in colour. It unfolds with an extraordinary combination of seductive layers of aromas and rich toasted oak flavours. $13.95*

PG
100% Pinot Grigio grapes
Here is a wonderful, seductive fruit-driven wine, with a rich and elegant taste. $13.95*

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These wines have been tailor made by Giorgio & Gianni to arouse all your senses. Giorgio carefully selected grapes from vineyards located in prime growing areas throughout Italy to create unique handcrafted wines. Gianni gave birth to a design that fully captivates Italian creativity, adding style to any room and always being the life of the party. Together, Giorgio & Gianni have created a perfect match “Made in Italy.”

In the 12th century, battles raged between Siena and Florence for control of the fruitful Tuscan land. Legend has it that the Gabbiano Knight, or Cavaliere on horseback, protected the Castello di Gabbiano Estate, located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region just south of Florence, from outside invaders. The Cavaliere on the label symbolizes the robust charm and tradition of the Chianti region.

Gabbiano Rosato
100% Sangiovese
Intense and brilliant rose colour with a balanced palate, good structure and persistence. The nose is floral and slightly perfumed, showing hints of violet. The palate is juicy with flavours of light cherries and wild berry fruits. Fresh, soft mouthfeel with a crisp acid finish.  $12.95*

[ Italian Toscana Tuscany]

100% Primitivo grapes
Deep red appearance with purple hints on the rim. Distinctive fruity bouquet with notes of cherries and licorice. Rich tastes of soft fruit and spice on the palate. Modern in style with elegant, round tannins. Serve with anything from pizza to favourite pastas, Italian sandwiches or grilled meats. $19.95*

[Winery: Leone de Castris, Region: Puglia]

Ca’bolani Chardonnay Frizzante
from Italy is CBC’s feature wine this month.
Get your bottle at Neon Cactus Wines!

Laurie McKay tasted and talked about this wine on
Winers on CBC radio’s Homestretch on
Friday, April 16 at 5:45 p.m.

This Chardonnay has just a touch of fizz! Flavours and aromas of Granny Smith apples and lemons. Very refreshing! Pair with coconut chicken curry, sushi and sashimi, pear and gorgonzola pizza and lemon poppyseed cake. Excellent with cheese. $16.95*

Each month, get the featured bottle at Neon Cactus Wines and enjoy some sipping pleasure with Laurie while you learn about the wine!

Colognole Riserva del Don Chianti Rufina
The Sangiovese grapes for this Riserva were carefully selected from three separate vineyards in Tuscany, each with its own unique soil and exposure. This process resulted in a wine of full body, considerable elegance, and noteable aging potential. $31.95

Neon Cactus Wines also carries:

Colognole Chianti Rufina DOCG
This dark ruby-coloured wine is very fruity and floral on the nose and has an ample and rounded structure on the palate. It has great complexity, harmonious tannins, herb-like hints of Sangiovese and spices and a long finish. Excellent to drink immediately but will also keep very well for a decade or so. To be savoured with meat dishes and cheeses. $21.95*

Le Volte brings together the best terroirs of Tuscany, combining the Mediterranean expression of Sangiovese, which confers opulence and generosity, with the structure and complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon and the softness of Merlot. First produced in the 1991 vintage, Le Volte reflects the integrity and style which inspires the Estate philosophy. A well-balanced wine of great charm and finesse. $34.95*
[ Italian Toscana IGT ]

This fruity Valpolicella offers luscious aromas of cherry, herbs, chocolate and mocha, with medium body and balanced acidity. Lively and easy to drink, with moderate tannins and a bright, vivacious colour, this wine is best enjoyed young to appreciate the exuberant and intense fruitiness. Valpolicella complements antipasti, lighter pasta dishes, seafood and lightly grilled white meats. $19.95*

 [ Veneto Italian ]

Santa Tresa Nívuro
A blend of Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
Deep, opaque purple/red with an incredibly intense nose featuring black pepper and spices. Powerful on the palate with huge bursts of warm dark berry fruit, Nivuro has excellent balance, with a surprisingly soft, long finish. $23.95*

Neon Cactus Wines also carries this Santa Tresa wines:

Cerasuolo
Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes.
A fresh, lively, fruity wine. Intense ruby in colour, the bouquet is reminiscent of dark berries. The palate is soft, well rounded, full of elegance and finesse, with a long finish. $24.95*

[ Italian Sicily ]

Palazzo della Torre
Appellation: Veronese I.G.T.
Grapes: 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese
Fresh juice obtained at harvest is blended with  juice from dried grapes, initiating a second fermentation resulting in a more concentrated, complex wine. The vintner refers to this as a “baby Amarone,” an approachable wine with its pleasant, fruity character and raisin-like qualities.
Pairs well with a wide range of foods, including full-flavoured pasta and risotto dishes. Also enjoy with roast veal, turkey and lamb, as well as with grilled meats such as barbecued chicken, steak or sausages. Excellent with mushrooms and hard and semi-hard cheeses. For maximum expression of fruit and flavour, serve at 18°C (65°F) in large red-wine goblets. $26.95*

Lunae Auxo Rosso
Primarily Sangiovese grapes
Auxo in Greek means to grow and to develop, the verb that expresses our nature and our passions. This wine shows a deep ruby-red colour,with an intense yet persistent bouquet, typical of the Marasca cherry and red berries. Dry, flavourful and harmonious on the palate with great structure. $19.95*

This wine joins Lunae Vermentino on our shelves:

100% Vermentino grapes
Pale straw colour with golden glints. Intense nose with refined and elegant hints of wild flowers such as broom and pleasant undertones of acacia, honey and woodland resins. On the palate, it is fresh and harmonious with reverberations of wild flowers and fresh fruits. There is a slight and intriguing almondy finish. Because of the rich structure, this wine is particularly suited to seafood dishes as well as white meats and vegetables. $19.95*

[ Liguria, Cantine Lunae Bosoni]

Produced primarily from Sangiovese and Syrah grapes with some Alicante and other Tuscany varietals, this rosso is a ruby-red coloured wine. Complex on the nose with sour cherry, mint and aromatic herbs. On the palate it is full and rich with a long satisfying finish. A perfect wine with all meals, especially crostini, meat ragout, aged cheeses and game. $16.95*

[ Poggio Morino Tenuta in Scansano Italian]

 “Sedara”
Nero d’Avola grapes
The ruby-red colour is rounded out by lively garnet reflections. The impact on the nose is intense with sensations of tobacco, spices and mineral notes. In the mouth, the wine is balanced with fruity flavours, mainly blackberries and cherries. Persistent finish. Serve with elaborate baked pasta dishes and red meats, or try with lightly cooked fresh tuna. $19.95*
“Angheli”
Merlot & Nero d’Avola grapes
A wine with extraordinary personality and elegance. The bouquet is full with upfront fruity notes. Outstanding scents of sour cherries, blackberries and wild berries and hints of cacao, licorice and cardamom. Persistent finish. Best with imposing dishes of roasted or braised red meats, game and cheeses. $29.95*

[ Sicily, Sicilia ]