Fall 2022 Offer #8: I Favati

I Favati - 2019 “Pietramara” Fiano di Avellino black label

Bottom Line - I Favati’s 2019 Fiano black label is a mineral-laced, food-friendly white wine from the Campania region of southern Italy. It’s loaded with typical Fiano character and shows a penetrating flavor depth. The volcanic side emerges slowly, revealing more and more complexity with exposure to air. But patiently analyzing the full evolution may prove difficult for most of us – this Fiano also goes down fast. My notes: “Mostly herbal nose initially, with subdued lemon and straw; fresh and clean; very persistent, expansive in the mouth. Benchmark Fiano.” 

I Favati - 2013 “Cretarossa” (Aglianico) Irpina Campi Taurasini

Bottom Line - I Favati’s 2013 Cretarossa is an aglianico-based red wine with some bottle age that is drinking at its peak right now. This wine shows the meatiness and brawn of its warm southern Italian climate, yet also manages to be supple and very re-drinkable. My notes: “Bright, lively red fruit (cherry and pomegranate), with subtle toasted cocoa notes and anise; the muscular tannins dissolve effortlessly; black cherries for days. Gulpable yet still serious.”

To order, just click the one of the links above and follow the prompts. Keep reading for more in-depth information on I Favati and these two wines.

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Wine friends,

Over the last few decades, I Favati has established itself as one of the top wine producers in Campania. Today, we’re offering both a white and a red from their portfolio. These are unique wines that taste like they come from Campania, and could come from nowhere else.

Starting with the white, here’s what I wrote about this 2019 I Favati Fiano in the spring: 

“I Favati has long been my favorite producer of Fiano di Avellino – Italy’s greatest white wine. (No arguments accepted!). All of I Favati’s wines are superb, and this 2019 Fiano is the best value of the bunch.”

I’m pleased to report that the spring beta group agreed with me wholeheartedly about this wine. While many of the spring wines were praised, I Favati’s Fiano was the clear favorite among the whites.

Sadly, there isn’t much 2019 Fiano remaining in I Favati’s cellars, and our parcel will be smaller than it was in the spring. But given the many requests for more of this wine, I’m happy to be able to offer the last bottles available from the producer. 

Moving on to the red wine, I Favati’s incredible 2013 Cretarossa (aglianico)…

Most Italian wine experts believe aglianico has greatness in its DNA. But when you talk to wine lovers about the best Italian red wines, aglianico-based examples are often overlooked. Indeed, it’s rare to find an aglianico that’s simultaneously fresh, expressive, and complex. With bottle age, however, it’s a grape that can turn out singular wines. 

Unfortunately, mature wine doesn't grow on trees. One way to taste aged aglianico would be to buy age-worthy bottles now, lay them down in a cool storage space, and start opening them in about eight years. If you don't have much patience or space, another option is to track down and pay a premium for an already-aged bottle or two, with no guarantee the bottles have been stored properly. 

The last option is to acquire aged bottles directly from the winery cellar when they become available. Easier said than done, right?

The good news is that Open Tuesday can help! Every so often, we’re able to offer a perfectly aged wine like this 2013 Cretarossa, one of the best aglianico-based wines I’ve tasted in years.

This is a fantastic opportunity to try a first-rate, mature, well-priced wine – and it comes directly from the producer’s cellar in Italy.

(The 2010 Ca’ La Bionda CasalVegri is another great opportunity. Those who have ordered it are in for a real treat.)

To get an idea of where I Favati is on the map of Italy click here.

Here are a few photos of the Pietramara Fiano vineyard in Altripalda.

These pictures are from the Cretarossa Aglianico vineyard, near the town of Venticano.

Food pairing: 

At the winery, owner Rosanna Petrozziello served us local roasted chestnuts, olives, and prosciutto with the Fiano. I Favati also advises that it pairs well with mixed antipasto and fish dishes “in keeping with the traditions of Mediterranean cuisine.”

I had great luck pairing the Cretarossa with cotoletta sbagliata (fried pork steak) a few nights ago. According to I Favati, this wine is ideal with red meat, roasted meat, game, and aged cheeses.

Open Tuesday has the lowest price in the U.S. on both of these wines.

I Favati - 2019 “Pietramara” Fiano di Avellino black label

13% ABV

I Favati - 2013 “Cretarossa” (Aglianico) Irpina Campi Taurasini

13.5% ABV

To order, just click the links above and follow the prompts.

Happy Tuesday,

Chris

If you have any questions or feedback, please email us: [email protected].  

How it works: 

After clicking one of the links above, you’ll be able to request 1-12 bottles. Actually, that’s all you have to do!

About a week later, when we close the offer, you’ll get an email confirming how many bottles we allocated to your account. We will charge you when the wines are allocated.

We’ll do our best to allocate all the bottles you request. But when there are more requests than bottles available, we’ll allocate one bottle to all requesting members before allocating a second bottle to anyone. We want as many members as possible to try these wines.

This is the eighth of 18 offers during the fall season. Look for our offers on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays through the first week of November.

We ship in increments of 12. With 18 offers this season, there should be plenty of chances to get to 12, 24, or 36. If you don’t have an increment of 12 at the end of the fall season offers, we can hold your wines until the next offer season – spring 2023.

Wines offered in the fall will ship in late November-early December for $5 per bottle (if you have an increment of 12.) This is about the same as the price to ship coast-to-coast within the U.S. – but our wines come directly from Italy.

Once your payment method is on file, you can make future requests with just a few clicks from the offer email. If you don’t have a card on file, you can add one during your first order. Your personal financial information is protected by Stripe.

Chris MacLean

Rob Genova

Open Tuesday Wines S.r.l.s.

Via Augusto Anfossi 19, 20135 Milano - Italy