Italian Wine of the Marche, Full of Passion and Pleasure, Wines of Saladini Pilastri

Imagine yourself in the beautiful Marche region of Italy, looking out over the glistening Adriatic sea. Evening comes and you wander down the path from your villa to a candlelit trattoria where you are offered a bottle wine from a local vineyard that is just a few kilometers away. 

Those were my thoughts as I savored the wines of Saladini Pilastri so wonderfully presented by Pietro PiccFound these wines at Stew Leonard's in Paramus, such amazing valueioni during an intimate tasting this week.

Like most Italian wines, these of the Marche have distinct characteristics. I particularly enjoyed a white wine, new to me, called Offida Pecorino. Pecorino is not just cheese but also  the name of a grape and the DOC where it is grown. We also had another beautiful white and two fabulous reds.

Pecarino is native to Marche and Abruzzo and dates back to Roman times. It is a low-yielding grape that ripens early and is best at high altitudes. The wines of this grape are wonderfully aromatic and have rich fruity flavors with hints of citrus fruits, white peach, sage, jasmine and acacia and nutty character. Wonderful. It would be perfect with rich seafood and chicken dishes and pastas.

The second wine was a white called Falerio dei Colli Ascolani, made of "ancient mixture of grapes from Trebbiano, Passerina and Pecorino." Very satisfying and unique in flavor.

We also tasted two of Saladini Pilastri's red wines. First Rosso Piceno Superiore Vigna Montetinello which is done in a classic Italian method, aged in large  barrels. I loved this wine for its rich complex and silky flavors. Not overpowering, a perfect food wine.

The second red was Rosso Piceno Superiore "Vigna Monteprandone."

Both these wines are a blend of the classic Italian Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes. This one is made of grapes of older vineyards and is aged in small barrels, Bariques, of French Oak.

As the wine maker says "Opulent aromas with layers of black cherry, mulberry and prune, eastern spice and liquorice. Beautiful textured." Would be great with grilled meats or hearty stews.

The history of the estate which is owned by Count Saladini Pilastri dates back to the year 1000; a noble family from Ascoli Piceno which has a story right out of an Italian history book their ancestors were priests and leaders who treasured and preserved the quality of the land.

In a few days we will post abut another vineyard of this region, Fratelli Barba.