December 2016 Domestic Wine: 2012 Scotto Family Cellars NAPA by N.A.P.A. ‘Michael’s Red’ Napa Valley, California
fine Wine Source Wine Club
December 2016
Scotto Family Cellars: The Scotto Family traces its winemaking history back to the 1880’s when their great, great grandfather Salvatore Scotto was an officer in the Italian Navy on the island of Ischia, off the coast of Italy. Salvatore made wine for his family, friends, and neighbors. In 1903 their great grandfather Dominic Scotto and his family immigrated to New York and settled in a Brooklyn brownstone, not too far from the docks where he worked in the shipyards. He taught his sons to make wine, which they sold in 5 gallon crocks from a horse drawn wagon. In 1909 he opened D. Scotto Wines in downtown Brooklyn, offering fine wines from around the world. Their grandfather’s wine career started in 1934 with the repeal of Prohibition when he began selling gallon jugs of his father’s wine from a pushcart. He and his brother Sal also created the Villa Armando brand, and the bestselling wine ‘Rustico.’ Today it is one of the oldest wine brands in the US. The 4th generation began when their father Anthony Jr. started as a teenager making wine and eventually began a winery owner, exporter, and consultant. Today the brothers and sisters of the Scotto Family still produce Villa Armando and other brands that they sell domestically and overseas.
About: This is the first Napa Valley release from Anthony Scotto. The N.A.P.A. portion of the wine’s name represents the 5th generation of Scotto vintners: Brothers and sisters Natalie, Anthony, Paul, and Anne. Michael’s Red is named for the youngest brother, who recently joined the family business. The grapes were harvested by hand and the wine was aged in new and second year oak barrels for 21 months (48% toasted French oak, 40% American oak, and 12% Hungarian oak).
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Barbera, Syrah, and Merlot (unspecified amounts)
Alcohol: 13.9%
Tasting Notes: Michael’s Red is a full bodied wine with intense color, concentrated dark fruit flavors, and moderate oak accents & tannins that develop and become more pronounced after a few minutes in the glass.
Food Pairings: From Pizza and Pasta to a nice juicy steak this deep red will pair well with hearty winter comfort foods from stews and roasts to burgers and deli meats.
Jim Lutfy’s Thoughts: Big and juicy red! Great wine served with BBQ or a big juicy hamburger!