BON GIORNO, CENNATOIO!!

These great wines will be arriving soon -- we just ordered a shipment of the fabulous collection of wines by Cennatoio, super quality Italian wines in a great new vintage.

That's right, the wines you loved last year, which sold out so quickly, are back ... Cennatoio Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Reserva, E, O'Leandro, Mammolo, Innominato, Etrusco, Rosso Fiorentino, Arcibaldo and now three new favorites -- Occhio Di Pernice, Uvae and Liuto.

As good as these wines were last year, by our initial tastings, this years vintage is better. We have been very favorably impressed by the excellent fresh fruit of the Chianti Classico, the smooth, well balanced taste of the Innominato and the rich, full complexity of the Liuto. We sampled the Uvae Vinsanto Del Chianti Classico earlier this summer and we very impressed by the dry, smooth raisin and honey taste of this superb dessert wine.

Remember what happened last year, when our favorites sold out quickly, and stop by soon for the best selection. We are sampling one or two of the wines at each of our Saturday tastings, and at the tastings those wines are 20% off by the bottle. Cennatoio wines are always offered at wholesale prices direct to you, a tremendous 25% off by the case. At these prices it is no wonder that wines like those from Cennatoio go very quickly.

Bob and Al first visited the Cennatoio wine estate in 2000, and were immediately struck by the stupendous view of the Chianti countryside, with its green hills blanketed by vineyards and olive orchards and dotted by churches, castles and scattered stands of mighty oaks.

The premium vineyards at Cennatoio, separated by olive orchards, cover a total of 10 hectares (24.7 acres) and enjoy highly favorable exposure. The 600 olive trees are young, since the old orchards were devastated by a cold wave in January 1985. Those trees were a vital element of the estate's economy and the Tuscan countryside, and their fruit provides premium quality extra virgin olive oil, also available at Orleans Wine & Spirits.

The soil, which is rocky and hard to work, and the estate's southern exposure, are ideal for grape varieties like Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. These natural factors, plus the estates use of organic farming techniques, contribute to the production of fine, robust wines. Cennatoio uses only natural fertilizers and avoids herbicides to prevent losses among the bee population. The property has an orchard that yields various fruits from spring to autumn and a garden containing all types of herbs.

The Cennatoio wine estate has been managed by Leandro and Gabriella Alessi since 1971 and now their son, Emiliano, serves as marketing and export manager. Cennatoio takes great pride in its winemaking, featuring new cellars with oak casks, French barriques and tonneaux, as well as modern vats. There is a vinsanteria (Vinsanto aging room) in addition to the old cellars.

Cennatoio Vineyards are located in the heart of Chianti Classico

This area, which is rich in ancient and refined crafts, like the art of vinification, is the appropriate setting for an enterprise that, over time, has fused historic tradition with the vitality of man's labors.