Mauro talks as much with his hands as he does with his mouth. I love his gentle and warm smile. I always enjoy my time spent with him tasting his wines that we always have some of at any given point and time at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits where I have now managed the wine department in Cleveland Park N.W. Washington D.C. our nation's capitol for more than ten years.
I have already blogged about Mauro on two or three occasions. Use this search engine above and use the words Mauro and Michael Downey portfolio tastings to find them.
I first met Mauro and his young son at one of these Michael Downey portfolio annual wine-tastings in North Arlington, Virginia maybe five years- six years ago? That was the beginning for us of a beautiful relationship ...
I met Mauro then again two years ago with his young daughter at another Downey annual portfolio tasting. All these I have blogged about and included pictures here at chatwine.blogspot.com. Check them out.
I also met him perhaps three years ago with his good friend at LA SLINA ( they make the " Bianco " dry white wine together ) at another Downey portfolio tasting and they both came to Cleveland Park to do an in-store/wine-tasting of their wines for our customers.
I perhaps like best the dry red Monferrato blend from Mauro the very best if I had to pick just one of his wines to take to a dessert island or to enjoy at my death bed. This " Boci " at $16.49 is pretty amazing : it's got it all : highs and lows and everything in between : earthy, beefy, meaty, muscular, authentic, balanced, oodles of flavors that just keep coming : and fabulous with a meal. It shines with food! Cheers and bravo Mauro.
Having said this Mauro makes a whole selection of wines for all purposes. Classic in style and true to the regions that they are from and almost always best with food.
You need to rush down to Cleveland Park to pick some up and check them out. Great when you grill : great when you marinate and season well your dishes.
But even some bread and prosciutto and some cheese would more than suffice when enjoying these ANTICHI GIOCHI Piemontese dry reds and whites and later the two sweet Malvasia reds of Sulin and Voulet ...
Go Mauro! Never stop speaking with your hands : I love it, really I do.
May I have some more of the LA SLINA " Bianco " Mauro?
It was great to see Mauro once again. He poured many of his wines : ANTICHI GIOCHI Piemonte " GIABINE " 2008 CHARDONNAY ( $15.49), ANTICHI GIOCHI " BOCI " DRY RED PIEMONTE BLEND " Monferrato ( $16.49), ANTICHI GIOCHI " Tambass " Barbera del Monferrato2008( $15.49), ANTICHI GIOCHI " Voulet " Casorzo Piemonte off-dry Malvasia red( $15.49 ) and the LA SLINA dry white blend 2009 " Bianco " ( $10.99) that he makes with his good friend Giorgio, owner of LA SLINA and that hates flying ( so he has only come once here for the Downey portfolio tasting where Mauro has come three or more times already! We sell all these wines of Mauro and of Giorgio. Together they did a great in-store/wine-tasting here a couple of years ago at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits.
We always have a selection of both of Mauro's ANTICHI GIOCHI ( all the labels celebrate different local sports played in Piemonte, Italy where Mauro and his family are from ) and of Giorgio's LA SLINA wines in the store. They both came and tasted with our customers three years ago ( I think it was three or two years ago? ) and they make excellent wines and so they are now " family". You can email us or call us at Cleveland Park to see what we currently have. We may also call Brennan Downey anytime to order any wines that they have in their warehouse and that we are currently out of.
Pouring and talking with his hands as well as his mouth : Mauro does it with seriousness, authority, conviction, a smile, in style and it's always a great pleasure to be around him and to taste his wines. Grazie Mauro, Caio e a presto, TONY
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