Crying Out Loud!! Weepy Italian Grapes! Luciano Landi Lacrima di Morro d'Alba 2007

Have you ever taken one of those tests that try to determine what grape you would be based on your personality?  If you are moody and reclusive then you'd be a Pinot Noir.  If you are sassy and dynamic maybe you'd be Syrah.  Well if you are Italian, fruity and floral with a tendancy to cry; you'd be Lacrima di Morro d'Alba.      What's that you say?? You've never heard of that grape?  Lacrima di Morro d'Alba. Quite a mouthful!  I've provided a map here for you so you can see that it's the commune of Morro d'Alba located in the province of Ancona... Le Marche!! Yes, blog followers - you know this Central Italian region!!  It's home to Verdicchio.    It's also casa dolce casa for some pretty interesting and oft overlooked red wines.  Lacrima di Morro d'Alba is just one of them.  Some of you have heard Alba in relation to Piedmont like Barbera D'Alba.  This is a different Alba all together.  This is a different Alba.

Lacrima means tear (boo-hoo not riiiiip) it Italian.  No one is sure if this alludes to the tear shaped bunch that the grapes form, (I have a picture up there, what do you think?)  or the driblets of juice that run out of the ripe grapes could resembles tears as well. That is the thought behind another tearful, cry-baby, Italian varietal in the south called Lacryma Christi.  Whatever the folklore, it makes for one tasty vino. 

Once you have smelled Lacrima di Morro d'Alba (from now on LDMDA) you will always remember it.  LDMDA is distinct and difficult to pin down. It is a fresh and fruit driven wine with very aromatic qualitites.  As I have been reading I see a lot of people compare it to Gewurtztraminer. I see where they are going with it.  There is a rose-petal quality in the wine.  It is also reminiscent of Gamay with it's fruity/floral dynamic in its youth.  I love the saturated purple color of it and the intriguing nose.  Oh, it's also pretty lip-smackingly delicious in an uncomplicated and perfectly satisfying way.  It was awarded DOC status in 1985.

One website says that it should be paired with stuffed pigeon, tripe with beans, and tortino di ciccioli but alas I was on a buiness trip and only had Panera's black bean soup.  It wasn't a difficult feat to outshine that sludgy soup.  It certianly brightened up my dinner even senza the tripe accommpaniment. 

This is really a fantastic grape to experience.  If you see it in the store, snatch it up!  I grabbed mine off the shelf for a mere $16.99.  Well worth it.  Since I have been out there in the northeast peeking into various wine stores, there is definetly a shortage of Italian wines from Le Marche and Umbria.  I know i am senstive because I was just there, but these wine store owners only think people want to buy wine from Piedmont and Tuscany.   We have to show them that we want some variety!! Si si si!!

color - grape juice purple

nose - rose petals, orange peel, blueberry pie filling, cinnamon, grape soda
palate - raspberry, blueberry, boysenberry