Building Trust Bottle by Bottle
Scott Jove knows the star of the show.
As the President of Shaw-Ross International Importers, the company’s stamp on the back of a bottle is a guarantee the wine had been well vetted.
When working with fine wines, Jove said it’s all about the name on the front of the bottle.
Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi, President of Frescobaldi Group, and 30th generation winemaker.
“At end of the day our name on the label assures the consumer can stand by a quality assurance,” Jove said. “The rock star is the winery, the producer and the label.”
Three recently tasted stellar wines imported by Shaw-Ross illustrate the depth and deliciousness of its global portfolio.
The Marques de Riscal, Baron de Chirel Reserva 2016 ($95) was a dark ruby color in the glass. There were ripe plum, cinnamon stick and leather aromas on the nose. Ripe plum, raspberry compote, juicy black berry fruit flavors and a dark chocolate and coffee bean mixture swooped in on the finish. A big, bold and fun, yet well balanced wine with well integrated tannins.
The Spanish wine, a tempranillo-based blend, had similar traits to the best bold and juicy wines from Paso Robles; broad shouldered yet well balanced.
Another piece of the import portfolio is Seña, the brilliant Bordeaux-blend project from Chile founded by a pair of winemaker visionaries Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi.
A red blend with an Old School personality and New World flavors. The Sena Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($125) with spice rack on the nose, ground cinnamon, anise and Chinese Five spice. The cherry and black cherry fruit flavors are light and yield to a cedar note with a dusty tannin that is both elegant and enticing.
As for Italy, Shaw-Ross has Tuscany covered with Frescobaldi. With eight estates spread throughout Tuscany, the legendary producer is a bastion for fine wines from the area.
The Frescobaldi, Tenute Perano Chianti Classico 2017 ($28) had black cherry, cedar and a loamy earth on the nose. Flavors of cherry, pine needle, and balsamic emerged on the medium bodied red.
As domestic wine consumers become more educated and adventurous in their consumption habits, a trusted importer can lead to the discovery of wines from different countries.
“The U.S. consumer strives for wine knowledge,” Jove said. “They enjoy wine over a meal with friends or in asocial setting. In my opinion they all would love to learn more about wine than they currently know.”
How does that happen?
“The majority aren’t going to take wine classes,” Jove said. ‘“But, they are wiling to go through discovery with friends and family. As interesting wines from reputable, prestigious, overseas regions are introduced, they are going to enjoy them and become more fond and curious about that region.”