| 2008 Veglio Barbera d Alba |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 92
Tasting Note:
Grown not only in Italy’s Piedmont (or Piemonte) but also in California’s Shenandoah Valley, in North Carolina, now in North Georgia and even in Argentina, Barbera makes a dry red wine with soft tannins and good fruit. Grown both in Alba, like this example, and in Asti, also located in the Piemonte, and it‘s D.O.C. for both, Barbera is one of Italy’s classic grape types. Medium-bodied with a medium-deep purple red color, this example shows aromas and flavors that portray black plums and black currants, and tannins are soft and easy. Moderate alcohol, 13%, helps it to go with food or to work as an aperitif wine. Best served cool, at about 62-65F/16-17C, in a medium-sized tulip-shaped glass.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Pâté forestière; bresaola, sorpressata and other cured meats; cold grilled chicken and roasted red peppers; caponata (eggplant, tomato, olives and peppers, served room temperature); muffaletta; roast chicken; chicken livers sautéed with prosciutto and red wine; grilled mild Italian sausage; Sicilian-style lasagna (just meat and tomato).
Distributors:
Bacco Fine Wine
$15.00 |
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| 2010 Castello Monaci Liante Salice Salentino |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 86
Tasting Note:
The “heel” on the “boot” of Italy, the Salentino peninsula in Puglia on Italy’s Adriatic coast is the home of this robust, full-bodied dry red wine. The blend is classic for the region: Negroamaro (80%) and Malvasia nera (20%), thus the wine is D.O.C. Its barely translucent cherry red color lies nicely on the eye. Red fruits and brown baking spices shape the aromas. The palate shows easy, fairly uncomplicated fruit with a fair finish. Supple tannins. The “Liante” is the wind of the Levant that blows icy cold in winter and hot in summer as it comes across the Adriatic. A very good value.
Suggested Food Pairings:
A bit finicky with food–great with some things; ok with others and not real good with a lot of dishes. Pâté forestière (splendid); grilled cider-brined pork chop (Pine Street Market); caponata (a winner); eggplant dishes with tomato; grilled chicken with pimientos; meat ravioli with tomato sauce; cannelini beans either as a salad or cooked with a piece of ham or not-too-spicy sausage; grilled mild Italian sausage; Mediterranean chicken pie with tomato; chicken cacciatore.
Distributors:
Georgia Crown
$14.00 |
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| 2007 Apollonio Rocca dei Mori Copertino Rosso |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 90
Tasting Note:
Two classic Italian grape types compose this medium-bodied, aromatic wine from Apulia (Puglia): Nero Amaro (70%) and Montepulciano (30%). A nearly opaque dark purple color leads to aromatic black fruits and spice, hinting of black plums and black pepper, with a gratifying, warm earthiness to boot. On the palate, the black fruits continue to dominate, adding suggestions of black cherry and other spices. Tannins are round and fruit-derived. The fruit-filled character of the wine is enhanced by serving it at cool temperatures. Well-integrated and -balanced, the wine is a good food companion but also pleases as an aperitif. This label carries the designation “Denominazione Origine Protetta.“ Suggest decanting 30 minutes or so before serving.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Pâté forestière; peppered bresaola; meat-and-tomato sauce lasagna; chicken cacciatore; hunter-style salami (cacciatore); cannelini bean stew or salad; Mediterranean chicken pie with tomato; grilled chicken with roasted red peppers; caponata; stromboli; lasagna with meat and tomato sauce; Parmigiano Reggiano.
Distributors:
Bacco Fine Wine
$17.00 |
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| 2009 Picchierri Gaetano & Sons Vermiglio Primitivo del Tarantino |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 87
Tasting Note:
Primitivo, once thought to be Zinfandel’s parent and now considered its cousin, is typically associated with the Salento Peninsula in southeast Italy. But this example was produced from grapes grown in the Tarantino, so it’s an I.G.T. A barely translucent purple red color introduces the wine, which presents aromas of dried dark fruits (a slight whiff of raisin) and a palate that engages with supple tannins and clean pure dark fruit, with a slight hint of raisin and spice. Easy to drink, this Primitivo is not as is jaw-breaking as its Zinfandel cousin tends to be, nor, at 12.5%, as alcoholic. Very fine everyday wine.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Pâté forestière (coarse-textured with mushrooms, more like a terrine); cacciatore salami (hunter-style) from The Spotted Trotter; caponata, roasted olives with lemon (E. 48th St. Market), grilled chicken with peppers (cold as a salad); sorpressata and other cured meats; Italian sausage and peppers; cannelini bean salad; Greek-style lamb sausage; lentil salad; curried chick peas (not hot) and rice; Mediterranean chicken pot pie with tomato (Whole Foods); pizza with spinach and feta (Whole Foods); chicken cacciatore; Parmigiano Reggiano.
Distributors:
Empire Distributing
$16.00 |
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| 2008 Provenza Negresco D.O.C. |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 91
Tasting Note:
Designated by the producer a “Classico Rosso,” this full-bodied dry red is a bowl of fruit from classic grapes grown near Lake Garda in the Lugana region in northern Italy (Lombardy, capital Milano): Groppello, 40%; Marzemino, 20%; Sangiovese, 20%, and Barbera 20%. The wine is D.O.C. Garda. All grapes are co-fermented on the skins for a long period, then aged in medium and large barriques (250-500 ml). The producer considers this a “New World” style of wine. It shows an inky deep dark, almost black purple color. A fine perfume of dark fruits with some floral notes shapes the aromas, while on the palate, dark fruits and brown spices intermingle. Soft tannins make this a wine for all sorts of palate preferences. Fantastic aperitif wine. The wine has a definite preference for delicately flavored foods:
Suggested Food Pairings:
Sorpressata, roast chicken with buttermilk mashed potatoes and natural jus; tortellini salad diced salami and a light vinaigrette; mushroom-filled ravioli with olive oil and minced fresh Italian parsley; roast beef; stuffed flank steak or top round, vegetable-topped pizza.
Distributors:
Prime Wine & Spirits
$33.00 |
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| 2006 Cantina Val di Neto Mutro Melissa Rosso Superiore |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 88
Tasting Note:
Each region of Italy has grapes that are classic to that zone. In Calabria, the “toe” of Italy’s “boot,” Galioppo (75%) and Greco nero (25%) grow to make this wine, a D.O.C. wine for this region. Medium-bodied with a deep, dark, opaque ruby red color, the wine emits a rich, ripe red fruit character, strawberries and cherries, with hints of tar. Sweet red fruit shapes the palate, which presents soft tannins, well integrated with the fruit.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Loves spice: paprika-rich cacciatore; pâté forestière; peppered bresaola; roasted black olives with lemon (E. 48th Street Market); Mediterranean chicken pie with tomato (Whole Foods); meat-filled ravioli or simple lasagna with tomato sauce; Greek-style lamb sausage; cider-brined pork chop (Pine Street Market); legume-based dishes; crumbed baked chicken breast; barbecue-sauced wings.
Distributors:
Artisan Wines
$23.00 |
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| 2010 Sensi Celliere Chianti Colli Senesi |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 90
Tasting Note:
Forget what you’ve ever thought about Chianti if all you know is the one that comes in basket bottles. The real deal is a whole different experience altogether. This one, a D.O.C.G., is entirely composed of Sangiovese, with nothing else blended in as has been historically traditional. Aromas of red cherries with spice notes shape the first impression; while on the palate spice, red fruits and black tea notes harmonize. Tannins are firm but not aggressive, and lend ample weight and structure to the wine, yet the mouthfeel is silky. The finish is remarkably long and keeps the tannins in perspective. Likely a good choice for cellaring at cool temperatures for long keeping. An all-purpose wine, this Chianti will pair well with a wide variety of foods. Extraordinary value–so good I triple-checked the price.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Robustly flavored chicken liver terrine; vegetable-topped pizza; black olives; sorpressata; bresaola with black pepper; sausage and peppers; muffaletta; meat-filled ravioli with tomato sauce and freshly grated Parmesan cheese; roasted red meats; furred game.
Distributors:
Bacco Fine Wine
$12.00 |
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| 2008 Conti degli Azzoni Rosso Cantalupo Marche |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 94
Tasting Note:
In central Italy, the Marche (or Marshes) is a hilly region that faces the Adriatic Sea, and these grapes come from vineyards there, so we‘d have to call it a “Super Marche.” Composed of Merlot (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Sangiovese (20%), this I.G.T. dry red wine shows a nearly opaque dark red color. Aromas settle on red and dark fruits, with raspberry characters in the lead. The palate shows rich, ripe dark fruits, very firm tannins derived from fruit and a long, fruit-filled finish. Just about perfect balance. For this big a wine, with alcohol at 14%, it’s surprising to get no sense of heat from alcohol at all. Lovely stuff.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Italian hunter-style salami (cacciatore); pâté forestière (more like a terrine in texture) with mushrooms–perhaps the best pairing with this dish; caponata; peppered bresaola; Italian shredded beef with tomato, peppers and cheese; lightly curried garbanzo beans and tomato over rice; Greek-style lamb sausage; lasagna with meat tomato sauce; Mediterranean chicken pie (Whole Foods); chicken cacciatore; grilled steak with morel stew; mushroom ravioli with Marsala sauce; cannelini bean salad with tomatoes and a light vinaigrette.
Distributors:
Big Boat Wine Co.
$30.00 |
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| 2008 Piazzo Barbaresco |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 90
Tasting Note:
Is there any grape more classic to Italy than Nebbiolo? This is the classic grape of Barbaresco, a grape of ultimate refinement and elegance. Also grown in California (Shenandoah Valley), where it makes more robust wines, in Italy it promises and delivers restrained good taste. This medium-bodied dry red wine presents a translucent garnet red color and aromas that blend red fruit with floral notes. On the palate elegant red fruit flavors present a refined, well-integrated, balanced taste framed by supple tannins. This wine has good potential for cellaring at cool temperatures over the next half dozen years or so.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Refined flavors: Creamy liver mousse; roast chicken; simple tomato lasagna; roasted veal with mushrooms; crumbed sweetbreads; snail ragout (but not with a lot of garlic); roast pork tenderloin.
Distributors:
Ultimate Distributing
$30.00 |
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| 2010 Lovatti Brolo Valsorda Rosso del Veneto |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 89
Tasting Note:
Merlot blends 50-50 with Sangiovese to produce a medium-bodied dry red wine from the Veneto (thus Indicazione Geografica Tipica or I.G.T.) that shows a translucent garnet red color. The fruity aroma, enhanced by serving the wine at cool room temperatures, leans into red fruits and spice. The palate offers well-integrated red fruits, with plenty of mid palate, and a long clean finish.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Happy with a wide variety of foods. Pork terrine forestière (with mushrooms); black olives, grilled chicken breast strips with peppers; eggplant and tomato (caponata); muffaletta; cured meats–bresaola, sorproessata; shredded beef with peppers and cheese (the E. 48th-St. Market’s “East Sider” sandwich); roast chicken or Cornish game hen; Greek-style lamb sausage; pizza with veggies or with feta cheese and spinach; chicken cacciatore; stromboli with meat and cheese; grilled sausages.
Distributors:
Allgood Distributing
$13.00 |
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| 2009 Brancatelli Val del Sogno |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 94
Tasting Note:
Here is a true Super Tuscan, blending Cabernet Sauvignon 80% and Cabernet Franc 20% from Tuscany, so it bears the I.G.T. designation. Not a drop of classic Italian grapes. Full-bodied with a deep inky-black red color, the wine launches with a magnificent aroma of myriad black fruits, from plum to cassis. On the palate, the substantial tannins are quite supple for a wine this young supple, making a tasting experience that is well integrated and balanced from start to finish. And speaking of the finish, it’s long and full of rich fruit. Overall, if one word comes to mind with this wine, it’s exactly that: rich. But not over the top, the wine retains a great measure of elegance. The 2007 is still on the shelves and delivers a similar taste profile. Decant for about an hour ahead of serving. Worth its cost.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Elegant but full-flavored fare: Pâté of black olives; terrines of game or other rich meats; roast leg of lamb, rack of lamb or grilled lamb steak, Wagyu prime rib or steak; roast duck, game, chicken cacciatore; meat-filled ravioli with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese; simple lasagna, Parmigiano Reggiano.
Distributors:
Prime Wine & Spirits
$75.00 |
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| 2007 Perazzeta Maestro Sanguineti Caruso |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 88
Tasting Note:
Talk about your basic fruit salad!!! These grapes come from from multiple locations all over Italy. The composition is Sangiovese (50%–the grape of Tuscany), Nero d’Avola (20%–representing Sicilia); Corvina (14%–normally found in Valpolicella); Syrah (10%) and Rondiinella (6%–also one of the grapes of Valpolicella). Although technically not able to be vintage dated as the wine is sourced from multiple locations, making it a vino da tavola, it is in fact from the 2007 vintage (see the back label). One might think of this wine as a “Super Italian.“ Moreover, four different winemakers collaborated on this project. Medium-bodied with an opaque purple red color, the wine opens with aromas of dried and cooked dark fruit and sun-baked tar. Fresh dark fruits grip the palate, and tannins are soft and supple. The alcohol isn’t very high by the numbers (13.9%) but there is heat in the finish. Cool temperatures will temper this somewhat, as will the presence of rich food.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Coarse-textured terrines with mushrooms (pâté forestière); sorpressata; roasted black olives with lemon; Parmigiano Reggiano; simple tomato meat lasagna; cider-brined pork chop (Pine Street Market); chicken cacciatore; meat ravioli with tomato sauce; meat pies. Winery suggests fillet mignon, grilled portobello mushrooms with balsamic and veal scallopini.
Distributors:
Con Vinum/Eagle Rock
$19.00 |
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| 2008 Musella Amarone della Valpolicella D.O.C.G. |
| Review Date – 9/1/2012 |
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Score – 93
Tasting Note:
Amarone–a word that embraces the word “amaro,” meaning “bitter”-is one of the classic red wines of the Veneto. The grapes are the usual ones that compose a Valpolicella, namely: Molinara, Corvina and Rondinella, For Amarone, however, they are dried (passito). This example doesn’t provide the often raisened character associated with the genre, but instead is an elegant, refined interpretation of Amarone. When first opened, it seems shy and introspective. About 30 minutes later, it explodes with fine aromatics, embracing spice and black fruits. On the palate, silky tannins frame well-integrated black fruits, yielding an overall elegant impression despite high alcohol (16%), making it very important to cool the temperature down. Decanting about 15-30 minutes before serving is a wise plan. Worth cellaring if proper temperatures and conditions can be maintained.
Suggested Food Pairings:
Awesome with so many foods: Black olives; pork terrine forestière (amazing) bresaola (perhaps the best pairing with this air-dried peppered beef); grilled lamb steak, roast rack of lamb; shredded beef with tomato; salt-crusted beef roast cooked rare; barley risotto with braised lamb; game; rabbit braised with prunes, roast turkey, duck or goose. End the meal with a plate of cubed Parmigiano Reggiano. To die for with this wine.
Distributors:
Ultimate Distributing
$45.00 |
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