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Tag Archives: Italy

Terravino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2001, Tuscany, Italy

18 Thursday Dec 2025

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93 points, brunello, Italy, sangiovese, tuscany


 

Deep garnet colored with definite bricking and slight traces of sediment.  A medium viscosity with some staining evident (13.5% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of prune, nuts, tobacco, stewed cassis, acai berry jam, cloves, and dried rose petals. The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are fully melded. Silky smooth- it leads to a medium (+) length finish and gets 93 points.  My buddy brought this over to pair with braised Beef shins, amazing.  I would drink this over the next few years, but no rush as it has some structure and fruit left.  Salut….

Terravino Brunello di Montalcino

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Castelli del Grevepesa Coltifredi Riserva 2020, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

04 Tuesday Nov 2025

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$25, 4 stars, 89 points, chianti classico, Italy, sangiovese, tuscany


Medium ruby fading to a watery meniscus, with slight staining, and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherry, leather, dried herbs, pomegranate, black currant, and an iron note.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that seem to dominate the mouthful.  Flavors are medium in intensity and I get dried red cherry, leather, iron, blood, dried herbs and overly dry tobacco leaf.  The finish is medium (-) in length and a touch tart.  The tannins go on for ages, drying up the gums in the process.  It’s a serviceable Sangiovese, nothing special.  A bit youthful, it will reward cellared for a few years to tame the tannic imbalance.  89 points from me for this $25 effort making it a 4 star wine.  The obvious pairing for me is pasta tonight.  Salut…..

Castelli del Grevepesa Coltifredi Riserva
Chianti Classico

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Castello di Gabbiano Cavaliere d’Oro Chianti DOCG 2021, Tuscany, Italy

27 Monday Oct 2025

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$9, 5 stars, 89 points, chianti, Italy, sangiovese, tuscany


Pale ruby colored with copper highlights, and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red raspberry, red cherry, baking spices, red currant jam, lingonberry, and wild flowers.  It’s got a bit of tertiary development starting, which excites me.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins that are a touch coarse.  The flavors are red fruit driven with some evolution already happening. The jammy/stewed note I got on the nose is evident and there is some old oak notes coming through.  There is a flowery hint alongside some spiciness.  The tannins are certainly present and keep gripping throughout the medium (-) length finish.  I’ll be honest, this is a Magnum that was on sale for $18.74, marked down from $25 at my local grocery store.  I bought it to use in a beef shin braise and obviously had to taste it.  I think it’s a nice wine, slightly unbalanced by the roughness of the tannins, but I am willing to overlook that.  I think it’s very serviceable and it gets 89 points from me.  I will be back to buy the rest before anyone else realizes that there’s some aged Chianti going cheap.  I would drink within the next three years, hopeful that the tannins meld and pair it with pasta.  5 stars believe it or not!  Salut….

Castello di Gabbiano Cavaliere d'Oro Chianti

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Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo 2022, Piedmont, Italy

12 Sunday Oct 2025

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$24, 3 stars, 87 points, Italy, langhe, nebbiolo, Piedmont


Pale ruby colored with copper highlights, and medium (-) viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red cherries, green herbs, orange peel, rose, and tobacco.  It needs coaxing.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) body, and high tannins.  The flavors are slightly more intense than the nose, yet there is a one-dimensional aspect along with some bitterness.  The tannins grip for ages, but the astringent feeling is midpalate driven and fades before the tannins.  It’s not my favorite.  The finish is medium in length and concentrates on red cherry and herbs.  I am planning on pairing it with roasted tenderloin, it should work okay as I have a Rösti on the side that might tame the tannins.  87 points from me for this $24 effort makes it a 3 star wine.  I would cellar a bottle or two and re-taste in 3-5 years.  Salut….

Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo

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Paolo Scavino Sorriso Langhe Bianco 2023, Piedmont, Italy

23 Tuesday Sep 2025

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$18, 5 stars, 91 points, chardonnay, Italy, langhe, Piedmont, Sauvignon blanc, viognier


Medium lemon colored with gold accents, and a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of lanolin, lemon pith, lime, tangerine, white grapefruit, peach, green herbs, and wet rock.  The palate is dry, with a medium (+) body and medium acidity.  The fullness of the wine detracts initially from the flavors- of which I get grapefruit, melon, peach, lemon zest, and bouquet garni.  The finish is medium (+) in length and the acidity starts to grip at that point, the fruit lingering ever so.  Delicious and pairing beautifully with roast Cod and Brussel Sprouts.  91 points for this $18 bottle makes it a 5 star effort.  A delicious un-oaked Chardonnay/SavBlanc/Viognier blend that has not gone through MLF.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Paolo Scavino Sorriso Langhe Bianco

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Castello di Monsanto ‘Fabrizio Bianchi’ Chardonnay Toscana IGT 2022, Tuscany, Italy

30 Saturday Aug 2025

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$28, 5 stars, 91 points, chardonnay, Italy, tuscany


Pale gold in color, with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lanolin, lemon pith, pink grapefruit, a touch of vanilla, melon, and straw.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body, and a hint of phenolic bitterness.  The medium (+) intensity flavors mimic the nose with the exception of the melon and straw.  I like the acidity, it’s not cutting but it builds towards the back end and leaves the palate refreshed, the weight of the body initially dragging this wine down.  I don’t sense MLF, but there is a very deft hand at play in the oak department- it’s very nicely done and not overwhelming.  The finish is medium in length and moving more toward the tart side of things.  I like this wine.  It ran me $28 and gets 91 points.  I think it has decent cellaring capacity with a drink-by date of 2035.  Five stars from me!  Pairing it with Shrimp Scampi.  Salut….


Castello di Monsanto 'Fabrizio Bianchi' Chardonnay

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Il Borgo Collinare Nero d’Avola 2023, Sicily, Italy

06 Wednesday Aug 2025

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$8, 3 stars, 85 points, Italy, nero d'avola, sicily


Medium ruby colored, with a hint of staining, and a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red currant, blood orange, white cherry, cinnamon-driven spice box, a hint of licorice, and pomegranate.  I can almost smell the acidity.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that are hitting on the upper cheeks.  Medium intensity flavors of red fruit, some spicebox and a hint of blood orange peel.  The finish is a zesty affair with the acidity firing on all cylinders.  It finishes a medium (-) length without much fanfare.  It’s a basic, everyday bottle that runs $8 and gets 85 points from me.  Drink sooner rather than later, this 3 star effort is made from organic grapes.  Salut….

il borgo collinare nero d'avola

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Fattoria della Talosa Vin Santo di Montepulciano Occhio di Pernice 1996, Tuscany, Italy

07 Monday Jul 2025

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$45, 5 stars, 94 points, dessert wine, Italy, sangiovese, tuscany, vin santo


It’s called Occhio di Pernice, which means Eye of the Partridge- relating to the deep amber color.  This one has a slight haze due to non-filtration and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of walnuts, prunes, candied orange peel, salty caramel, Seaspray, and spun honey.  It’s quite complex. The palate is sweet, with a full body and medium (+) acidity.  The flavors are intense and mirror the nose.  It’s quite an unctuous drop packed full of flavors that layer on themselves.  The sweetness is balanced by the juicy acidity.  This wine begs for a stinky Blue Cheese or super ripe Brie.  The finish is long and silky.  What a treat.  We paid $45 ex-chateau for this 94 pointer that makes it worthy of 5 stars.  It’s just being released after 29 years- shockingly good stuff.  Made predominantly from Sangiovese grapes made in the Vin Santo method.  Drink till 2040.  Salut….

talosa occhio di pernice vin santo di Montepulciano

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Tralci Hirpini Irpinia Campi Taurasini 2019, Taurasi, Italy

09 Friday May 2025

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$25, 4 stars, 91 points, aglianico, Italy, taurasi


Medium garnet colored, with a medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium  intensity aromas of desiccated cherry, strawberry and rhubarb crumble, chocolate powder, fig, dates, and Maduro leaf.  It’s developing nicely, if not a touch fast.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are fully integrated.  Medium intensity flavors of mulled cherry, baked rhubarb, fig, chocolate, dates and tobacco.  The finish is super smooth, with a touch of tartness keeping things fresh while the primary fruit flavors meld with the tertiary development nicely.  It’s a tasty drop, but I feel it is at peak and needs to be drunk sooner rather than later.  91 points from me for this Aglianico.  It runs $25 and gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Tralci Hirpini
Irpinia Campi Taurasini

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Cantine del Notaio Il Sigillo 2011, Basilicata, Italy

24 Monday Mar 2025

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$80, 5 stars, 94 points, Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy, VWTC


The star of the 39th virtual wine tasting was this mature Aglianico.  Deep garnet colored with definitive bricking, slight staining, and medium viscosity (14%V ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of prune, dried nuts, desiccated cherry, swisher sweet cigars, raisins, musty barnyard, leather, and Absinthe.  The plate was dry with medium (-) acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins that were fully integrated.  Sipping this wine was ethereal- the flavors echoed the nose and the silky presentation had a long finish.  I would not cellar this wine any further as it’s at peak/slightly past peak and needs to be enjoyed to its fullest now.  A perfect 20 points were awarded by more than one taster and I gave this $80 bottle 94 points.  A super treat to drink this 5 star effort.  Salut….

Cantine del Notaio Il Sigillo 
Aglianico

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