Tag Archives: Italy

Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012, Tuscany, Italy

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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Pale to medium garnet colored with medium tanning and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of tobacco, leather, tar, ripe cherries, prunes, a medicinal note, crushed/dried rose petals,  spice, and tamarind. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body and medium tannins that are fully integrated. Medium (+) intensity flavors confirm the nose, especially that tamarind note that I got. It’s quite silky and quite high in acidity. A cherry note hits on the back end where the finish is medium in length. This is a decent Brunello. Nothing major. It gets 90 points for me. At $40 for newer vintages, it’s a 4 star effort.  Drink till 2032.

Bonacchi Podere Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino

Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio 2023, Alto Adige Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

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This Pinot Grigio from Trento-Doc was served both chilled and at room temperature at the 42nd virtual wine tasting.  The tasters found it to be pale lemon in color with low viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Medium intensity aromas and flavors of unripe pear, lemon rind, a mineral twist and green apple.  It was dry, with medium (+) acidity and a medium (-) body.  The finish was medium (-) in duration and unremarkable.  The room temperature version was just flatter, less intense and felt heavier on the body with lower acidity.  I vacillated between 87 and 89 points so the average rules here- 88 points for this $19 bottle makes it a 3 star wine.  I would drink in the short term.  Salut….

Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan Tradition Pinot Grigio

Grifone Primitivo 2024, Puglia IGT, Italy

05 Thursday Feb 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, a bluish edge, and medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red plum, acai berry, bramble berry, vanilla pod, coffee, baking spices, and old oak.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium (-) tannins.  It’s a very soft mouthfeel.  Medium intensity flavors of plum, vanilla, spice box, acai berry, and white pepper.  The finish of this Zinfandel, (Yes, it’s labeled Primitivo- same thing), is medium in length and retains the freshness of the acidity I got on the initial attack.  It’s a very smooth affair, albeit rather plain.  It defies the American Zin norms of being overripe, jammy and high in alcohol- this one is far more subtle, restrained in heat and certainly balanced.  I paid $7 or so at Trader Joes, what a bargain!  I think it’s worthy of 88 points,  therefore making it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

Grifone Primitivo Puglia

Grifone ‘1967’ Toscana IGT Rosso 2021, Tuscany, Italy

03 Tuesday Feb 2026

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Medium ruby colored, with slight staining, and a low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of rhubarb, pomegranate, black cherry, green herbs, and licorice.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of black cherry, rhubarb, and pomegranate lead to a medium (-) finish.  I was not expecting much from this $7 bottle from Trader Joes, but find it to be a very serviceable weekday quaffer that gets 86 points from me, earning it 4 stars.  At 6 years of age, it’s time to drink up.  Mostly Sangiovese, with a dash of Cab Sav and a sprinkle of Syrah.  Salut….

Grifone '1967' Toscana IGT Rosso

G.D. Vajra Albe 2020, Barolo DOCG, Italy

01 Sunday Feb 2026

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Pale ruby colored with a medium viscosity (14% ABV). The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of cherry, some herbs, pomegranate and old wood. There’s really not much there for me. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body, and medium (+) tannins. Medium (-) intensity flavors of cherry, herbs, pomegranate and railroad ties. The finish is very juicy, but lacking in much depth of flavor. This is the second time I’ve had this wine with consistent notes of being underwhelmed. 85 points. I don’t get it.  At $35, it’s a 2 star wine in my books.  Salut….

G.D. Vajra Albe Barolo

Rosa dell’Olmo 2021, Barolo DOCG Piedmont, Italy

30 Tuesday Dec 2025

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Pale ruby-red colored, with high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black cherry, rose petal, pomegranate, smoke, a hint of licorice, and leather.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and high tannins that are still young and gritty.  Medium (+) intensity flavors embody the fruit but really highlight the old oak aging.  The tannins grip for days yet allow for a decently long finish with fruit and secondary notes present.  The cherry and leather dominate.  It’s a young wine for sure, with loads of cellaring capacity yet it could be drunk soon if decanted/aerated.  I think it is worthy of 91 points and available for $30 which makes it a 5 star effort in my books.  Drink from 2028-2035.  Salut….

Rosa dell'Olmo Barolo

Terravino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2001, Tuscany, Italy

18 Thursday Dec 2025

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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

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

04 Tuesday Nov 2025

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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

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

27 Monday Oct 2025

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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

Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo 2022, Piedmont, Italy

12 Sunday Oct 2025

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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