Tag Archives: Italy

Molino di Sant’Antimo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014, Tuscany, Italy

06 Monday Apr 2020

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I have become more and more enamored with Brunellos and more importantly the Sangiovese grape of late.  I find it a very close parallel to Pinot Noir, which has also risen in my interest.  This particular wine is see-through and a light shade of purple.  The nose is somewhat muted but I do get some stewed cherry and not much else.The palate is quite lithe with some delicate cherry notes, a touch of cinnamon and some fruit cake.  It is very shallow on the flavor depth which makes me wonder if I have an off bottle.  The acidity is of medium strength and there are some very light tannins that appear on the mid palate.  The finish is mainly Kirsch and some mushroom, bacon and forest floor.  It gets better but I am a little surprised at the high scores from some pros versus the lower scores of others.  I am going with 88 for this particular bottle but will try another one soon to check on provenance.  Drink till 2028.  For $60 it’s a 2 star effort.  Salut….

Gioso Barolo DOCG 2015, Piedmont, Italy

06 Monday Apr 2020

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Semi opaque medium tint of purple. I get a delicious whiff of black cherry, cedar, tobacco and spice box.  On the palate the wines visual and nose bely it’s power and structure.  It has a very forward stab of fruit alongside a crescendo of tannins that present cherries, lingonberry and leather on the initial palate.  The tannins sear my gums and carry me to the midpalate of more stark red fruits and that earthy component.  The finish- dry AF, really has some juiciness to it.  The cherries are the dominant force battling the astringency.  This wine is a cherub, the tannins almost too much at this stage but I feel this wine will evolve in the next 5-10 years.  I’m going with 92 points but either decant the hell out of it or put it away for a long time.  $30 and 4 stars for this Nebbiolo.  Drink from 2024-2034.  Salut….

St. Michael-Eppan San Michele Appiano Pinot Grigio Sudtirol – Alto Adige 2018, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

06 Monday Apr 2020

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Very light shade of yellow/orange in the glass.  The nose offers spiced lemon zest, some green apples and honeysuckle.  The palate is crisp, with gobs of the green apple, some citrus and a modicum of acidity.  The mid palate softens and has a glycerin-like mouthfeel.  The green fruits are alive and well.  The tail end gives me a note of hazelnut- intriguing.  It’s rather a short finish but it is well balanced.  This wine will drink nicely till 2023 and I would pair it with salad Niçoise, herbed chicken breast or even a stir fry.  89 points and 4 stars for this $14 quaffer.  Salut….

Tinazzi Ca’ de’ Rocchi ‘Montere’ Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso 2013, Veneto, Italy

02 Monday Mar 2020

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It’s black in the glass and totally opaque.  The nose has hints of raisin, black cherry reduction, hoisin.  The palate is thick, a touch acidic and bursting with fig, plums, black cherries again as well as fruitcake.  The midpalate introduces some very fine grained tannins alongside the fruit medley.  There’s a nuttiness that hits towards the back end alongside blackberry jam.  This wine is very appealing. Rich and balanced.  The finish is long with that dark fruit core continuing for over 30 seconds.  I love Ripasso’s and am excited by this one.  92 points. For $20 this is a 5 star wine folks! Salut….

San Felice Chianti Classico DOCG 2017, Tuscany, Italy

04 Tuesday Feb 2020

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See through and light purple in color.  On the nose I get funky cherry, burnt firewood and snuffed matchsticks.  Yup- probably the most bizarre set of notes I have smelled in a long time.  The palate is quite refreshing with a burst of acidity, fresh flowers and cherries.  I don’t know where that burnt match or firewood was going, the palate is very tasty.  The midpalate is much the same with nice acidity and a trace of delightful tannins.  The finish is a sunset of cherries, rhubarb and some bright acidity.  Tasty, young and fresh.  Drink now with chicken parm or Osso Bucco.  88 points and 3 stars for this $13 Sangiovese.  Salut….

Molino di Sant’Antimo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2014, Tuscany, Italy

24 Friday Jan 2020

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Light shades of see through purple.  As expected from this varietal.  The nose is gorgeous- floral, cherry, garigue and mushroom.  It’s kinda funky, exciting and not what I thought a young Brunello could offer at this stage.

The palate is delightful, not as mature as the nose but there’s hope.  I get cherries, that funky mushroom thing, crispy acidity and very lithe tannins.  This is a bombshell of a wine folks.  There’s fresh fruit, trappings of tertiary flavors, well balanced structure and a delightful mouthfeel.  The mid palate is a seamless transition from the initial to the medium length finish.  I am so glad I got a case of this stuff, I’m going to cellar some and track the evolution.  I have high hopes.  Drink till 2030.  92 points and 5 stars for this $40 Sangiovese.  Salut….

Tommasi Le Prunee Merlot Venezie IGT 2017, Italy

24 Friday Jan 2020

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A lighter shade of purple and semi opaque in the glass with thick legs showing.  The nose is a bit off-putting.  I fear it may be corked as I’m getting stewed plums meet bacon fat.  The palate does not confirm any fault- maybe the nose needs to waft a bit.  On the initial I get raspberry and toffee.  It’s strange but intriguing.  There’s a warmth to it that I like.  Cinnamon and cloves mingle with those red berries on the mid palate and some fine grained tannins appear.  The finish is a little thin but offers more red fruits and some fruit cake.  There’s a lot of spices involved here, they seem to clash a bit with the primal fruits.  Acidity is decent and the finish is of medium length.  I kinda like this wine even though it’s atypical and heavily into the spice.  I don’t know offhand what to pair it with but drink till 2023.  88 points and for $14 it’s a 3 star wine.  Salut….

I Giusti & Zanza Rosso Vigna Vecchia Toscana IGT 2015, Tuscany, Italy

18 Friday Oct 2019

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It’s quite bright and fresh looking in the glass with a deep garnet shade.  On the nose – rhubarb crumble, cherry and chocolate dust.  On the palate it is refreshing, tart and brimming with red fruits.  There’s a hint of balsamic as well as coconut on the initial.  The mid palate gives me some woody notes alongside the red currants and cherry.  The tartness gets a little spiky and herbaceous on the finish, a little off-putting.  Overall this is a tasty wine that has some structure to last a few years in cellar but is drinking nicely now.  I’m gonna bury the others I have as I believe they will improve vastly with a bit of age.  Made from Organic grapes and costing $50 makes it a wee bit pricy.  Pair it with Fettucine or pot roast, perhaps Osso Bucco..  Drink till 2035.  90 points from me (the pros went as high as 95!) and 3 stars.  Salut….

Nativ Taurasi ‘Rue 333’ 2014, Campania, Italy

02 Wednesday Oct 2019

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I last had the 2011 Nativ Rue a while back but remembered it for an obscure reason.  The original shipment was heat damaged and really nasty.  The vendor sent me replacements, but the name has stuck with me.  When I saw the 2014 vintage, I had to try.

A nice shade of purple in the glass with thick legs belaying the 14% alcohol.  On the nose I get blackberry, chocolate, oak and vanilla bean.  The palate is a touch austere with black currants, capsicum, sour cherry and raw oak.  It’s a bit off-putting to be honest.  There’s quite an acidic sourness that is hard to ignore, it fights with the green tannins to take over the palate.  The wine is a bit one-dimensional with all eyes on the tannins and opposing acidity.  I’m gonna give this wine some time in the cellar, it deserves a chance, after all an Italian Pro gave it 96 of his make believe points.  I’m going with 89 for now, but I really think it has potential.  I enjoy the Aglianico grape, but this one is really young and imperious.  Give it time.  Cellar till 2022 or aerate it and drink till 2030.  I paid $17, which makes it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

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Marianot Garblet Barolo DOCG 2014, Piedmont, Italy

08 Sunday Sep 2019

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Quite see-through with a darker purple hue in the glass.  The nose has violets, cherry essence, bramble and leather.  On the palate it is fruity, lighter than expected and a touch dry.  Blueberry is the primary flavor alongside some cedar plank and those violets.  The tannins start to really grip on the mid palate to go along with the blue fruit compote and wood.  The wine finishes strong, with the tannins really getting stuck in and the gums really getting pounded.  The fruit remains for a while but is eclipsed by the 60 second plus grip of the astringency.  Very young wine, but thoroughly enjoyable if you like ‘em dry.  I would personally drink this wine now with veal chops on the grill, a heavy duty pasta dish or  perhaps Moroccon lamb in the tagine.  If you have patience, this one will mellow nicely for a few years and be presentable from 2024- 2030.  91 points, $35 and 4 stars for this Nebbiolo.  Salut….