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Tag Archives: Italy

Forte Incanto Primitivo 2020, Salento IGT Puglia, Italy

01 Saturday Oct 2022

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$16, 3 stars, 88 points, Italy, primitivo, puglia, zinfandel


Primitivo is also known as Tribidrag and Crljenak Kasteljanski in Croatia, but more common to us- Zinfandel.  This Italian bottle has a deep ruby coloring and thick legs.  The nose is pronounced with aromas of black cherry, licorice, charcoal, black pepper, black plum and dark currants.  The palate is dry with bracing tannins and a good dose of acidity.  There is an astringent and green sensation that is immediate on the attack, downplaying the fruit.  When I finally get to the flavors- dark fruit with charred oak notes and licorice.  Medium to full bodied it has a medium length finish.  It’s a young wine that needs cellaring or decanting/aerating.  I am pairing it with spaghetti and meat sauce, probably the best choice for this very dry and tannic red.  88 points from me and for $16 it gets 3 stars.  Drink from 2024-2028.  Salut….

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Marchese di Borgosole Appassimento 2020, Puglia IGT, Italy

14 Wednesday Sep 2022

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$13, 4 stars, 89 points, appassimento, Italy, malvasia, negroamara, puglia


Medium ruby colored this IGT level wine comes in at 14.5% ABV which is contrary to the fast moving legs on the glass walls.  I get aromas (muted btw) of dark cherry, lavender, iron, crushed rock, blackberry and violets.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  Ripe black cherry, blackberry coulis, purple florals and some stoney minerality mix with a blackened cedar slate component.  The body is full and the wine finishes medium (+) in length with a touch of heat which is unusual for me to sense.   I like this rather silky brute, it presents itself with structure and fruit alongside some oak influence and unabashedly does so for $13.  It gets 89 points from me and 4 stars.  Drink till 2028 with hearty dishes.  A blend of Malvasia and Negroamara that has been air-dried on mats and then pressed after the grapes have raisined.  Salut….

 

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Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Riserva 2016, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Tuscany, Italy

03 Saturday Sep 2022

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$28, 5 stars, 93 points, chianti classico, Italy, sangiovese, tuscany


Pale to medium ruby colored with thick, droopy legs.  The nose has aromas of steeped cherry, rose, baking spice, white raspberry, coconut, cherry cola and vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  Medium (+) bodied I get delicious flavors of cherry, vanilla, coconut, raspberry and spice. It finishes long with a tart cherry note and some lingering, integrated tannins.  This is a delicious and mature Sangiovese from the heart of Tuscany.  It will cellar well into 2028 and pair beautifully with pasta (duh!) and perhaps a ribeye with Roquefort sauce.  It is very pinpoint btw.  93 points from me for this $28 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

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Tenuta di Renieri Chianti Classico DOCG 2019, Tuscany, Italy

29 Monday Aug 2022

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$22, 3 stars, 89 points, chianti classico, Italy, sangiovese, tuscany


Pale ruby colored, this Sangiovese has lovely aromas of red cherry, tar, rose petals, orange peel, leather, green herbs (dill) and sandalwood.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  Medium to full bodied- I get flavors of tart red cherry, leather, rose petal and that dill component.  A slight charred oak note follows on at the mid palate and the finish is short.  A serviceable Chianti that lacks a real oomph, it gets 89 points from me and for $22 it is a 3 star effort to drink till 2027.  Salut….

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Stefano di Blasi Syrah Nero d’Avola 2020, IGT Sicilia, Italy

05 Friday Aug 2022

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$11, 5 stars, 89 points, Italy, Naked Wines, nero d'avola, siciliy, syrah


Medium ruby colored in the glass- this blend of Syrah and Nero D’Avola has aromas of plum, licorice, game, violets, blackberry leaf, some licorice and a caramel/burnt sugar note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and silky smooth, medium level tannins that melt away gracefully.  Medium bodied, this wine has nice flavors of plum, florals, blackberry and a touch of licorice alongside that caramel note.  The finish is mid length and I get a charred wood note with more anise.  The tannins make a comeback to remind me that they are still grippy.  A nice bottle that ran me $11!  I would drink this with stews, leaner cuts of meat and pasta for sure over the short term- till 2026.  I give it 89 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

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Castelli del Grevepesa Panzano Gran Selezione 2016, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

18 Monday Jul 2022

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$28, 4 stars, 91 points, chianti classico, Italy, sangiovese


Medium ruby colored with a bit of cloudiness in the glass.  The nose of this Sangiovese is medium intensity with aromas of crushed rose petals, tomato stem, red cherry, dusty earth, dried leather, vanilla and baking spice.  The palate is dry and tart with high acidity and medium tannins.  Fruit-wise I get tart cherry, roses and that green tomato stem note followed by secondary flavors of earth, leather, vanilla and spice box.  The wine runs 14% ABV giving it a medium (+) body.  The finish is long and sour with the cherry component that lingers.  I would pair this with a fatty cut of meat, think lamb or ribeye steaks.  It needs something to offset the acidity and tame the tannins.  It has good structure to cellar till 2030.  91 points from me for this $28 effort makes it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

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Castello di Bibbione Gran Selezione 2016, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

14 Thursday Jul 2022

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$25, 5 stars, 92 points, chianti classico, Italy, sangiovese


Medium garnet colored, this 6 year old Sangiovese is showing a bit of age already.  The nose has aromas of warm cherry, leather, rose, cinnamon, pomegranate, cranberry and fresh cut pine.  The palate is dry with high acidity and mouth coating tannins.  It is a young wine in texture, but the fruit is already mingling with tertiary flavors.  Red fruit (tart) with leather, rose, cigar box and that fresh wood note.  The acidity and tannins are very powerful and opposing in this medium (+) bodied wine.  The finish is a short, sour affair with the tannins really coating my gums.  I like this rather youthful wine and think it will develop and soften with time.  If you want something zippy for a pasta dinner or grilled steaks, this is open for business.  Drink till 2030.   92 points for this $25 wine makes it a solid 5 star effort.  Salut….

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Castelli del Grevepesa Lamole 2016, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Italy

11 Monday Jul 2022

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$28, 4 stars, 91 points, chianti classico, Italy, sangiovese


Medium ruby colored this Sangiovese has pretty thick legs running down the glass that would concur with the 14% ABV.  The nose gives me coconut, red cherry, rose, cedar and coffee.  The palate is a dry and tart affair with fine grained tannins that are medium intensity and well integrated.  The high acidity really takes center stage on the initial attack.  Flavors of red cherry, coconut, rose, rhubarb and cranberry fill my mouth with a red fruit cocktail laced with tart, almost underripe cherry at the core.  It’s an interesting wine that feels a bit out of balance yet I keep wanting to take another sip.  The finish is medium length and really jaw watering.  The tannins are fighting the acidity.  This wine will pair beautifully with a pasta of sautéed veggies and olives in thin spaghetti.  I would even put it up against Osso Bucco or Veal parmigiana.  I’m going 91 points, slightly lower than the pros but at $28 it is a respectable 4 star wine to drink till 2030.  Salut….

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Villa Sparina Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG 2021, Piedmont, Italy

08 Friday Jul 2022

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$14, 5 stars, 90 points, cortese, gavi, Italy, Piedmont


This is a new one for me- the Cortese grape from Italy.  This bottle is deceivingly tinted making me think I was going to pour a deep yellow wine.  Instead I found it to be pale gold with aromas of green pear, chamomile, lemon zest, lime and lanolin.  The palate is dry with a full body that coats my mouth with a waxy lemon/lime component, green pear, spice and floral notes.  The finish is medium length and the waxy mouthfeel hangs on for a while.  Having never had this varietal it is difficult to rate but I thoroughly enjoyed the textural aspect of this wine and the fruit flavors were delicious.  90 points for this really yummy wine that I paired with grilled Jerk chicken.  Bought for $14, it gets 5 stars.  Try it this summer with seafood or white meats.  Salut….

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Pieropan Soave Classico 2021, Veneto, Italy

04 Monday Jul 2022

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$17, 4 stars, 89 points, garganega, Italy, soave, veneto


Pale gold colored with medium intensity aromas of Meyer lemon, geranium, Mandarin orange, green herbs, Filberts and tangy blood orange.  The palate is dry with medium (-) acidity, medium (+) body with flavors of ripe citrus, some floral notes and that nutty component.  The finish is a relatively short affair but delightful nonetheless.  After a hot day doing outside errands this is a great aperitif served chilled with some charcuterie and nuts.  89 points from me.  For $17, it is a 4 star Garganega varietal to drink in the short/medium term.  Salut…

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