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Tag Archives: Italy

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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San Felice Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012, Tuscany, Italy

15 Sunday May 2022

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$50, 5 stars, 93 points, brunello, Italy, sangiovese, tuscany


I have been following the progress of this Sangiovese for a few years now and really enjoyed it alongside charcuterie prior to dinner.  I didn’t take notes, only mental observations.  It is now mature, with high acidity and melded tannins.  The red fruit is joined by leather, rose, cigar box and maduro.  Medium bodied, it drinks nicely to a medium finish.  You can read about my last tasting here.  I’m sticking with the 93 points previously given.  It runs $50 now which is still a good deal for well made Brunello.  5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

 

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Negretti Barolo DOCG 2017, Piedmont, Italy

25 Monday Apr 2022

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$36, 4 stars, 90 points, barolo, Italy, nebbiolo, Piedmont


Bordering on medium garnet- Nebbiolo typically shows this color even when but a few years old.  The nose gives off charming aromas of red cherry, dried herbs, cranberry, coffee, a touch of tar and some violet.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium (+) tannins.  A full body and luscious flavors of red fruit, some sour cherry and the nuances of oak, tar and floral violets.  The finish is purely sour cherry, tannins and juicy acidity with some smooth yet powerful tannins.  It is medium in length and balanced.  For a young Barolo it is drinking nicely already and will mature over time to give tertiary notes hopefully.  90 points from me and for $36 it gets 4 stars.  Drink till 2029.  Salut….

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Folonari Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2020, Veneto, Italy

15 Friday Apr 2022

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$7, 5 stars, 90 points, Italy, pinot grigio, veneto


The first of two blind-tasted wines for my WSET course was this Pinot Grigio- I guessed Chardonnay but was corrected with a comment that indicated it had some lees aging which could have contributed to the conclusion I made.

It was pale lemon colored and had a medium (+) intensity nose of lemon, lime, green apple, pear, blossom and brioche (which was questioned by the instructor and a note was made to indicate possible lees aging).  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium body and medium intensity flavors of the above- with a medium (-) length finish I thought this wine was of good quality but should be drunk now.  Overall- 90 points and for $7 it’s a steal for the summer time.  5 stars so stock up.  Salut….

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Castello di Meleto Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2009, Tuscany, Italy

06 Wednesday Apr 2022

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$25, 5 stars, 92 points, dessert wine, Italy, malvasia, sangiovese, trebbiano, tuscany


This is a new one for me- Vin Santo (not to be confused with Vinsanto) is a technique of drying the grapes in the rafters of a shed and pressing the dried grapes later in the season.  The must is then sealed in small barrels and left for several years to ferment, slowly, integrating with the barrel and it’s oxygen.  Mainly Trebbianno, they also add Sangiovese and Malvasia to the blend.  These small barrels are called Carati and are sealed once 70% filled, creating ample air space.  This one is now 13 years old and is medium amber colored.  The liquid slides down the glass in a watery sheen, versus the traditional legs, which imply a viscous texture is to be expected.

The nose has pronounced aromas of dried apricot, honey, walnuts, hazelnuts, orange marmalade, a touch of bread dough and cream.  The palate is medium sweet with medium acidity and full body.  Medium alcohol and a mouth coating richness make for a beautiful mouthfeel.  The flavors are pronounced- honey, dried apricot and nuts with much less bread/yeast notes.  The marmalade is less intense but adds depth.  This delicious dessert wine has a decently long finish and gets 92 points from me.  I would love some sharp cheese to pair with it and can see it aging nicely till 2030 at the least.  I paid $25 for this 5 star sticky and would do it again for the cellar.  Yummy stuff.  Salut….

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