Italian Wine For Less 3/14/08
Filed Under Wine Tastings
Mastroberardino Sannio Falanghina, 2005 Campania
La Colombaia Bianco di Custoza, 2005 Veneto
Roagna Dolcetto d’Alba, 2005 Piedmont
Fontanafredda “Briccotondo” Barbera, 2006 Piedmont
Monrosso Chianti DOCG, 2004 Tuscany
Allegrini “Palazzo delle Torre” Veronese Rosso, 2004 Veneto
Argiolas “Perdera” Isola Dei Nuraghi, 2004 Sardinia
Rossetti Nero d’Avola, 2005 Sicily
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Italian Pick of The Week, 3/3/08
Filed Under Wine Reviews
La Spinetta Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Bionzo”, 2003, Piemonte
This is one of the Piedmont’s larger and more succesful producers, all of whose wines are unfiltered, unfined and in most cases created using biodynamic methods.The “Bionzo” Barbera debuted in 1998 and only 3000 cases per year are made from truly old vines which have the benefit of southern exposure. Having spent 16 to 18 months in French oak that was mildly charred, this Barbera has the natural ingredients and enhancements to give pleasure for another twenty years or so.
This is a wine that is both approachable and generous now AND has aging potential. The nose is all dark fruits and Piedmontese terroir. The palate is full with black berries, currants and a lush and mouthfilling roundness. Undercurrents of tobacco mingle with vanilla and savory minerals backed by chalky tannins that are evident but not excessively dry, and fruity acidity.
One of the better Barberas to come to our attention.
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Italian Pick of The Week, 2/25/08
Filed Under Wine Reviews
Mauro Molino Barolo, 2000, Piemonte
What makes a Barolo truly great? Or how does one make a great Barolo? Two sides of the same coin in the ongoing debate among the “modernists” and “traditionalists” of Piemonte, who are both seeking the same goal - production of Barolos worthy of assuming the mantle of Wine of Kings, and King of Wines.
Mauro Molino’s Barolo would fit into the modernist camp, a wine already drinking well and fully realized from a stellar vintage. You are treated to the requisite Nebbiolo perfume of roses and earth, soft and inviting. This wine rolls onto the palate, layers of earth and tobacco carrying fruits that become darker mid-way through and continue to a finish of dry leaves. Unlike the old style Barolos that needed a decade or more of bottle aging to be tamed, the tannins are finely integrated with unobtrusive acidity that speak well of this wine’s potential to age gracefully.
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Wine 101:For Thomas Damasco, 2/23/08
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Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc, 2006, Russian River Valley (CA)
Cousino-Macul “Antiguas Reserva” Chardonnay, 2006, Maipo (CH)
Falesco Sangiovese 2006, Umbria (IT)
Las Rocas “San Alejandro” Garnacha, 2005, Calatayud (SP)
Earthworks Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, Barossa Valley (AU)
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Italy: Terroir Or Not Terroir, 2/26/08
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Abbazia di Novacella Sylvaner, 2005, Alto-Adige
Vicentini Agostino Soave “Terre Lunghe”, 2006, Veneto
Fattoria di Corsignano Chianti Classico Riserva, 2003, Toscana
Fattoria di Fiano “Ugo Bing” Chianti Riserva, 2004, Toscana
Duale “Bacco d’Oro” Nerello Calabrese, 2004, Calabria
Rossetti Nero d’Avola, 2005, Sicilia
Angelo Negri Roero “Prachiosso”, 2001 Piemonte
Triacca “Sassella” Valtellina Superiore, 2003, Lombardia
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Intermediate Section, Spain & Portugal, 2/20/08
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Orballo Albarino, 2006, Rias Baixas DO
Luna Beberide Bierzo DO, 2005
Legaris Ribeira del Duero Crianza DO, 2003
Monticillo Rioja Gran Reserva DOCa, 1998
Pablo Garnacha “Menguante”, Carinena DO, 2005
Vall LLach “embruix” Priorat DOCa, 2003
Bodegas Olivares Alto de la Hoya Monastrell, Jumilla DO, 2005
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Italian Pick of the Week, 2/18/08
Filed Under Wine Reviews
Cantine dei Colli Ripani Passerina “Ninfa Ripana”, 2004, Marche
Verdicchio has been the shining star of white wine from the Marche since Fazzi-Battaglia hit the market with its fish shaped bottle over thirty years ago.Lesser known whites were pushed even farther into the background.
The Offida zone in Ascoli Piceno province is a relatively new DOC, having attained that status in 2001. Here, those once forgotten grapes are given their due. Passerina, the local name for the more widely planted Biancame, has risen from blending obscurity to join the ranks of authentic and interesting native varietals. It is bottled in both dry and passito styles and some producers use it for Brut and Vin Santo.
This version combines the smoothness and mildly bitter nuttiness of Verdicchio with the hazelnut-dewy pine- resin of a Fiano from Campania. Neither of those stalwarts has the buzzy acidity, pinpoint flavors and minerality of this eye opener from the Ripana hills. Its texture and lively mouthfel make it a suitable companion for salty antipasti, shellfish, or fish-based soups.
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Director’s Cut: Up and Coming Regions, 2/15/08
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Back To The Future: Campania
Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina, 2005
Aminea Fiano di Avellino, 2005
East Of Reisling: Austria
Weingut Hofer Gruner Veltliner, 2005, Neiderosterreich
J. Pockl Zweigelt “Monchof”, 2004, Burgenland
Northwest Iberia
Quinta de Ventozelo Cistera da Ribeira, 2003, Douro, Portugal
J. Palacios Bierzo “Petalos”, 2005, Galicia, Spain
Cape of South Africa: Stellenbosch
Bilton Shiraz-Merlot “Matt Black”, 2004
Jardin Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004
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Wine 101 at Jack’s 2/16/08
Filed Under Wine Tastings
Meulenhof Riesling Kabinett, 2005, Mosel (GER)
Mastroberardino Sannio Falanghina, 2004, Campania (IT)
Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc “Beyond”, 2006 (S. AF.)
Simi Russian River Chardonnay, 2004, Sonoma (US)
Roaring Meg Pinot Noir, 2006, Central Otago (NZ)
Las Rocas Garnacha, 2005, Calatayud (SP)
Craneford Shiraz “Allyson Parsons”, 2005, Barossa Valley (AU)
Earthworks Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, Barossa Valley (AU)
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Intermediate Class: France 2/13/08
Filed Under Wine Tastings
Sauvignon Blanc
Ch. Cantelys 2003 Pessac-Leognan (Bordeaux)
Regis Manet 2005 Pouilly Fume (Loire)
Blanc de Bourgogne
Simmonet-Febvre 2005 Chablis “Vaillons”
Vins Eouges du Nord
Ch. Chandon de Brialles 2002 Pernand-Vergelesses (Burgundy)
Cave de Saumur Saumur Reserve (Loire)
La Rive Gauche)
Ch. Greysac 2003 Medoc (Bordeaux)
The Rhone: South to North
Dom. Mas du Bouquet 2004 Vacqueyras
Alain Paret 2000 Saint-Joseph “Rochecourbe”
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