2015 Foradori Granato, Italy, Dolomites, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is made from the Teroldegao grape in northeastern Italy.  The wine is purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, spice and slight anise.  Full bodied.   Medium tannins.  Excellent acidity and balance.  Lively.  On the palate, this is deep, young and delicious.  Flavors of black cherries, some black currants with spice and slight char.  long finish.  This will still mature a bit but no harm drinking it now.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, but better with food.  This would work well with game dishes.  

1995 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1995
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$43.00USD

This one had gotten lost in the cellar and I wondered how it held up.  Quite well I would say.  Past prime, but not by that much.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, dried flowers, spice and some char.  Medium bodied.  Nice balance.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is certainly drinking well.  Some depth.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries with some char.  Long finish.  This is better with a touch of food, but very good.  Fully mature.  Drink up if you have any but based on this bottle, it should go another five to ten.  This would  be great w

2022 Pieropan Soave Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

One of my favorite white wines of Italy.  This is their basic Soave and while not at the level of the vineyard designated wines, this is still very good and a very good value.  It is a blend of 85% Garganega and 15% Trebbiano di Soave.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peaches, lots of minerality, salinity, and lemon peel.  Medium bodied.  Crisp, but with some viscosity.  Medium acidity.  On the palate, its more about the minerality although there is some peach.  Easy.  This would work well with Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next few years.   

2022 Pasqua 11 Minutes Rosé, Italy, Veneto, Rosé Trevenezie IGT, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of Corvina 50%, Trebbiano 25%, Syrah 15% and Carmenère 10% from the northeast corner of Italy.  The name comes from the duration that the skins are allowed contact with the juice after pressing.  Pale pink in color with slight orange hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose has orange citrus, slight orange peel, floral notes and a bit of spice/pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet (more like off dry) with good acidity.  The palate has strawberries, some orange and slight minerality.  Good finish.  This is easy to drink on its own.  It will also work a bisc

2006 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$210.00USD

From one of the top producers in the Veneto (and most expensive), this Valpolicella drinks like a very good Amarone.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has raisins, cherries, tar, graphite, and anise.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Enough acidity.  This wine is dry but very high alcohol.  The palate shows the alcohol but plenty of cherries and prunes along with some underlying tar/asphalt.  Long finish.  At age 17, this is a big, high alcohol wine which may be off putting to some and wonderful to others.  It is great on its own but would work better with

2017 Tommaso Bussola Ca' del Laito Valpolicella Ripasso

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

Tasted at a wine bar in Charlotte, North Carolina.  $33 off the menu.  Great wine and worth twice the price.  Deep garnet in color.  The nose has cherries, slight dried cherry, and spices.  Great texture.  Great acidity.  Delicious.  It will be better with food.  A rich pasta dish would be great.  Drink over the next five to eight years. 

2021 Famiglia Pasqua Ripasso della Valpolicella Superiore, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This wine comes from north east Italy.  It is a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone and Negrara grapes.  To make a Ripasso styles wine, the wine, after fermentation, is poured over the leftover pomace from the Amarone.  This gives the wine a bit more stuffing than a regular Valpolicella.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, Heering liqueur, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with cherries and black cherries with underlying char and spice.  Long finish.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would g

2011 Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy, Veneto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$99.00USD

Great showing for this Amarone at age 12.  This was served on board the Celebrity Millennium Cruise ship off the coast of Alaska.  It is 80% Corvina Veronese, and 20% Rondinella. Purple with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with cherries, slight raisins and some alcohol showing.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate cherries with slight char notes.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but would be better with a plate of pasta with truffles in a cream sauce.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2012 Cesari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Il Bosco

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$93.00USD

A blend of 80% Corvina and 20% Rondinella.  Deep garnet in color.  Slightly flat.  The nose is nice with stewed fruits, figs, cherries and spices.  Full bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, prunes, cherries and spice.  Depth.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now.  It is dry but with a feeling of sweetness.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would work well with Eggplant Parmesan.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

Pages