Italy

• Abruzzo
• Alto Adige
• Apulia
• Basilicata
• Calabria
• Campagna
• Emilia-Romagna
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Liguria
• Lombardia
  • Franciacorta
• Marche
• Molise
• Piedmont (Piemonte)
• Sicily
  • Mt. Etna
• Trentino-Alto Adige
• Tuscany
  • Brunello di Montalcino
  • Chianti
• Umbria
• Valle d'Aosta
• Veneto
  • Prosecco
  • Soave
• Sardinia

Ruby/purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is earthy/sweaty socks along with cherries and slight anise.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, cherries and tea leaves.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  There is a nice depth as well.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  It would work well with Braised meat and pasta.

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a "dusty attic" quality to it along with cherries.  Light bodied.  On the palate, light tannins.  Cherries turning a bit candied on the finish.  Good acidity.  This is a bit lighter in style but still true to its Chianti roots.  Better with food than on its own.  This would be nice with a creamy Tuscan Chicken dish.  

Ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is earthy with cherries, sandalwood and smoke.  Good acidity.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries with some char.  Nice finish.  This wine will work better with food.  A great choice with a plate of pasta.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

This is a Chardonnay from Umbria..  While I have its big brother, this was my first time trying this bottling.  Hay/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with gun powder, lemons, slight grapefruits and butterscotch.  Full bodied.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, lemon cream and toast.  Good finish.   Certainly some oak here, but not as much as its big brother.  This drinks easy and is a good value for people who like a slightly oaky Chardonnay.  Drink over the next few years.  

A very nice way to start an evening especially with a crowd.  Silvery/green in color, clear and bright.  A nice mousse with medium bubbles.  On the nose, an effervescent lemon/lime quality.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is dry with minerality and lime notes.  A bit of lemon hard candy on the finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work with most foods.  Drink now.  

Perhaps the top Chianti, and certainly better than most Brunellos.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, some black cherries, hints of anise, smoke and tea leaves.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is versatile and delicious.  Cherries, forest floor and char with strong acidity.  Long finish.  This is still young but will drink well for another twenty years.  If drinking soon, give it some air.  This is made for food and while nice on its own, is better with food.  Pizza or pasta would be great, but this will also work well with braise

This Super Tuscan is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, spice and tea leaves.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with smoke and forest floor notes.  Good finish.  This seems to be at maturity although it may still develop a bit.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  A nice match with grilled pizzas.  

Having tasted this back in 2010, it was nice to revisit this.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  Lovely nose of cherries, sandalwood, black cherries and tea leaves.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries with underlying forest floor.  Nice finish.  Still on the youthful side but starting to show some maturity.  Complex and deep.  Tightly layered.  This should drink well for another seven to fifteen years.  Very nice with a pasta with tomato vodka sauce.  

This sparkling wine is 100% Chardonnay from northern Italy.  Light golden in color with lots of tiny bubbles.  Clear and bright.  The nose is nice with notes of baked bread, slight lemon curd and spice.  Medium bodied.  Excellent acidity.  On the palate, this is mineral driven with a touch of lemons.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and will work great with fish.  Roasted trout would be a nice combination.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

An almost shy wine, this flagship red from Donnafugata does not announce itself with overt fruit. The wine needs some time to coax out the subtle flavors and the tight tannins at the outset tell you to wait a while before it opens up. When it does plum, muted strawberry, pomegranate, baked cherry and rose water dominate the opening. Comprised of Nero d’Avola, Petit Verdot, and Syrah, the tannins and acidity support the judicious use of oak. Aged 14 months in small French oak barrels it then spent 20 months in bottle rest. The result is a lovely wine that will work with a variety of foods.