Top Ten Italian Red Wines - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

2015 Giovanni Sordo Barolo, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

This is a nice, relatively inexpensive Barolo.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, cherry juice, slight floral and hot asphalt.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is straight forward with cherries.  Moderate acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks better with food.  Pasta with a mushroom cream sauce would work well.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2017 Calafè Taurasi, Italy, Campagna, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

Taurasi DOCG is made from Aglianico grapes and is one of the most underrated grapes anywhere.  The more "serious" ones can age fr thirty years, and the more accessible ones are usually great values.  This is the later.  Purple in color with a ruby rim.  The nose has black cherries, char, and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries and black licorice.  Good acidity.  Good finish. This is delicious and drinks easily on its own although it will work great with a nice pizza.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2021 Planeta Frappato Vittoria, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

This is made from 100% Frappato grapes.  The winemaker at Planeta, Patricia Toth, has been at Planeta since 2005.  This wine is a beauty.  Ruby in color with some purple hues, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, salinity and wild Thyme.  With air, just a hint of smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Light acidity.  On the palate, cherries, minerals, slight balsamic with a slight candied finish.  There is some depth.  This drinks nicely on its own, but would be even better with food.  It would be awesome with a Vegetarian Lasagna.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2014 Firriato Nero d'Avola Sicilia Harmonium, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

Great showing for this wine.  it is made from the Nero d'Avola grape.  Garnet in color, darker at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, sandalwood, nutmeg, and slight dark chocolate notes.  It is tight at first but opens after an hour or so.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is delivering right away.  Black cherries, sour cherries, and ash.  Complex and deep.  Delicious.  Long finish.  At age 9, this is in a great spot and should be at or close to peak.  It is great on its own, but should work well with meat or fowl.  A

2020 Wander + Ivy Limited Edition White Wine, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

This comes in a cute 175ml package with a plastic stopper, screw top and glass bottle.  A nice size for someone who wants one large or two smaller servings.  There is no indication about what varietals are in the wine other than the grapes are organic.  There are many options available from this winery which gets grapes from all over the world.  The wine has a pale green gold color, clear and bright.  The nose features peaches and Meyer lemons.  Light bodied.  On the palate, peaches with good acidity.  Nice finish with a bit of (bitter) almonds.  These would work well for a picnic.  Drink o

2021 Di Giovanna Grillo Sicilia Vurria, Italy, Sicily,

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

A fifth generation family winery in Sicily that gets the whole family on board.  From Aurelio and Barbara Di Giovanna, Gunther Di Giovanna, Gunther Di Giovanna, and Klaus Di Giovanna, the co-owners to Melissa Di Giovanna, the Sales and Marketing Manager.  The winemaker is Gianfranco Zito.

1997 Principesco Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Grade: 

Back when the 1997 vintage was released, there was a lot of fanfare and hype.  Some bought into it and some didn't.  But, the prices rose dramatically and at the time, this was one of the better values in Brunello (around $40).  I was curious how well this held up.  Sadly, after all this time, the bottle was corked (TCA).  What a shame.  

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