2018 Foradori Granato, Italy, Trentino - Alto Adige, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

One of the very best of the relatively unknown wines of Italy.  This is from the northeast corner and made from the Teroldego grape.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is fantastic with black cherries, some cranberries, loads of minerality and wild thyme.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great lively acidity.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Black cherry fruit with minerality and a bit of "wild herbs".  Long finish.  Nice on its own, but really better with food.  It worked great with a nice plate of buttered pasta.  Drink over the next ten to twenty years

2018 Castelfeder Pinot Grigio Pertico, Italy, Trentino, Vigneti Delle Dolomiti, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$11.00USD

Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has chalk and slight peach note.  On the palate, this is oily which is good.  Plenty of minerals with some bitters.  Also a slight peach note.  Good acidity.  Long finish. This is a basic wine that provides great value.  It should be drunk in the first year or so to enjoy it's freshness.  It will go well with salads, seafood and lighter foods.  

2016 Foradori Vigneti delle Dolomiti Teroldego IGT, Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Made from the Teroldego grape, this is the basic wine from this wonderful producer.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, lots of minerality and a touch of salinity.  On the palate, there are firm tannins on this.  Lots of black cherries and some cherries.  An underlying minerality.  This is drinking nicely now, but surely will improve as it integrates over the next five years.  Nice acidity.  This begs for food right now.  Pasta in a cream sauce is a great choice.  

2017 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio, Italy, Alto Adige-Suditrol, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

Do you like affordable, easy drinking white wines?  Then look for this one.  This is authentic and as good as wine costing twice the price.  Will it blow your doors off?  Probably not, but for $15, you will have no regrets.  Food friendly or on its own.  Light copper gold in color.  The nose is great with minerals, mountain air (think cold and fresh) and a hint of lemon peel.  On the palate, this is refreshing.  Slightly more than lean texture.  Made for drinking young.  Lots of verve.  Good finish.  

2011 Ignaz Niedrist Lagrein Alto Adige - Südtirol Berger Gei, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is a relatively unknown red from northeast Italy that you should know.  Made from the Lagrein grape.  This is much more serious than most wines utilizing that grape.  Deep ruby/purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, spice and a bit of pine.  On the palate, this has black cherries and cherries.  Very rich fruit but also a great backbone of acidity.  Would work well with a wide variety of foods.  Some tannins, this is still young and has a few more years until peak.  Should have another 10 to 15 years in it.  

2016 Castelfeder Pinot Grigio Pertico, Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

Green/gold in color (not the typical copper notes).  The nose is nice with minerals and limes.  Slightly oily texture.  This is all about minerals on the palate.  Slightly sour lime note.  There is a bit of warmth but only 12.5% Alc.  Very food friendly with all but the heartiest of foods.  At $10, this is a great value.  Drink now.  

Pinot Grigio: Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige Region Produces a Great Summer Sipping Wine

Summertime. For many of us that is the time for a cool white wine. Of course many of them are produced in Italy. One of the more commercially successful whites is the Pinot Grigio from Italy. Specifically, those produced in the north-eastern province of Trentino-Alto Adige. Surrounded the Alps and Dolomites, and bordering Austria and Switzerland, this is the northern most region in Italy. The area is mountainous with only about 15% of the land being farmable.