Veneto

Bussola is one of the top producers in Amarone and the top producer I can still afford (after Quintarelli and Dal Forno).  This was an older bottle that was just singing.  It had been stood up for a week and then decanted just prior to serving.  It continued to open up for the next couple of hours.  Really a gorgeous wine.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is great.  Dusty at first, that gave way to slight craisins, cherries with some underlying smoke and even a bit of dried flowers.  With more air, a chocolate/caramel note comes out; almost sweet.  On the palate, this is still l

Everyone knows this label but how many people have actually tried it.  This was served to a group of casual wine lovers and proved to be very popular.  Very, very pale silvery gold in color.  Almost like water.  The nose is nice but it did take about 20 minutes to open.  Minerals, slight peach and slight ginger ale.  On the palate, this is dry with nice minerality.  It starts out tight but picks up on the mid-palate.  Slightly sour in a good way on the long finish.  It really begs for some salty food.  For $10, this is a nice value.  

Light silvery golden in color.  A nice head of medium bubbles.  On the palate, this has nice pears and minerals.  Mostly dry on the palate.  Nice acid aand minerality.  A bit of pears.  Nice finish.  A good inexpensive bubbly for parties and using as a base for mixed drinks.  

This is a very nice Amarone in just the right place right now.  Probably at or close to peak but no real hurry here.  Deep ruby in color with very slight browning at the rim.  The nose is very nice with cherries, slight raisins and other dried fruits, a bit of spice and just a hint of roasted herbs.  A voluptuous texture.  Slightly sweet/ripe but just perceptible.  Layers of complexity. Good acidity that works better with food.  Nice finish.  Is this a blockbuster?  No, but it is an outstanding wine that is around $30 for current vintages.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cherries, slight prunes, slight raisin along with some anise and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this  is ever so slightly sweet with cherries, dried cherries and slight prune.  Medium tannins.  Nice depth with layers of complexity.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Should work with medium and heavier dishes very well, probably not so much with spicy foods.  Seems to be closing in on peak but should certainly have another 7 to ten years left.  

This is a wine made from the Trebbiano grape on the shores of Lake Garda from the Lugano DOC.  Light golden in color.  Lovely nose of tropical fruit, slight grassiness and underlying minerality.  Very Sauvginon-like.  On the palate, this is round and slightly oily.  Velvety.  Very nice texture.   NIce acidity.  Just a bit of lemony fruit with good minerality.  Nice finish.  Very food friendly and a crowd favorite.  

Light golden in color.  A nice frothy head of medium sized bubbles.  The nose is nice with pears and slight minerality.  On the palate, this is dry.  Minerals.  Easy to drink.  At $15, this is also easy on the budget.  A nice choice for holiday festivities.  100% Glera grapes.

Purple in color.  The nose is dusty with black cherries.  On the palate, this has nice black cherries.  Tight and firm tannins.  Not a lot of depth but drinking nicely.  Give it air or cellar time.  Nice acidity.  Works better with food.  Needs five years and should be good for at least ten after that.  

Purple in color, slightly flat.  The nose has black cherries, cinnamon, and spice.  On the palate, sweet black cherries and sweet black raspberries.  Tasty but slightly jammy.  Some depth.  Not a lot of acidity.  Drinking quite well.  When the vintage was revealed, it made sense that it was the hot 2003 vintage.  No hurry on this though.