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

I liked this more than the group I was tasting with.  It is a blend of 90% Sangiovese with the rest Canaiolo and Colorino grapes.  Purple in color with a clear rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, mint, spice and some forest floor.  Firm tannins.  Tight layers.  Complex, this needs some time to open.  Flavors of black cherries, herbs and spice.  Long finish.  This needs a few years in a good cellar and then should drink well for ten to fifteen after that.  It is nice on its own but will be better with food.  This would go well with Beans (and Sausage).  Plenty of ups

This is 100% Sangiovese.  Ruby in color, purple at the core, shimmering bright and mostly clear.  The nose is very nice with cherries, sandalwood, tea, and spice.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  Moderate acidity.  Nice black cherry fruit on the palate with some spice and slight char.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but would be better with food.  A nice wine to accompany pasta with a red sauce.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  I think this is what used to be the "Tan" label.  Ruby in color, darker at the  core.  The nose is initially tight but opens to show dust, cherries, anise and spice.  Light bodied.  Medium tannins.  Slightly bitter cherries on the palate.  Good acidity.  Good finish.  This is a fine CCR and reasonably priced.  It would be a nice mid-week pizza wine.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has limes, apples, and minerality.  Light bodied with a slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, slight limes, more apples with an interesting green olive note on the finish.  This is refreshing and drinks well on its own.  It will also work nicely with foods.  Salads of all kinds, but would be nice with pasta with a cream sauce.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is a sparking wine made in the Prosecco DOC using the Charmat method.  silvery green/gold in color, clear and bright.  A nice mousse with medium sized bubbles.  The nose is interesting with pine, apples and some minerality.  Medium bodied.  Medium acidity.  On the palate apples with some minerality.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own and very food friendly.  It will work with most foods and would be a great pairing with fried appetizers.  Drink now.  

It was nice to revisit this after 6 years of so.  It really hasn't improved that much.  It is a proper Amarone that is a good value and a good wine.  Ruby in color. The nose has cherries, roasted herbs and raisiny. Dry. Tannins mostly resolved at this point.  Good acidity. Cherries and dried cherries with some char. It won't get better but should drink well for another five years.  

This was tasted blind among a group of Cabernet based wines.  Upon opening this was off a bit, perhaps showing some oxidation.  However, with about 30 minutes of air, it really came back strong.  Purple in color, opaque but flat.  The nose has black cherries, cedar, earthiness and dust.  Soft texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  A bigger in style Barolo.  Black cherries and spice.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will benefit from getting some air at this point if just to blow off bottle stink and revive a bit.  It worked great with a Portobello Quesadil

It was nice to revisit this after an off bottle.  This one was singing.  Pale gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great.  it starts out simple but then opens to show lemon peel, slight lime, lots of minerality, salinity and a slight pineapple.  Medium bodied with light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this took about an hour to open.  It has a bit of lemons, some pineapple and deep minerality.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own but better with food.  It would work well with lemon pasta.  It seems like this could be interesting as it ages so if you have a few, maybe

it looks like a release date of 09/23.  This is a sparkling natural wine from Sicily made from 100% Catarratto grapes.  Pas Dosé means No Dossage.  Golden in color.  A nice mousse of smaller bubbles that quickly disappears in a wide rim glass.  The nose is apple cider with a bit of salinity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the apple cider notes continue along with a nice minerality.  Some cinnamon on the finish.  It is a different wine that seems food friendly.  Probably best to drink sooner than later.  

One of the top wines coming out of Italy.  This is made from 100% Sagrantino grapes in Montefalco, Italy.  Just now really entering its drinking window.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with plums, black raspberries, clove, and slight leather.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, char, spice and just a hint of forest floor.  Long finish.  This is delightful on its own, but better with food.  It went great with Eggplant Lasagna.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen year