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

This comes in an attractively shaped stout clear bottle with a greenish hue.  The wine is light straw, clear and bright.  The nose is deep with peaches, floral notes, and slight tropical fruits.  Medum bodied.  On the palate, this has a nice acidity.  More about minerality but peach comes thru on the finish.  This drinks well on its own but will work better with food.  It should drink well for the next few years.  A nice wine with sea food but this will work well with pasta, too. This is a great value in Pinot Grigio!  12% a.b.v.

This is a blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, dust, black cherries and sandalwood. Medium bodied.  Strong acidity.  On the palate, tart cherries and some cherries.  moderate finish.  This wine really needs food.  Some simple pasta or pizza would work.  Drink over the next few years.

Decanted for sediment, this is still a bit young but no harm opening now.  Deep garnet with slight bricking, clear and bright.  Classic nose of cherries, slight dried cherries, some floral/rose notes and slight tar.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is showing nice complexity.  Lots of cherries, some dried cherries, with some underlying forest floor, mushrooms and tar.  Long finish.  This drinks better with food.  Mushroom pizza is a great choice.  Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.

Moscato d'Asti deserves more respect.  It can be an excellent dessert wine that offers up enjoyment and yes, some level of contemplation.  Slightly sparkling and sweet, and not expensive can be very good things if done well.  This one offers up all of those.  Pale yellow in color with just a bit of frizzante.  The nose has peaches, orange blossoms, and just a hint of fresh thyme.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, this is sweet but nowhere near cloying.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  And low alcohol to boot (6%).  It is made to consumed within the first year or two.  It is great on its own and

Really a great wine from an underappreciated region and winemaker (Elena Fucci).  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep and concentrated with black raspberries, floral notes, roasted herbs and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying smoke and spice.  Delicious.  Good balance.  Moderate but enough acidity.  Good finish.  This drinks great on its own but will work well with foods (especially fatty foods).  Roast brisket would be a nice choice.  It is still young but is drinking well especially with some air.  it should drink well f

This is a lovely Amarone that delivers a lot for its price point.  It is a blend of 85% Corvina and 15% Rondinella.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, plums, dried cherries, slight char and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of fresh and dried cherries with some underlying roasted herbs and spice.  Nice balance.

Classic Brunello from a stellar vintage.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose opens quickly showing cherries, cranberries, sandalwood, and slight tea leaves.  full bodied.  Strong backbone of acidity.  On the palate, cherries with slight black cherries.  Firm tannins.

Beautiful sparkling wine from the north center of Italy.  It is a blend of 75% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Bianco, and 15% Pinot Nero.  Light golden in color with a steady stream of tiny bubbles.  The nose has red apples, minerals and slight toast.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a slight oxidative note along with apples and slight toast.  A nice backbone of acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own but will work well with a wide variety of food.  Everything from popcorn to fried, spicy chicken.  Long finish.  It will compete with everything in its price category from Champagne.

This is a very interesting and enjoyable white from northwest Italy.  Straw gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with pears, citrus, some peach, minerality, and slight almonds.  Light bodied. Lean and moderately piercing acidity.  On the palate, this is very tasty.  Notes of pears with minerality and slight herbal note.  Tasty.  Long finish. This really begs for food.  Lighter foods, seafoods or chicken salad would be a nice match.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

An excellent white from Sicily made from the Grillo grape. Pale yellow\gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with citrus, minerality and peach.  Great acidity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is tasty and bold.  Citrus notes with nice minerality.  Persistent finish.  This work better with food.  Sea food is a natural.  Drink over the next five years.