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

Lugana is a wine region in Italy along the southern side of Lake Garda.  The grape is Turbiana, previously known as Trebbiano di Lugana.  13% abv.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is spicy with slight peach.  My guess is that on release, the peach notes were stronger but have faded over time.  Slightly oily texture.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is some sweetness to the wine (demi-sec?).  Also apples.  This bottle seemed well past prime but it may not have been a proper bottle as it has some mustiness to it.  Was it TCA or just bottle stink?  Not sure.  Hopefully, I can

Served blind.  Light golden in color with a touch of copper color making me think Pinot Grigio.  The nose is nice with lots of minerality.  Also dust, apples and some initial sulfur notes (which blew off).  Slightly oily texture.  Medium bodied.  A fair mount of oak showing but it somehow works.  On the palate, limes and apples.  Good acidity.  This is an excellent winery with good values.  Drink over the next few years.  This will work on its own or with a pasta with a cream sauce.

While common in Italy, and a grape native to the island of Sicily, you don’t find much Grillo is other parts of the world. And that’s okay as Italy does an admirable job with the grape. It offers good minerality, nice acidity and flavors of subtle lemon-lime, white peach, kumquat, apricot, resin and honeysuckle, light mango and other tropical fruit notes. In terms of food pairing, this is the kind of wine that is ultimately versatile, and Stemmari offers a terrific value. ORIGIN: Sicily, Italy. ALCOHOL: 13%

This is a blend of 90 Sangiovese and 10% Colorino from central Italy.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, with some cranberries and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, plums, slight chocolate and spice.  Clean.  This drinks easy.  Nice on its own, this is very food friendly.  A nice plate of pasta would work well.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Great value.  

Purchased about 15 years ago, this was opened and turned out to be corked.  Fifty-one years old and it was ruined the day it was bottled.  Sad.  It did seem like it had a bit of life left under the TCA.

This is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Merlot from central Italy.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, char and spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries, milk chocolate and slight smoke.  Long finish.  This is a lovely Sangiovese with a firmness from the blend that gives it s bit more seriousness.  It is drinking well now and should for the next seven to ten years.  A very nice value.  This is very food friendly and will work better with food.  Pasta Bolo

This bottle was bought on release and well stored until serving.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose was great with black cherries, dried cherries, slight tobacco, spice and slight smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  This is certainly close to peak but maybe not quite there yet.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Black cherries and cherries with some char and earthiness.  Long finish.  Great on its own, this went great with a variety of cheeses.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Sagrantino.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and an interesting black olive note.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Very good acidity.  On the palate black cherries and cherries.  Nice depth.  This seems to be about at peak and should be at that level for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, but a bit better with food.  This is a great choice for a "Pizza" wine.  

Inky purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is showing a bit of alcohol.  Also, Black Cherries, spices and slight vanilla.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, spice and smoke.  Long finish.  This is still young and could use a few more years in the cellar.  After that it should drink well for ten to fifteen more years.  It drinks well on its own, but if drinking soon, give it a decant some big flavors to match.  

Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, smoke and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  This  has a lovely satiny but muscular texture.  On the palate, this is deep with black cherry fruit, slight tobacco and char.  Good acidity.  This drinks well now but is still a bit young.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  It is nice on its own but would be nice with a Wild Mushroom dish or other earthy foods.