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 is a serious wine and in a great place right now.  By law, Taurasi Riserva's must be aged in wood for four years prior to release.  They are made from the Aglianico grape.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, char, pine and spice.  Firm tannins.  Lush texture.  This is delicious. On the palate, black raspberry fruit.  Deep.  Long finish.  It seems to be getting close to peak but not there yet.  This should improve a bit over the next five to ten years, and will drink well for fifteen to twenty after that.  No harm drinking today, but give it

This is a very interesting wine made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera and aged in stainless steel from the Emilia Romagna region of Italy.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with cherries, raspberries and char.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is a bit of sweetness on the attack.  Firm tannins.  Cassis, black cherries and slight mint notes.  Moderate finish.  This has some depth.  It needs a bit of air to open up.  This will work very well with pasta.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

This is a Nero d'Avola from Sicily made in the Appassimento (drying out  the grapes before pressing) style.  14% abv.  Ruby in color, partially opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, cough drops, wild thyme, and a hint of cocoa.  Medium bodied with a nice texture.  On the palate, there is some anise along with nice cherry fruit.  More cough drop fruit on the finish.  Dry.  Light tannins.  Very tasty wine.  This drinks nice on its own but will work better with food.   It would work nice with a lamb stew.  Drink over the next five years.  

A really interesting white that will be popular among all types of wine lovers.  Made from the Cataratto grape in Sicily.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with nice minerality, citrus and also some floral notes.  A very slightly oily texture which is nice.  On the palate this is crisp, tart and tasty.  Nice citrus with underlying minerality.  Long finish.  This should go well with sea food or other lighter dishes.  Drink over the next five years.  

A very nice Prosecco.  11% abv according to the label.  100% Glera grapes.  Silvery gold in color, very foamy with lots of small bubbles.  Lots of effervescence.  On the nose plenty of limes, some golden delicious apples and minerality.  Crisp.  Refreshing.  Medium bodied.  Dry.  On the palate, apples and minerality.  Nice finish.  Very clean.   This drinks easily on its own and is very food friendly.  A nice way to start an evening with a classic artichoke dip but also Sushi if looking to change it up.  Try to buy the freshest bottles that you can.  

There was a lot of talk at the other end of the table about this wine being problematic.  I tried not to pay much attention, but it seemed to center around an abundance of oak and being made in a more modern style.  While that may have been true, at age 24, this wine is drinking well.  Deep ruby in color, clear an bright.  The nose has cherries, slight tar, some spice/oak and a bit of forest floor.  Medium to full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, there is nice cherry fruit with some depth.  Nice finish.  This seems to be at peak but should drink well for the next five to ei

From Magnum.  This was really enjoyable.  In a young, but nice place right now.  Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is as expected, that is, cherries, slight dark cherries, dried floral notes, spice and slight tar.  With air, a slight menthol note.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, this has dense cherries with some spice.  Deep but primary.  Delicious.  Slight sweet and sour cherry note on the finish.  This (again from Magnum) of course needs more time.  It should drink well for the next twenty years.  Pasta with shave truffles should be per

This seemed a bit reticent at this point in its life cycle.  No doubt it will emerge soon but if opening soon, best go give this a  long decant.  Ruby/purple in appearance.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, and spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries with some black cherries.  Spice/oak with some forest floor notes.  Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  Right now this drinks better with food than on its own.  Mushroom Ragout would work well.  Hold for three to five years and drink for ten to twelve after that.  

This is a big, albeit young, wine.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries, some cherries, spice and slight tar.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, mostly black cherry fruit but some other fruits in there as well.  A bit of menthol on the finish.  Firm tannins.  This needs more cellaring, but is certainly enjoyable today.  Perhaps wait another five to seven years and drink for ten to fifteen after that and the score should go up by at least a few points.  A nice food match would be hearty pasta dishes

Fascinating to drink this side by side with the Ovello from the same warm vintage.  This is more muscular and dense.  Deep purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens in the glass to show black cherries, cherries, slight mint and perhaps some balsamic.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins that are a bit drying.  Plenty of depth and complexity but tightly layered.  Much more open on the palate.  Black cherries with spice but also a hint of stewed fruits.  The later is not overwhelming but is more prominent in the finish.  This wine has excellent parts but one wonders if it