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

The name Romato is the term the Friulians used to describe the color which comes from the purple skins of the grapes that get very short contact with the juice before pressing.  This is a very pale copper/pink colored wine.  Clear and bright.  The nose has pink grapefruits with some minerality and a bit of dried hay.  Light bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, this is quite tasty.  Pink grapefruit with a very slight grassy note and some minerality.  Crisp finish.  This is lovely on its own and will work well with vegetables or even pork or chicken dishes.  Drink over the next year or two

This is a blend of Corvina 50%, Trebbiano 25%, Syrah 15% and Carmenère 10% from the northeast corner of Italy.  The name comes from the duration that the skins are allowed contact with the juice after pressing.  Pale pink in color with slight orange hues.  Clear and bright.  The nose has orange citrus, slight orange peel, floral notes and a bit of spice/pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet (more like off dry) with good acidity.  The palate has strawberries, some orange and slight minerality.  Good finish.  This is easy to drink on its own.  It will also work a bisc

This is an intriguing blend of Syrah and Vermentino made into a Rose from Tuscany.  Deep salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with cranberries and some strawberries.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet on the palate.  Mostly cherries and some strawberries.  Nice finish.  This is a light and refreshing wine but the  Syrah gives it just a touch of seriousness.  Nice on its own and very food friendly.  Drink now.  

Great showing for this wine.  Light ruby with slight orange/brown near the edges.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose is classic with cherries, slight dried cherries, roses and slight tar.  Medium to full bodied with medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and delicious.  Cherries, dried cherries with underlying char.  Layers of flavors that unwind in the glass.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is close to peak at this point, but no hurry.  It should be at this level for ten or more years.  Better with food.  A perfect match for a mushroom or truffle dish.

This seemed to be at peak.  Ruby in color with a touch of bricking, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, slight black cherries, some dried cherries, slight sandalwood and tea leaves.  Medium bodied.  A good backbone of acidity.  On the palate, some depth and complexity.  Flavors of cherries, sandalwood and char.  Nice finish.  This needs food to really shine.  It would work great with pasta or pizza and I enjoyed it with Eggplant Rotini.  Drink up.  

Very nice showing for this wine if on the young side.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, anise, slight tea leaves, and a bit of char.  Medium tannins but smooth.  Full bodied.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, ripe, black cherry fruit with some anise and smoke.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Drinking well now and should continue for ten to fifteen more years.  It was excellent with Eggplant Rotini.  

I don't see this wine often, so it is always a treat to try.  Made from the Fiano grape.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has pears, slight nutty note, "white" floral qualities, and just a bit of pineapple.  Medium to full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this took about twenty minutes to open and then was singing.  A lively wine with nice minerality.  Pineapples, some honeydew, and some citrus.  Long finish.  very nice on its own, but better with food.  It went well with a Veggie Flatbread but even better with a Carmelized Onion Flatbread.  Long finish.  Drink over

What a great wine.  Unfortunately, the price has caught up to the quality on these, but it is still worth the occasional splurge.  I had originally tried this on release at the winery, it has really developed nicely since then.  I believe it is 100% Sangiovese, but could not verify that.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with black cherries, baking spice, some dark chocolate, and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Juicy acidity.  On the palate, black cherries with slight forest floor and plenty of char.  Wonderful texture.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is great on its

One of the truly great white wines in the world IMO.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has granny smith apples, dried green apples, and ginger.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is deep.  Flavors of green apples with some spice.  Layers of depth.  Long finish.  This is a white wine that really grabs one's attention.  Long finish.  It should drink well for another ten years.  Great on its own, but better with food. It would be a great match with Spaghetti alla Chitarra.

Purple in color, mostly opaque and flat.  The nose is classic older BDM.  Black cherries, cherries, dust, tea leaves and dirt.  Still firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries with cigar/ash and some forest floor.  Very smooth texture.   Long finish.  At or just past peak but drinking quite well.  Drink over the next few years.  Great on its own, this would be better with food.  Pasta with a Bolognaise sauce would be good match.