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 Bordeaux blend from Tuscany.  It is comprised of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cherries, mike chocolate, spice and tobacco.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, cherries, fresh cut oak, chocolate and a bit of funk.  Long finish.  This is a great "Bordeaux" styled wine (you can also call it a Super Tuscan) for the money.  It is drinking well now but may still improve with some cellaring.  Drink over the next ten years.  Nice on its own b

There are a lot of Vin Santos being made but not a lot of outstanding ones.  This Vin Santo is consistently outstanding.  Amber in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with apricots, orange peel, honey, maple syrup and roasted cashews.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Great acidity.  On the palate, roasted nuts, honey, peach, apricot and a bit of maple.  Long finish.  Delicious. Complex.  This is great on its own and would be nice with Biscotti or another less sweet cookie.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

This is a blend of 50% Merlot, and 50% Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso from northeast Italy.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful (and nice) with black cherries, black raspberries, tobacco, and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Plenty of structure but still accessible.  Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries with tobacco, spice and char.  Long finish.

This is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from northeast Italy.  Purple in color with some ruby hues.  The nose is nice with black cherries, some cherries, tobacco, slight dark chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this has some depth and complexity.  Young, of course, but drinking well.  Flavors of black cherries with some forest floor, spice and char.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for the next eight to twelve years.  This would be a nice wine to pair with Fried Chicken and of course, pasta.  A very nice value in red wine.  

This is a blend of 95% Friulano and 5% Riesling that utilizes the oldest vines planted in 1954.  It is a very expensive Friulano.  It was great to get to drink this but, like many wines, it may depend on ones budget to determine if it is worth it.  Light yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with apricots, slight almond, sea air and slight apples.  Medium bodied.  Great balance.  Nice concentration.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of peach, apples and some minerality.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and will work with lighter foods.  A nice choice for a s

After tasting thru the lineup of 2021 whites from this producer (notes are on this site), this was my favorite for the money.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is big with lots of fruit; apricots, peaches and also some almonds and a bit of roasted herbs.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous texture. Great balance.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Dry.  Flavors of apricots and peaches.  Some almonds especially on the finish.  This is lovely on is own and would work well with lighter foods.  It would be great with Chicken Salad.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

Sadly, this bottle was corked.  

This is 100% Pinot Blanc from northeast Italy.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with some pears along with minerality.  With air just a bit of citrus comes out.  Light to medium bodied. On the palate, the pears come thru as does the minerality but the wine seems to be fading a bit.  Probably best to drink sooner than later.  Nice on its own, this will work well with lighter foods and should be nice with baked fish such as Trout.  

Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is more mineral driven.  Some chalk with a touch of pears.  Overall, nice if on the lighter side.  Light bodied.  Good balance.  More interesting on the palate.  The chalk comes thru but also a "non-sweet Pineapple" note that is tasty.  Good finish.  This drinks easily on its own but will need lighter foods or it risks being over powered.  It would be nice with a light summer salad.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is the second vintage of  this wine.  It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.  I had tried it about  a year ago (note posted elsewhere on this site), so it was nice to revisit and see that it is ageing better than expected.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with a slight grassy note, some grapefruit but also an interesting lemon candy quality.  Nice texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is still fresh with some grapefruit, some grass, but again an interesting lemon candy note.  It drinks well on its own and should work well with lighter dishes.  It would be great