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 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

This was interesting, a cooler vineyard site in a warmer vintage.  The resulting wine was excellent.  Ruby in color with some browning at the rim.  The wine still retains a pretty nose with some floral notes to go with cherries, black cherries and a slight pine note.  A nice medium to full bodied texture.  Plenty of depth.  Light tannins.  On the palate, notes of black cherries, black currants, and some underlying tea leaves.  Long finish.  Good acidity.  While this drinks nicely on its own, it works better with food.  Braised short ribs would be a nice match.  

Ruby to deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, tea leaves, some baking spice and roasted herbs.  Great texture; juicy but plush.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cherries, black cherries over spice and charred herbs.  Good acidity.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This seems to be just on the younger side of peak.  Very tasty.  It should drink well for the next twelve to fifteen years.  A nice match with Lamb Ragout.  

This is a big, modern styled Brunello.  It is also outstanding.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, forest floor, sandalwood and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, plenty of oak coming off as spice and chocolate but plenty of cherry and black cherry fruit.  This bottle is still youthful but getting close to maturity.  Depth.  Delicious.  Nice finish.  This drink great on its own and need some heavier food right now.  Short ribs with Polenta seems like it would work well.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

Very nice showing for this wine.  It has the reputation (fueled by its 15% abv?) of being a bruiser but at this stage in its life, showed plenty of refinement.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, slight sandalwood, slight tea leaves and an interesting rosemary note.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, cherries, slight black cherries, hint of soy with a bit of char.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This may still improve but either way has another ten to twenty years left of good drinking.  It drinks nicely on its own b

I believe that Pietro Conterno is Giacomo Conterno's father.  First time trying a wine with this label.  It was double decanted a few hours prior to serving.  Pale ruby with plenty of browning in color, clear although a bit muted.  Despite all of the air it saw prior to pouring, this still improved and got more youthful (to a degree) in the glass.  The nose is a bit nutty, but also has some dried cherries, slight mushrooms, and forest floor.  There is a nice complexity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is past prime but does offer up some interesting notes of earthiness, mushroom and dr

This bottle was decanted for sediment about an hour prior to serving.  This bottle was fresher than one opened about a year ago.  It was purchased around 2009, and it is not clear if this is an original bottling or not. Light ruby in color, some browning, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, tar and slight smoke.  Perhaps a slight but of forest floor.  Complex and deep with layers or some fruit but mostly tertiary notes.  Cherries, slight gravel, forest floor and slight char.  Good finish.  This is certainly past prime and every bottle is different, but this bottle was just wh

This is always a difficult wine especially for those who don't drink a lot of it.  Considered an "orange" wine, this predates the hipster Sommelier's infatuation of this style of wine.  At age 17, it has changed and aged by is still a fascinating wine.  Beware, at any given table, most people with be less than enthralled.  A blend of Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Riesling Italico (Welschriesling).  Amber in color, cloudy but still bright.  The nose has honey, caramel but also some citrus.  There is also a bit of oxidation.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is dry