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

One of my favorite Barolos.  Still, slightly to the modern side (as that distinction means less and less).  At age 11, this is still young but drinking great.  Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has tar, black cherries and cherries.  With air, some dusty rose notes.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Still tannic.  Lots of cherry fruit, some black cherries with some underlying spices.  This wine is very lively.  Long finish.  It is drinking well but may still improve a bit.  Either way, it should be good for another fifteen years at least.  It will work great with mushroo

This bottle had been opened and allowed to breathe for 8 hours prior to drinking.  It probably needed more.  Ruby in color, slight browning.  The nose has dried roses, slight tar, and cherries.  There was also a slight oxidized/caramel quality to this.  On the palate, this is very firm tannins.  Fresh and dried cherries.  Anise on the finish.  Very traditional in style.  Good balance.  This needs food, pasta with a mushroom and cream sauce perhaps.  I don't think it improves but a bit more cellaring or air wouldn't hurt.  Drink over the next ten years.  

This was a group favorite at a recent wine tasting group of Barolo's.  It is still somewhat tight and needed some air.  Ruby in color, slightly orange at the rim.  The nose has some volatile acidity but perhaps just enough to raise the aromatics.  Ir has raspberries, dust, and slight rose petals.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Cherry fruit with underlying tar/minerals.  Very nice texture.  Good balance.  For my tastes, this needs a few more years and should be good for fifteen or so years after that.  It will work well with stews and casseroles but it really will work better with f

Sadly, this was corked.  

What a delicious white wine.  Apparently, this producer was the first 100% Arneis wine back in 1972, but this was my first time trying it.  it captured our whole table's attention.  Silvery gold in color with some green swirls.  The nose has pears along with slight lemons and vanilla cream.  With a bit of air, a floral quality emerges.  On the palate, this has a great slightly oily texture.  Good acidity.  There is a an underlying minerality with some pear fruit.  Clean finish.  This probably will last five to seven years, but its best drinking is in the next couple of years to enjoy its fr

OK.  So when we did this tasting, we had six Chianti's.  I went thru the lineup.  Then we invited friends over and about ten more people tried the wines.  I revisit them that night, the next night and finish on day 3.  This was almost the unanimous wine of the night.  If it was labelled Brunello or even a Super Tuscan, i think the scores would have been higher.  Of course, there is always something that says the best Chianti's can't score that high.  I have never subscribed to that philosophy as producers like Felsina and Fontodi deserve higher scores.  Well add this one to the list.   A bl

This is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Colorino.  Purple with ruby swirls.  It is very tight on opening but with air opens to black cherry fruit.  The nose is easy and enjoyable.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru.  This seems ripe and has an almost cough syrup quality to the cherry fruit.  A bit of anise on the finish.  Firm tannins.  This is concentrated but seems more about fruit than a typical Chianti.  That proved to be a good thing in a tasting.  It will be interesting to see how this ages from here.  It seems like there is room to improve over the next few years.  It sho

Terrific vintage.

This is a 100% Sangiovese wine that utilizes certified organic grapes.  And, of course, 2016 is an excellent vintage for Chianti.  This wine is superb.  The cork was quite tight and took some effort to extract.  The wine is deep garnet in color, purple at the core.  Mostly opaque and dark.  On the nose this has big black cherry fruit, slight black licorice and just of touch of earl grey tea.  On the palate, this has a lush texture.  Plenty of black cherry fruit with cherries.  It is still somewhat tight and young.  Firm tannins.  Long finish with an interesting anise note.  This will need a

This was quite good.  In general, 2011 is a good, not great vintage in Chianti, but this was very good.  It is a very classic Chianti for all of the right reasons.  Made from 100% Sangiovese grapes.  Medium/dark ruby in color.  Clear and bright.  The nose is very nice.  It is earthy with macerated cherries and fresh cherries along with a sweaty note.  Sort of a rustic Tuscan quality.  On the palate, this has bright cherries over a forest floor.  Very firm tannins.  Long finish.  It was tasted and about half consumed, then a neutral cork inserted and left over night on the counter.  Better o