2013 Antinori Villa Antinori Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany - Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

I have always been a fan of this wine going back decades.  It used to be labeled as a Chianti but now they add fruit outside the zone and about 55% Sangiovese.  It is still a great value and a wine that will age in the cellar for ten years at least.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is earthy with sandalwood and cherries and an underlying char.  It is complex on the palate.  Great texture.  Cherries and cherry liqueur.  Nice acidity making it food friendly. 

2013 Conte di Bregonzo Amarone della Valpolicella, Italy, Veneto - Wine Review

Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

This is a staple at Trader Joe's (at least my local store).  For under $20, it is hard to find a less expensive Amarone.  The only problem is that it really doesn't taste like an Amarone.  At least not like the better ones that have eanred this area's reputation.  That said, it is a good solid wine that if it had been labelled Valpolicella I might have said it a fine value.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries and slight dark cherries.  The fruit carries over to the palate.  Nothing dried or rasin about this.  Good acdity.  A solid wine.  

2013 Paolo Scavino Barolo, Italy, Piedmont, Barolo - Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Very nice showing for such a young Barolo.  I was surprised by how well it showed just 4 years from vintage.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, dark cherries, black raspberries with slight tar and dust.  On the palate, there are tannins but not monsters.  Great cherry and dark cherry fruit.  Delicious and easy to drink.  Nice finish.  Of course, all the acidity is there to work well with food.  A nice way to taste high end Italian wines and not break the bank while waiting on the single vineyard wines.  

Top 20 Tuscan Wines Under $45

Forty-five dollars is a lot of money to spend on a bottle of wine. Yet, it is also a threshold pricing for wine. For many people, that is the most they are willing to spend on a bottle. For others, that is a typical Tuesday night pizza wine. The real question is what kind of quality you can get for that price. Unfortunately, the best wines often cost more. On the other hand, spending more does not guarantee quality. With that in mind, this article turns its attention to Italy in general and Tuscany in particular.
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Sicily, Italy Vintage Chart

Sicily, Italy 2010 90 D/H 2009 91 D/H 2008 90 D/H 2007 93 D/H 2006 92 D/H 2005 91 D/H 2004 96 D/H 2003 90 D 2002 89 D Vintage Charts should be used for a generalized guide in lieu of specific knowledge about a bottle or producer. The better wines from a vintage will generally have longer lives and...
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Campania, Italy Vintage Chart

Campania, Italy 2010 90 D/H 2009 89 D/H 2008 87 D/H 2007 91 D/H 2006 93 D/H 2005 93 D/H 2004 96 D/H 2003 91 D 2002 89 D 2001 91 D/H 2000 90 D 1999 92 D/H 1998 90 1997 94 D/H 1996 90 1995 89 D Vintage Charts should be used for a generalized guide in lieu of specific knowledge about a bottle or...
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Chianti, Tuscany, Italy Vintage Wine Chart

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy 2009 90 D/H 2008 93 D/H 2007 93 D/H 2006 96 D/H 2005 92 D/H 2004 97 D/H 2003 89 D/H 2002 85 D 2001 95 D 2000 90 D 1999 94 D 1998 90 D 1997 96 D 1996 88 D 1995 80 D 1994 83 D 1993 84 D 1992 76 D 1991 80 D 1990 94 D Vintage Charts should be used for a generalized guide in lieu...
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Q&A with Leonardo Frescobaldi, President of Marchesi de' Frescobaldi

Most everyone knows the name Frescobaldi. After 30 generations of producing wine in Italy, they continue to dominate with distribution of their wines in 65 countries. They own five different estate vineyard sites throughout the Tuscany region planted to nearly 3,000 acres of grapes. Founded in the 14th century and a supplier of wines to the royal courts of Europe for generations, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi is still a family-owned company today. The company continually upgrades and modernizes its grape growing and winemaking operations, maintaining a relentless focus on producing unique wines that range from approachable, everyday wines to rare, collector vintages. Leonardo Frescobaldi has been President of Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi since 2007, acting as leader and managing partner of multiple Frescobaldi companies. Prior to this position, he was Director of International Sales and Marketing, Board Member, and President of the Luce della Vite estate. With 700 years of wine experience, are there still things you learn, things that take you by surprise with each vintage? I consider that life represents the occasion for a continuous learning process. Particularly when you love the work you are doing. Certainly every vintage is a new chapter and brings a different challenge which enriches my patrimony of knowledge and experience.
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Q&A with Giacomo d'Alessandro, Founder and Owner of d'Alessandro Winery

Giacomo d’Alessandro is the founder and owner of the d’Alessandro Winery, located near Agrigento in Sicily. Though the winery’s lands and vineyards have been in the family since 1820, only in 2006 did Giacomo open the family winery. His latest entrepreneurial venture is d’Alessandro Wines, a technologically advanced winery that merges the family history and connection to the land with modern ecological “green” practices while making wines from indigenous Sicilian grapes. Giacomo lives in Rome where the corporate office of his travel business is located, traveling frequently to the family home in Agrigento to oversee the development and expansion of the winery. When not in Sicily or Rome, Giacomo can be found traveling the world promoting d’Alessandro Wines.
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