2014 Cantine Fina Caro Maestro, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

This is a Bordeaux blend from Western Sicily. It a nice affordable wine that is enjoyable and will hold and improve a bit for a few years in a good cellar. It is a modern, internationally styled wine, but still has a certain continental quality to it. Purple in color. The nose has nice cherry fruit with a bit of spice and slight cedar. On the palate, there are some tannins. Nice cherry fruit. Good acidity. Nice finish. Easy drinking and will work with a wide variety of foods. It won't get much better, but perhaps a bit. It should be drunk by 2025.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2014

Current Price:

$25.00USD

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Le Marche's Le Terrazze: Bob Dylan, Chaos & Some Great Italian Wines

Le Marche (pronounced lay Mar-kay) is a region in central Italy that borders the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Apennines to the west. Le Marche borders Emilia-Romagna to the north, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio to the west, and Abruzzi to the south. The terrain is mostly hills and mountains once you get away from the coast. The area has a long history matching most of the historic conquests of Italy: it was occupied by the Gaul’s, colonized by the Romans, later it was invaded by the Goths and Lombard’s, then by Charlemagne. It was then mostly a papal state before finally being annexed in the mid-1800’s by the kingdom of Italy.

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2016 Cantine Briziarelli Montefalco Montefalco Rosso, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

This is a blend of Sangiovese 60%, Merlot 30%, Sagrantino 10%. It was purchased in Italy and brought back by friends. This is one of those simple wines that probably tastes better young and certainly when consumed on vacation. That said, it was delightful in a local Italian restaurant with some simple pasta dishes. This vintage doesn't seem available in the US, but later vintages retail for around $16. Deep ruby in color. The nose has cherries, roasted herbs and a bit of chocolate. Just guessing, but this likely sees no oak. On the palate, this has nice acidity. The cherries come t

2013 Marchesi Gondi Chianti Rùfina Riserva Villa Bossi, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage:

2020

Score:

Grade:

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

2014 Tenuta San Guido Guido Alberto Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage:

2014

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$45.00USD

This is the second label of Sassicaia. It is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Tasted at a tasting with more Sangiovese grapes did not help this wine. Nor did the fact that this was from a not very good vintage in Tuscany and many of the others were from better vintages. Still, this wine was a favorite of some. Deep garnet in color. The nose has tart cherries, some cassis, some tobacco and green bell pepper. On the palate, the tannins are fully resolved. Good acidity. Slightly bitter cherries with some forest floor. Short finish. It is a good reason to drink wines

2016 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$25.00USD

A delightful wine that is a step or two above a entry level super Tuscan. It is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cherries, sandalwood, slight chocolate and spice. Medium bodied. On the palate, there are upfront cherries supported with nice acidity. It broadens on the palate to a variety of cherry flavors with touch of tea leaves. Nice finish. This may still improve for a few years in the cellar, but in general, this should make nice drinking for the next seven to ten years. It drinks well on its own but will work be

2014 Cantine Fina Caro Maestro, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

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