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 wine made from the Trebbiano grape on the shores of Lake Garda from the Lugano DOC.  Light golden in color.  Lovely nose of tropical fruit, slight grassiness and underlying minerality.  Very Sauvginon-like.  On the palate, this is round and slightly oily.  Velvety.  Very nice texture.   NIce acidity.  Just a bit of lemony fruit with good minerality.  Nice finish.  Very food friendly and a crowd favorite.  

This was pop and pour and it needed more air.  Of course very young, but still, this was excellent.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, floral notes and slight tar.  On the palate, this is tannic.  Fresh acidity cuts across the tannins though revealing nice cherry fruit.  Showing some tight layering already. Great mouthfeel.  Of course, this begs for some hearty food.  Even more, another ten years in a good cellar should show some improvement.  

One of the best Syrahs from Italy (not exactly a great compliment) and from one of the best wineries in Tuscany.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has a slight aquarium note and one wonders how long this has sat on a warm shelf (if at all).  Mostly, that is a question because these often don't sell without encouragement from a shop owner or sommelier.  On the palate, it seems much fresher.  Nice acidity.  Black cherry fruit.  Light tannins.  It takes some time but opens in the glass.  A unique expression of Syrah, the vineyards are warm but the profile is a bit cooler.  There is some depth. 

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries and a slight root beer note.  Strong tannins!  Sour cherry fruit on the palate.  Good acidity.  Some depth.  Despite the youth and tannins, this has a lovely elegance to it.  This really demands food.  It will work with a wide variety of pasta dishes with or without meats.  Should continue to improve for a few years and be good for another 15 after that.  Retails for $65.  

This Super Tuscan blend has Sangiovese, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.  It retails for $15 which is a fair price.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  This is a relatively simple wine but good and easy drinking.  There is a bit of an under ripe vegetal note but not bad.  Good acidity.  This would work nicely with pizza or pasta or at a local Italian place.  

2013 was a more traditional year in Brunello lending itself to more elegance and less full bodied wines.  Whether that is good or bad is in the eye of the beholder or drinker.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, dried cherries with an underlying sandalwood.  On the palate, this is soft but complex.  Nice cherry and dried cherry fruit.  A bit of tea leaves.  Of course, great with Italian foods but will work nicely with beef dishes too.  This is a very pretty and elegant wine.  Just lovely but don't expect a big wine.  

Looking for a great value?  Be sure to check out the 2015 Chianti's.  This one retails for $10 and is very good.  A bit modern in style and easy to drink.  Ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries and slight dry forest floor notes.  A bit of baking spices.  On the palate, there is a nice acidity here.  Cherry and black cherry fruit.  Round corners make it easy to drink on its own but of course, great for pizza and pasta.  This probably is better drunk in the next few years.  

Deep ruby in color with brown tinges to it.  On the nose, this has nice cherries with a bit of tar/anise.  It has strong tannins on the palate.  Cherry fruit but a pretty strong green streak.  There is plenty of depth.  Good acidity.  This begs for food, both to calm the tannins and the green streak.  It is very good though and at $18, this is fairly priced.  It will be interesting to try the 2015 to compare.

Made from the Rossese grap in Liguria Italy near the town of Cervo.  Light ruby in color.  The nose has dusty cherries.  On the palate, good acidity.  Fresh cherry fruit.  Slight salinity.  Long finish.  This will work with a wide variety of foods and is probably better at the table than as a cocktail.  It retails for $24.  An unusual wine that is a bit different and worth trying.  

Light golden in color with slight green swirls.  The nose has some lime and pears and also some minerals.  On the palate, this is a nice, slightly oily texture.  Minerals.  Lighter in body.  Very easy drinking.  No bitterness.  Ligurian wines are not that common in the US.  Retails for $24.