2017 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Another top BdM from the consistently top producer.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, spice, and a bit of tobacco.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has a tight complexity that unwinds in the glass.  Lots of cherry fruit with some underlying forest floor and slight tea leaves.  Good finish.  This is a classic pizza wine and in fact, went great with some really creative wood fired pizza.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2020 North Coast Wine Club Super Tuscan, American Red Blend, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is a blend of primarily Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and a bit of Merlot.  It seemed a step or two up from the varietally labelled Sangiovese.  Purple in color with some garnet hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, spice, black cherries, slight chocolate and slight forest floor.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is some varietal complexity and depth.  Light tannins.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries and spice.  Some acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks easy but has some depth, too.  It is nice on its own and would be a nice wine with a steak.  Drink over the

2020 North Coast Wine Club Sangiovese, USA, California, Amador County, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is made with California grapes, shipped cold to Ohio for production.  It is one of the mysteries of wine as to why some many winemakers in California, struggle to produce Sangiovese, while in Tuscany (including Chianti), there are so many good ones and even a few great ones.  This is a nice wine but does not resemble the Chianti's in Italy.  But, that's ok.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has dust and black cherries (so far, so good).  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the acidity does not come thru, but there is plenty of cherry fruit along wit

2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$196.00USD

Amazing wine.  It is 100% Sangiovese.  Inky purple in color with some ruby around the rim.  The nose is great with black cherries, sandalwood, slight green olive note (in a good way), and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is still youthful but to the point where it is worth opening if you have more than one bottle in the cellar.  Loads of black cherry and cherry fruit, some anise, slight underlying forest floor.  good acidity.  Long finish.  No hurry, this has another ten to fifteen more years.

2013 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$43.00USD

This is not your regular Chianti.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, slight anise, slight tea leaves and spice.  Full bodied.  Great backbone of acidity.  On the palate, lots of bright cherries with some anise.  Long finish.  Deep and complex.  Light tannins.  Drinking great now and will continue for another ten to fifteen years.  This works great with food, pasta with a tomato sauces is a classic choice.  

2007 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Purchased at the winery.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, tea leaves, and coffee.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, bright cherry fruit.  Plenty of depth.  Layered.  Underlying tobacco/forest floor notes.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  A big plate of pasta is the obvious choice.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2017 Capezzana Villa di Capezzana Carmignano

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

In Italy, the history of Carmignano winegrowing dates back to 1716 when Cosimo III de' Medici granted the area special legal protections. In the 1500’s the queen of France sent cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux to Carmignano. This wine is made from a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from certified organic vineyards, and fifth-generation winemaker Benedetta Contini Bonacossi crafts a wine that offers subdued fruit of stewed prunes, black cherry, boysenberry, and resin. There is solid acidity and tannic structure to make this workable with a variety of foods.

2006 L'Oca Ciuca Brunello di Montalcino Drunken Goose, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, dried cherries, dried tea leaves, and some spice.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is a bit tired and past prime but still with something to offer.  Cherries, dried cherries aand forest floor notes along with some old leather.  Moderate finish.  This is better with food at this point.  It will work well with a nice plate of pasta.  Drink up.  

2016 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$58.00USD

Perhaps the top Chianti available, this wine is always good especially from such a great vintage as 2016.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, hay, anise and slight forest floor.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, bold cherries, slight sour cherries, char and slight tea leaves.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but still on the young side.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own but really begs for food.  Pasta with bolognaise sauce is perfect.

2020 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Toscana IGT

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is a blend of Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, dust, black cherries and sandalwood. Medium bodied.  Strong acidity.  On the palate, tart cherries and some cherries.  moderate finish.  This wine really needs food.  Some simple pasta or pizza would work.  Drink over the next few years.

Pages