Piedmont (Piemonte)

This is a lightly sparkling (frizzante) red wine from Italy.  It is made from Brachetto grapes.  This is meant to be an easy, low alcohol (5.5%) fun wine and it achieves that goal.  Ruby in color with a pink froth.  Clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and sour cherries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet with cherries, strawberries and candied cherries.  It is easy to drink and probably a bit better on its own that with food although it will work well with chocolate.  Drink over the next year or two.  

 This is another fun wine from this producer.  It comes in attractive packaging although the screw top actually has a tiny leak in it and left a small pool in the fridge.  No worries, the wine was sound and it is only the second time I have seen such a closure fail.  This is a lightly sparkling (frizzante) rose that checks in at 5.5% abv.  It is a blend of Moscato and Brachetto grapes.  Pale salmon in color a white froth.  The nose has pink grapefruit and strawberries and slight simple syrup notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is semi-sweet with nice watermelon notes.  Great acidity

This is a Moscato from Italy.  It is made in Frizzante style meaning lightly sparkling.  This is made to be a fun, easy drinking wine.  It comes in a colorful, attractively packaged bottle.  At 5% alcohol, it is very easy to drink.  Silvery/gold/green in color, clear and bright. A nice frothiness to it in the glass.  The nose has minerality, seltzer and citrus (lime).  On the palate, this is sweet with minerals and lime.  Moderate finish.  This is a fun wine that drinks easily on its own and will work well with lighter foods.  Fun.    

Great showing for this wine.  Decanted for sediment and air for about 4 hours.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  No browning.  The nose is pretty with cherries, slight cherry juice, roses, black cherries and slight forest floor.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru a bit stronger.  Mild tannins.  Underlying forest floor.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This has layers of fruit and earth.  It seems to be drinking close to prime now, but well stored bottles should easily have another decade.  This will work great with pasta, mushrooms or more savory meat

A birth year wine for me.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright with a slight, slight browning.  On the nose, there are fresh cherries, cola, slight tar and dried roses.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the fresh cherry fruit comes thru.  Light tannins.  Nice acidity.  Round.  This is drinking older, but I would not have guessed 62 years.  it has a nice complexity and depth.  At this point, all bottles are a crap shoot, but this one could have gone a while longer.  Better with food.  Pasta in a cream sauce with mushrooms would be great.  

This is another mid-tier Barolo that savvy shoppers should be on the lookout for when it goes on sale.  These wines, especially in top vintages are really excellent.  This one was picked up for $42 which  is great for a Barolo of this quality.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, rose, and roasted herbs.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this still has firm tannins.  It opens more with air.  Cherries over a scorched earth with nice layering.  Great balance.  Very elegant.  Long finish.  This is close to peak but should do another ten to twelve years.  A great match with p

Barolo's, like most wines, are available in wide price points and quality levels.  Savvy shoppers can often find some of the mid-range producers at less expensive pricing and that can be a nice buying opportunity.  This is one that fits into that category.  It cost about $30 just a few years ago.  It was young and needed some time, but for this class of Barolo, ten years is a good time to check in.  And this is drinking very nicely now.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with cherries, slight roses and tar.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins that increase with air.  Nice fre

This is always one of the top Arneis's.  It comes from northern Italy where the Giacosa winery is one of the top wineries.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a nice minerality along with some peaches and a hint of melon.  On the palate, the melon is more dominant with underlying minerality.  A lovely texture with enough acidity to carry everything.  This is delicious, too.  It will work better with food although it drinks fine on its own.  A nice match for a fruit salad or seafood.  This should be consumed in the next five years.  

This is really drinking well.  If not at peak, pretty damn close.  Light ruby in color with some orange bricking at the rim.  The nose is very pretty with cherries, slight dried cherries, slight roses and hints of hot tar.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Light tannins.  Cherry fruit layered with earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This has a contemplative quality for drinking alone, but works great with food.  Pasta and mushrooms are perfect.  It won't get better but should drink well for seven to ten more years at least.  

Purple in color, ruby at the core.  The nose is dusty with light cherries.  On the palate, this is simple.  Sweet ripe cherries.  Soft texture.  Enough acidity.  Easy finish.  This is good but not what makes Barolo special.  It seems to be at peak now.  It probably should be consumed in the next five or so years.  A nice wine with pizza or pasta.