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 sparking wine made in the Prosecco DOC using the Charmat method.  silvery green/gold in color, clear and bright.  A nice mousse with medium sized bubbles.  The nose is interesting with pine, apples and some minerality.  Medium bodied.  Medium acidity.  On the palate apples with some minerality.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own and very food friendly.  It will work with most foods and would be a great pairing with fried appetizers.  Drink now.  

It was nice to revisit this after 6 years of so.  It really hasn't improved that much.  It is a proper Amarone that is a good value and a good wine.  Ruby in color. The nose has cherries, roasted herbs and raisiny. Dry. Tannins mostly resolved at this point.  Good acidity. Cherries and dried cherries with some char. It won't get better but should drink well for another five years.  

This was tasted blind among a group of Cabernet based wines.  Upon opening this was off a bit, perhaps showing some oxidation.  However, with about 30 minutes of air, it really came back strong.  Purple in color, opaque but flat.  The nose has black cherries, cedar, earthiness and dust.  Soft texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has depth and complexity.  A bigger in style Barolo.  Black cherries and spice.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will benefit from getting some air at this point if just to blow off bottle stink and revive a bit.  It worked great with a Portobello Quesadil

It was nice to revisit this after an off bottle.  This one was singing.  Pale gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great.  it starts out simple but then opens to show lemon peel, slight lime, lots of minerality, salinity and a slight pineapple.  Medium bodied with light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this took about an hour to open.  It has a bit of lemons, some pineapple and deep minerality.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own but better with food.  It would work well with lemon pasta.  It seems like this could be interesting as it ages so if you have a few, maybe

it looks like a release date of 09/23.  This is a sparkling natural wine from Sicily made from 100% Catarratto grapes.  Pas Dosé means No Dossage.  Golden in color.  A nice mousse of smaller bubbles that quickly disappears in a wide rim glass.  The nose is apple cider with a bit of salinity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the apple cider notes continue along with a nice minerality.  Some cinnamon on the finish.  It is a different wine that seems food friendly.  Probably best to drink sooner than later.  

One of the top wines coming out of Italy.  This is made from 100% Sagrantino grapes in Montefalco, Italy.  Just now really entering its drinking window.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with plums, black raspberries, clove, and slight leather.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, char, spice and just a hint of forest floor.  Long finish.  This is delightful on its own, but better with food.  It went great with Eggplant Lasagna.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen year

This is a solid Brunello that is at peak.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, some black cherries, tea leaves and spice.  Medium bodied.  Tannins resolved.  On the palate, cherries with some forest floor.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  There is some complexity.  Better with food at this point.  A nice match with a plate of mushroom pasta.  Drink up over the next few years.  

This is made from a single vineyard of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.  Gianni Masciarelli and Marina Cvetic are a husband and wife team in southern Italy (she is from Serbia).  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, some black cherries, smoke and thyme.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has some depth and complexity.  Flavors of cherries with thyme and anise.  A bit of char.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Lasagna or a Beef Ragu would work well.  Drink over the next five to eight ye

Great showing.  This is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Aglianico from Campagna in Italy.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and a bit flat.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, dried cherries, herbal notes, forest floor and spice.  Complex.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex.  Lots of fresh cherries and black cherries with some tobacco, leather and spice.  Long finish.  This is close to or at peak.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with many foods.  Roasted poultry should work well.  Drink over the ne

This is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany.  At age twenty it is fully mature and seemingly at peak.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries,  dried cherries, spice, forest floor and char.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, this has some complexity.  Fresh and dried cherries, tobacco, forest floor and char.  Good finish.  This is better with food.  It would work well with a nice plate of pasta.  Drink up.