Best italians

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  August 2009

  Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Italy Abruzzi Dry 2005

  Snoothrank: Starting at $11^.20

  You'll see the '04 and '06 vintages floating around, but '05 is superior; for the value, this is one of the best Italian "table wines" out there -- I use that term literally, i.e. this wine is often on my table when the menu is Italian; guests enjoy the bottle's signature straw &... Read moreYou'll see the '04 and '06 vintages floating around, but '05 is superior; for the value, this is one of the best Italian "table wines" out there -- I use that term literally, i.e. this wine is often on my table when the menu is Italian; guests enjoy the bottle's signature straw & twig tie, too; I admit that I've bought a case of this before . . .    (hide)

  Wine review by trrenaud

  
  
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  August 2009

  Primitivo di Manduria Attanasio NV

  Snoothrank:

  One of the best Italian vines, dark red, very aromatic, fruits and spices ballanced, strongly recomended.

  Wine review by MAC100

  
  
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  August 2009

  Villadoria Barbaresco NV

  Snoothrank:

  The best Italian red I've ever tasted for the money. I've been turning red wine fans onto this for the last year and they've been raving about it. Just went to a wine tasting that featured a significant amount of nebbiolo graped wine. this barbaresco compared favorably. I heard it's... Read moreThe best Italian red I've ever tasted for the money. I've been turning red wine fans onto this for the last year and they've been raving about it. Just went to a wine tasting that featured a significant amount of nebbiolo graped wine. this barbaresco compared favorably. I heard it's made in fermented in stainless steel barrels instead og oak. Can anyone confirm that?    (hide)

  Wine review by Phillydog

  
  
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  July 2009

  Falesco Vitiano 2006

  Snoothrank:

  The best italian red wine I have ever tasted!

  Wine review by greisner26

  
  

• June 2009

  I think I had probably inferred your opinions about Gaja from before this process, but wanted to actually draw them out. Thanks, Greg. I have always loved Barolo, but never felt I had enough info about or access to it. I like it perhaps best of all Italians, though I like many... Read moreI think I had probably inferred your opinions about Gaja from before this process, but wanted to actually draw them out. Thanks, Greg. I have always loved Barolo, but never felt I had enough info about or access to it. I like it perhaps best of all Italians, though I like many Tuscans as well, and it ranks up with the best French and California reds for me. I have had to suffer through times when a number of snobs around me were ranking it lower, and through many, many damaged bottles in this part of the world (hey, maybe that's why it was getting lower ranking?!--in Tokyo in the '80s and '90s the only generally healthy bottles I could count on were from Pio Cesare or Gaja). Thus I have very much enjoyed your espousals and expositions regarding the wines from there. I'm still quite happy to have a Sperss, or other Gaja wine when its healthy, rather than others you recommend that are not to be had anywhere near my environs, when, quite frequently, I find myself in that predicament. Even despite its price...    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Alba Wine Exhibition 2006... by dmcker

  
  
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  April 2009

  Azienda Agricola Perazzeta Sangiovese Sara Toscana IGT 2007

  Snoothrank:

  2007 Azienda Agricola Perazzeta “Sara” Rosso Toscano IGT (13.5%) – Color: light crimson, Nose: a lot of fruit, strawberries, a little stale but not bad, smells a little hot, Taste: characteristically Italian, light bodied, intense, but mellow [despite not decanting, quite... Read more2007 Azienda Agricola Perazzeta “Sara” Rosso Toscano IGT (13.5%) - Color: light crimson, Nose: a lot of fruit, strawberries, a little stale but not bad, smells a little hot, Taste: characteristically Italian, light bodied, intense, but mellow [despite not decanting, quite mellowed (apparently opened at 6:30 pm)], fruity though not as overwhelming as the nose, mild tannins, high acidity, a little hot, medium length finish Lamarr: B- in terms of my taste, not a fan of Italian wine, but this is the best Italian wine I’ve had yet.    (hide)

  Wine review by lamarr

  
  

• March 2009

  Hi all, I am new here. I LOVE WINE! been drinking for roughly 5 yrs...still got a long way to go. I love any Cab based reds, but beyond my favorite big napa red and bordeaux, i try wine from almost anywhere...esp the Italians! Though not as nice as living in France or Italy,... Read moreHi all, I am new here. I LOVE WINE! been drinking for roughly 5 yrs...still got a long way to go. I love any Cab based reds, but beyond my favorite big napa red and bordeaux, i try wine from almost anywhere...esp the Italians! Though not as nice as living in France or Italy, living in socal gives me frequent access to CA wine counties. I can't stop buying wine of good deal coming my way...coming across this site was one of the best things happened this week! Cheers!    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Hiiiiiiiii.... by Cest La Vie

  
  

• December 2008

  I met with a semi-regular Sunday tasting group last week for the usual embarrassment of riches we indulge in. The loose theme for this dinner was “mature Italians” but I think the organizer did a little coercing seeing as the line-up consisted mostly of Giacosa! Not that I am... Read moreI met with a semi-regular Sunday tasting group last week for the usual embarrassment of riches we indulge in. The loose theme for this dinner was “mature Italians” but I think the organizer did a little coercing seeing as the line-up consisted mostly of Giacosa! Not that I am complaining! We had some visitors from Colorado join us, Rob and his lovely wife Melissa are rumored to like Spanish wines so we snuck in a bottle for them and rounded out the selection with a pair of wines from Giacomo Conterno and one from Aldo to boot! The 1970 La Rioja Alt 890 Gran Reserva came from a bottle with only a high shoulder fill but it none-the-less was classic mature Rioja, a little funky but complex and pure. I had hoped to pair this with grilled octopus but that dish was not on our menu this eve so I consoled myself with a few fried morsels, which were handled admirably well with the acidic spine of this wine. http://www.snooth.com/wine/la-rioja-alta-rioja-gran-reserva-890-1970/ Next we paired the 1974 Giacosa Barbaresco with the Giacomo Conterno Barolo of the same vintage. The wines were worlds apart with the Giacosa being evolved but silken while the Conterno was fresh and youthful with blazing acidity. I can’t wait to try the Conterno again as this was the best bottle of this vintage that I have had but it probably would have benefitted from some more air. http://www.snooth.com/wine/bruno-giacosa-barbaresco-1974/ http://www.snooth.com/wine/giacomo-conterno-barolo-5/ Our next flight did a disservice to the 1985 Roberto Voerzio La Serra as it was paired with an insanely good 1988 Giacosa Villero. I’ve had this Giacosa on several occasions before but never from a bottle with such precision and freshness. As compelling a 1988 Barolo as I have had. The Voerzio on the other hand was relatively unevolved for a 1985 and lacked the definition and subtle intensity of the Giacosa. It really deserves another look with a more leisurely approach and less competition. http://www.snooth.com/wine/bruno-giacosa-barolo-villero-di-castiglione-falletto-1988/ http://www.snooth.com/wine/roberto-voerzio-barolo-1985/ Our final pairing pitted Giacosa’s 1993 Rionda against his 1995 Falletto. The Rionda was the more complex bottling this evening but being a fan of the 1995 vintage I was captivated by the power and finish of the Falletto. This has been a black sheep in the Falletto family for years as it shut down virtually on release and while it is only half open, its fruit is finally beginning to assert itself. I really look forward to trying this wine over the next 2 decades as I fully expect this to be one the top wines of the vintage. The Rionda should not be over-looked, though I am not convinced that this is worth the 50% or so premium that it currently trades at. In light of what is being asked for current releases they are both steals! http://www.snooth.com/wine/bruno-giacosa-barolo-collina-rionda-1993/ http://www.snooth.com/wine/bruno-giacosa-barolo-falletto-1995-1/ We finished up with a tight and taut 1990 Granbussia that never really found its center. This is as brooding and unevolved a 1990 as I have come across. http://www.snooth.com/wine/aldo-conterno-barolo-granbussia-1990/ We then got antsy and jumped into the unique 1959 Solaria Jonica which was as compelling as ever with it’s drippingly sweet yet exceptionally well balanced mix of black fruits, toffeed sweetness and light spice notes. It is a classic Italian dessert wine with few peers. http://www.snooth.com/wine/antonio-ferrari-solaria-jonica-1959/ We then backtracked a bit; well actually I had just sniffed my Jonica before diving into these two off the list items. The 2006 Giacosa Nebbiolo Valmaggiore was perfectly fine but nothing more, simple and clean if totally uninspiring. I can think of a dozen Nebbiolos I’d rather drink and none is as expensive. On the other hand the 2006 Giacomo Conterno Barbera was a stunningly good example of the variety. So pure and deep it’s tough to think of a better example of Barbera, save perhaps other vintages of the same wines. While not inexpensive as far as Barbera goes this still offers fair value at this price point. The worlds greatest Barbera? You decide. http://www.snooth.com/wine/nebbiolo-dalba-valmaggiore-bruno-giacosa-2006/ http://www.snooth.com/wine/giacomo-conterno-barbera-dalba-cascina-francia-2006-1/ And that was another great Sunday done. Thanks to all who joined in and even those who sat on the beach is St. John sipping Pina Coladas while we stole his favorite Sunday night haunt for the evening!    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Mature Italians turns out to... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• February 2008

  In my last post I wrote about getting to Napa and Sonoma and getting through a day of wine tasting. Today I want to talk about trusting the man or woman holding the bottle. Please note that I have promised myself not to rant in any one place about any one wine thing. Wine culture... Read moreIn my last post I wrote about getting to Napa and Sonoma and getting through a day of wine tasting. Today I want to talk about trusting the man or woman holding the bottle. Please note that I have promised myself not to rant in any one place about any one wine thing. Wine culture in America has going through such a transformation these past few years, that us winos should all stand up and applaud - well, not like a State of the Union, every four or five sentences applause; maybe just sit back, kick the chair on its heels and smile, one big, mouth guzzling grin. That sounds about right. However. What happened this past Friday night saddens me. And I get this bile ridden, guttural feeling that it happens - a lot. I went to a cultishly popular wine store in Napa Valley for an Italian wine tasting. It is rare that we California wine country types drink anything but California wines, so this was a treat. I adore Italian wines, more than, well, maybe, my dog. And since she can't read and is not Italian, but Belgium, I know I am probably pretty safe with that hypothetical comparison. I mentally committed myself to the event weeks in advance. I even tried to get an insider's sneak peak at the lineup, but the proprietor is very particular about what wines will be poured and tastes through everything, not for marketing and sales purposes but for the best mix of what presents the epitome of such and such sector of wine in the world. Days before when the store website posted it would be a Tuscan and Piemontese tasting, my palate was going pazzo (crazy) with anticipation. I drove in on the early side to secure a good spot, nodded vigorously my anticipation and eagerness to begin the begin. My excitement settled itself with the first sip of Sangiovese. The remainder of the tasting took some rolling hill turns up North Eastern Tuscany and down Southern style, before jetting back north to Alba and Barbaresco. It was pleasant as punch. I was satisfied and ready to head out to dinner. But before I did, I saddled up to the tasting bar and caught the eye of the Distributor who was on hand to help shepherd the wines. If not an Italian by blood, he was an Italian by hand gestures and lack of modesty. Our eye contact did what Italians do best, speak without talking. He knew I meant business and he reached under the bar and pulled out some "under the table wines" to try. The night just got more interesting. These wines were higher price points (from ~ $20 to $40 during the tasting to ~ $40 to $80/bottle). I can't really remember how many there were, but it was at least four, maybe five wines, some from the same producers and these were their "Riserva" wines. I swirled, sniffed and sipped with appreciation. And on the final wine, I Sodi di San Niccolo vintage 2000 from Castellare in Chianti I was floored. When tasting or dining out, I tend not to mention I am in the business unless the event or the occasion calls for it. This night I was a consumer, albeit an educated one, and I wanted to let the wines speak for themselves. And when the occasion calls for it, I want the person pouring the wines to show their enthusiasm for the wine and their passion for the business that gets me excited to experience it with them - that beyond all the negative connotations that wine culture has endured is what is going to keep elevating wine drinking in this country. After a flurry of superlatives slipped from my mouth about the wine, I mentioned that the wine really stands up to the Brett-iness on the nose. [For a simple summary of Brett and its causes, check out the "Wine Tasting Articles" link here.] Upon those words of mine, you would have thought I massacred a small village of rabbits for fun and profit. The Distributor immediately got defensive and started spouting out that these aromas (which he did not describe) were the classic aromas of Malvasia Nera (of which the wine in question was cut with 15%). Hmm. Immediately we think of sweet and delicious Malvasia, could its sibling be so dirty and demonic? Yes. Every ounce of Malvasia Nera in the world, I was told, has the same characteristic, and every vintage of this wine has the same characteristic even at such low percentages in the blend. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust him. Even without exposure to this grape, I couldn’t believe him. I couldn't trust him. Everyone knows when someone is pulling a sack of Bretty horse manure over thine eyes. I smiled, I smelled, I bought a bottle to examine in the comforts of my own sanitary stall I call my cottage in the country. I have yet to open the wine, and spent the larger part of the next afternoon, fingering pages of all my wine books, doing countless web searches on the wine and reading vintage notes in Italian and English and trying to find out more about Malvasia Nera, none of the information I reviewed mentioned anything about faulty (but sometimes fabulous) aromas associated with Malvasia Nera. So, I just sent off an e-mail to the wine shop owner to see if he can secure me a vertical of the wine. Trust me, I'll keep you posted. Dan Petroski is Assistant Winemaker at Larkmead Vineyards in Napa Valley. Dan has an MBA from New York University and worked as an Ad Exec in New York for several years, before switching it up and trading his suit for a move out west.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Trust Me by Dan

  
  

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