Masi, Rosso Del Veronese Indicazione Geografica Tipica, Campofiorin, Ripasso 2005 Previous vintages, while not stunning or concentrated, have highlighted the sense that ripasso adds to the barer bones of straight Valpolicella, albeit at a budget price. The ‘05 is a little stinky at first with notes of tar and plums. There’s plenty of tart cherry [...]

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Corte Gardoni, Bardolino, DOC Le Fontane 2006 The previous vintage sported a Beaujolais-like character, in the Nouveau vein, a carbo-mac fruit bomb with very light body – ideal for lunch in the sun when you demand red wine. This current vintage was quite stinky at the outset, but the fruit popped out later, in a [...]

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Corteforte Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripassato 2004
The smell of raisins is definitely there in a silky, sweet-appearing palate. The wine is dry but the fruit is amped up so that it appears sweet, unless there is a touch of sub-threshold RS. The Vigneti di Bertarole is planted to 65% Corvina and Corvinone, 25% Molinara and 10% [...]

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Jefferson and others in America’s early history admired the wines of Bordeaux and brought their passion to the early states. This line-up features a wine from the Virginia producer that so delighted us last week and a well-regarded fourth growth of Bordeaux.
Rappahannock Cellars Virginia Cabernet Franc 2006
There’s fresh red fruits and the herbaceousness and acidity [...]

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Allegrini Valpolicella DOC 2006
This wine has been consistently clean and refreshingly full of acidity, though in previous vintages it was labeled as being only from the Classico district. 60% Corvina, 35% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. Estate bottled in Fumane di Valpolicella 13% $14.95 in the spring of ‘08 and up $3 to $17.99 in [...]

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