Benessere, Napa Valley, Estate, Sangiovese 2005 You can smell sweet, candied cherries and vanilla in the glass while the mouth is a supple showcase of the same with Sangiovese’s textbook acidity.

The house style is one of polished wines. 12 different clones of Sangiovese went into the making of this one. The wine was aged in [...]

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Vietti, Langhe DOC, Nebbiolo, Perbacco 2005 Spot on with black licorice and a wallop of tannin. Estate Bottled in Castiglione Falletto 13.5% $26.99 at Traverso’s Vietti
Badia a Coltibuono, Chianti Classico DOCG 2005 There is a pleasant combo of earth, cherries and a hint of varnish which adds to the complexity. The acidity is matched by [...]

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Ramazzotti, Sonoma County, Raffinto, Red Wine 2005
This smells like a walk in the oak forest where some of the trees have been freshly felled - an intertwining of oak and earth.  The mouth is vivaciously fruity with the oak to match and a smooth texture. This is the winery’s Super Tuscan offering, blending 60% [...]

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Taft Street, Sonoma Coast, Rose of Pinot Noir 2007 Mild but muted strawberries and an astringent profile. Unfortunately this wine has a sub-threshold level of TCA that’s blocking the fruit. The grapes come from the Pasta King, Art Ibletto. P&B in Sebastopol 12.5% $11.99 at Bottle Barn Taft Street
Ramazzotti, Dry Creek Valley, Zin-Giovese, Rose 2007 [...]

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Tenuta Argentiera, Bolgheri DOC Poggio Al Ginepri 2006 There’s a light earthiness and a sense of brambles in the nose. The mouth is soft and easy drinking with leather, a moderate amount of tannic grip and acidity. Estate bottled in Castagneto Carducci 14% $25.95 at Traverso’s Argentiera
Casanova della Spinetta (La Spinetta), Toscana IGT, Il Nero [...]

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Fred Peterson has a winemaking resume to rival many. He’s been at some of California’s most famous estates, working in Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains and Sonoma County. Just over 20 years ago he took up the building of his own brand under his name. Such a wealth of experience elevates some winemakers into an [...]

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Castello della Paneretta, Chianti Classico DOCG 2005 There’s loads of acidity and the taste of cherries. The grapes behind this wine are 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo. Estate bottled in Barberino val d’Elsa 13% $17.99 at Traverso’s Paneretta
Andrea Oberto, Langhe, Nebbiolo DOC 2005
Recent bottles of this estate’s Dolcetto and Barbera have been well-made and affordable. [...]

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J. Keverson, Mendocino County, Janes Vineyard, Sangiovese 2005 If you like your New World Sangiovese heavy on the oak, this is your wine. There’s loads of sweet-oaky essence all over this supple wine. The moderate acidity will feel a disappointment for the fan of most Chianti; yet if your preference is softened edges and the [...]

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Rocca di Montegrossi, Chianti Classico DOCG, 2004 Screaming acidity and light body. 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, aged in French oak for 12 months. Estate bottled in Gaiole 13.5% $22.99 at Traverso’s
Valdicava, Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2003 Appropriate earthiness and some richness in the mouth that balances Sangiovese’s acidity - very nice. The Winemaker Vincenzo [...]

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2 great producers and 2 classic wines.
Fonterutoli Chianti Classico DOCG 2004
There’s some appropriate barnyard notes tied into the tart cherry and lightly tannic palate. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 2% Malvasia Nera and 2% Colorino, aged for one year in small oak barrels. Bottled by the Mazzei family in Castellina in Chianti 13.5% $27.95 at Traverso’s [...]

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Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano DOC 2005
This has been a stalwart good value in a modern style, though the price has crept to the border of $20. The ‘05 vintage is light-bodied, accessible and subtly laced with a bit of tannin. Estate bottled by Federico Carletti in Montepulciano 13% $19.50 at Traverso’s Poliziano
Argiano Rosso di Montalcino [...]

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Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2004
The previous vintage showed some herbaceousness and tannic grip, as well as cherry, fresh and evolving with complexing earthiness. Here again with the 2004 there is a rusticity and astringency. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and 4-5% Syrah and other grapes. Estate bot in Barberino Val d’Elsa 13% $17.99 at [...]

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Castellare Chianti Classico 2004
This estate has traditionally shown an Old World expression in their wines from Tuscany. This wine is spot-on again, showing the lean and acidic style of Sangiovese with a touch of green character. The grapes are mostly Sangiovese followed by Canaiolo. The wine was feremented in stainless and aged in French oak. [...]

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Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2001
Earlier in the year one bottle was corked while the second was fine. That bottle was very complex, silky and evolved with a little less acidity than I expected, making it ready to drink without delay. Today we opened three bottles, one of which was corked. Of the two that [...]

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D’Argenzio Sonoma Valley D’Alfonso Sangiovese 2005
I had an opportunity to taste this wine twice in the past 2 weeks, once at the sweeps round and again during the D’Arenzio Harvest Party at the winery on Cleveland Avenue. This wine sports fresh red fruits in a light-bodied package where the acidity is in balance and there [...]

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Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2003
Tonight’s bottle showed some herbaceousness and tannic grip, as well as evolving fruit. The bottle opened earlier in the year showed classic cherry fruit and complexing earthiness with some evolution and stewed fruit. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and 4-5% Syrah and other grapes. Estate bot in Barberino Val [...]

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