Category Archives: Tuscany

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2006

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Ray

Isole e Olena, Chianti Classico 2006 Cherries and cranberries mark the nose with a touch of earth and smoke. In the mouth it is perfectly tart, light-bodied and ready to accompany roasted chicken. There’s long, lingering cherry flavor and acidity … Continue reading →

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Casa Alle Vacche Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2009

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Ray

Casa Alle Vacche, Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2009 The nose offers minerality, hay and citrus fruits. In the mouth you’ll find the expected acidity, in a lean format with a bit of roundness on the edges. The grape behind this … Continue reading →

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Tuscany’s Wine Classics

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Ray

Castello della Paneretta, Chianti Clasico 2006 The nose shows baked cherries and brown spices. In the mouth the cherry fruit is quite vibrant as is the acidity which matches it – nice.The grapes behind this wine are 90% Sangiovese and … Continue reading →

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Coltibuono Chianti Classico 2007

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Ray

Badia a Coltibuono, Chianti Classico 2007 The nose sports cherries and caramel with some raisins – clean and inviting. In the mouth the acidity is vibrant, the tannins are there yet ripe and there is a creaminess as well – … Continue reading →

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Paradiso Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2008

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Ray

Il Poderi del Paradiso, Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2008 Unfortunately this wine is aging prematurely, featuring a golden color and the smell of ethyl acetate. We’ll try another bottle soon to see if this was a failure of the seal … Continue reading →

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La Rasina Brunello 2004

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Ray

La Rasina, Brunello di Montalcino 2004 This wine smells as if you’ve walked into a room filled with spices, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and more. In the mouth you’ll find lots of extract, a wine that is dense and acidic yet … Continue reading →

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Avignonesi Vino Nobile 2006

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Ray

Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006 In April, the nose spoke Old World with a bit of funkiness. In the mouth this Vino Nobile shined, concentrated, tannic and possessing electrifying acidity that accentuated the cherry fruit – very nice. I … Continue reading →

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Frescobaldi Toscana Remole 2008

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Ray

Frescobaldi, Toscana IGT, Remole 2008 This wine is fresh and fruit forward, ready to drink, a light-bodied quaffer which demonstrates that clean and juicy wine is not the exclusive realm of New World producers. Behind the bright cherry fruit is … Continue reading →

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Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva 2006

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Ray

Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Chianti Rufina DOCG, Nipozzano, Riserva 2006 Unfortunately the first bottle was corked and will make a good example for my seminar on wine faults. The second bottle shows the huge difference a cork can make. In bottle … Continue reading →

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Biserno Insoglio del cinghiale 2006

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Ray

Tenuta di Biserno, Toscana, Insoglio del cinghiale IGT 2006 There’s a sense of France in this wine from Tuscany, with black fruit, an herbaceous edge and tannic grip. The grapes are Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This winery is shepherded … Continue reading →

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Coltibuono Chianti Classico 2006

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Ray

Badia a Coltibuono, Chianti Classico 2006 There’s a dusty,woodsy character in the nose at this point. In the mouth there is plenty of expected acidity and cherry fruit, with a soft dusting of tannin, an elegant Classico. The grapes for … Continue reading →

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Siro Pacenti Rosso 2006

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Ray

Siro Pacenti, Rosso di Montalcino 2006 The fresh cherries come through in the nose with a New World freshness. In the mouth however, is the structure you expect, plenty of acidity and tannin – nice. The grapes are all Sangiovese … Continue reading →

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San Guido Guidalberto 2006

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Ray

Tentuta San Guido, Toscana IGT, Guidalberto 2006 Cassis combines with earthiness in the nose. In the mouth it is quite concentrated, with extract to match its structure. I like the way this wine combines the fresh fruit of the New … Continue reading →

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Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2006

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Ray

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, Bolgheri Rosso DOC, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2006 The nose features ripe black fruits. The mouth sports great acidity to frame the fruit, making this Bordeaux-style blend a natural for a dinner table laden with cinghale – yummy … Continue reading →

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Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2006

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Ray

Fonterutoli, Chianti Classico DOCG 2006 The nose features a woodsy, earthy character. In the mouth there is textbook tangy acidity, tart cherries, a touch of tannin and a long finish – very nice. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 2% Malvasia Nera … Continue reading →

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Rocca di Montegrossi 2005

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Ray

Rocca di Montegrossi, Chianti Classico DOCG, 2005 There’s earthiness in the nose and plenty of tart cherry flavor in the mouth. This wine is medium-bodied, shows a bit of tannin and is long on acidity. I’m craving salame as I … Continue reading →

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Antinori Vermentino 2006

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Ray

Tenuta Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri DOC, Vermentino 2006 There is fresh perfume in the nose but also a sense of the wine aging and along its peak. The mouth is rounded and full of citrus but again there’s a complexity … Continue reading →

Posted in Bolgheri, Italy, Tuscany, Vermentino | 1 Comment

Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva 2005

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Ray

Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Chianti Rufina, Nipozzano, Riserva DOCG 2005 The nose is toasty, charred and sweet smelling. In July ’09 the brett is starting to show itself yet still in a complexing way. In the mouth, the intense acidity of … Continue reading →

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La Rasina Rosso 2005

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Ray

La Rasina, Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2005 There are cherries and green herbs in the nose. In the mouth the cherries are vibrant and tart with some tannic grab. Estate bottled by Marco Mantengoli in Montalcino 13.5% $22.49 at Bottle … Continue reading →

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Castellare Chianti Classico 2005

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Ray

Castellare, Chianti Classico 2005 This estate has traditionally shown an Old World expression in their wines from Tuscany. There is a combination of cherry fruit and earthiness in the nose. The mouth showcases lean and tart cherry flavors – right … Continue reading →

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V for Vernaccia

Posted on October 23, 2008 by Ray

Casa Alle Vacche, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, I Macchioni, 2007 There is a New World ripe expression of fruit in the nose, along with perfume, green herbs and some minerality. In the mouth there is ample acidity with some … Continue reading →

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Across Italy

Posted on October 21, 2008 by Ray

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, … Continue reading →

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Golden wine

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Ray

Selvapiana, Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina DOC 2001 Raisins and a spiritous character in the nose. The mouth features caramel and toffee and a subtle sweetness that would make it best consumed by itself after dinner in the cold of … Continue reading →

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Tuscan sea to famed hilltop

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Ray

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 … Continue reading →

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Italian classics

Posted on August 19, 2008 by Ray

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, … Continue reading →

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The expressions of Sangiovese

Posted on July 17, 2008 by Ray

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Napa Valley, Sangiovese, Super Tuscan, Tuscany | Leave a comment

Tuscan hit parade

Posted on July 2, 2008 by Ray

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Italy, Montalcino, Sangiovese, Tuscany | Leave a comment

Tuscan M&Ms

Posted on May 2, 2008 by Ray

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 … Continue reading →

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Tuscan classic

Posted on April 22, 2008 by Ray

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 … Continue reading →

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Runs with Boar

Posted on November 10, 2007 by Ray

Biserno, Insoglio del Cinghiale IGT 2005 Last weekend I tasted the 2004 vintage of this wine and it was supple, warm and loaded with oak. The 2005 is a similar animal – very approachable and more New World in style … Continue reading →

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