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 taste it. 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, aged in French oak for 12 months. Estate bottled [...]

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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 that has developed that at this point in time is quite nice as this wine [...]

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Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Chianti Rufina, Nipozzano, Riserva DOCG 2005 The nose is toasty, charred and sweet smelling. In the mouth, the intense acidity of Sangiovese is tamed into a more subtle character,  a  smooth and rich incarnation. Bottled in Pontassieve 13% $21.49 at Bottle Barn Frescobaldi

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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 Barn La Rasina

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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 on target. The grapes are mostly Sangiovese followed by Canaiolo. The wine was feremented in stainless [...]

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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 thick, fleshy fruit as well to fill it out. There is a little phenolic grip, [...]

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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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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 winter in front of that roaring fire. Estate bottled in Rufina 13.5% $46.99 at Bottle [...]

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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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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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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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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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Campo di Sasso 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 than the traditional Italian wines against which it was tasted. Of 4 wines [...]

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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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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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This flight pairs two of Italy’s well-known white grapes. Vernaccia from Tuscany and Vermentino from the island of Sardegna. Classically the Vernaccia has been described as crisp and full of minerality while the Vermentino was known for its broader, almost flat feel on the palate. Yet with better viticulural practices, reductive winemaking [...]

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