Monthly Archives: September 2008

Dessert

Falesco, Lazio IGT, Pomele 2003 Lots of raisined fruit and alcohol in the nose and fresh sweet berries in the mouth – perfect for a lightly sweet berry dessert as there is refreshing acidity to balance the residual sugar. 100% … Continue reading

Posted in Aleatico, Italy, Lazio | Leave a comment

The other Montepulciano

In this flight we see two tiers of wine from Nicodemi. Nicodemi, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2006 There’s tar and black fruits mingled with a bit of cheese rind and earth in a very tannic profile. This wine features a pronounced … Continue reading

Posted in Abruzzo, Italy, Montepulciano | 2 Comments

Adriatic leaning

ColleStafano, Verdicchio di Matelica DOC 2007 Minerality and stones fruits come out in the nose. The mouth is refreshing and fruity like peaches with the acidity of a lemon – nice. The grapes are organically grown. Estate bottled in Castelraimondo … Continue reading

Posted in Italy, Marche, Verdicchio di Matelica | Leave a comment

Ode to Rome

Fontana Candida, Frascati DOC, Superiore, Secco 2006 There’s a light sense of herbs and flowers in the nose and melons after about 15 minutes. The mouth is rather light on flavor and acidity with a bit of heat. Bottled in … Continue reading

Posted in Castelli Romani, Frascati, Italy, Lazio, Malvasia, Trebbiano | Leave a comment

Mountain Port

Mountain Grove Cellars, Ozark Mountain, Ruby Port nv There are prunes and a touch of alcohol in the nose. The mouth follows through with the same with a baked fruit and walnut tart character – moderately sweet making it a … Continue reading

Posted in Missouri, Port | 2 Comments

Golden wine

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

Posted in Italy, Rufina, Tuscany, Vin Santo | Leave a comment

Tuscan sea to famed hilltop

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

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

Spiny wine

Sergio Mottura, Orvieto DOC 2006 There are fresh tropical fruits and garden herbs in the nose. The mouth is rather broad with moderate acidity and a little warmth and a bit of astringent grip – a little disappointing. The grapes, … Continue reading

Posted in Italy, Organic grapes, Orvieto, Umbria | Leave a comment

Earthiness embraced

Domaine Monpertuis, Vin de Pays du Gard, Vignoble de la Ramiere, Cuvee Counoise 2005 Unfortunately this wine has quite a bit of brett and lots of astringency and is just too rustic for many. 13% $9.99 at Bottle Barn

Posted in France, Gard | Leave a comment

It’s not the tires

Firestone, Central Coast, Vineyard Select, Riesling 2006 The smell of stone fruits and citrus greets you in the glass. In the mouth the wine is fresh, moderately acidic and graced by obvious residual sugar. The acid levels will seem faint … Continue reading

Posted in California, Central Coast, Monterey County, Riesling, Santa Barbara County | 1 Comment