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 sense of the horse...
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...
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 Monteporzio Catone 12.5%...
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 hit with bittersweet...
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 winter in front of...
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 Castagneto...
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, Procanico,...
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
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 to those...
The real deal in Dry Creek Valley
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...