by Ray Johnson | Sep 16, 2008 | Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Lambrusco
Barbolini, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Lancillotto, Frizzante, Secco nv There’s a delightful fresh grapy character in the nose. In the mouth there is lively black fruit and a sense of the skins, the tannin showing itself. Serve this along side pasta...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 16, 2008 | Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friulano, Italy, Refosco, Rosé, Venezia Giulia
Bastianich, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Tocai Friulano DOC 2006 Herbaceous with a sense of canned vegetables, lowish in acidity with a creamy character – disappointingly low in concentration. Estate bottled in Cividale del Fruili 13% $18.00 at Traverso’s...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 16, 2008 | Brachetto, Brachetto d'Acqui, Italy, Piemonte, Sparkling sweet
Banfi, Rosa Regali, Brachetto d’Acqui DOCG 2007 This ’07 is perfectly fresh with plenty of flowers and fresh strawberries. Serve this with fresh berries after dinner to match the sweetness. The ’05 tasted one year ago was sweet and with a bit of a phenolic...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 16, 2008 | Italy, Vermouth
Cinzano, Vermouth Rosso nv This has proved to be a good value vermouth, not with the intensity of those of Carpano or Quady, but the price is right when you’re on a budget; it’s also more widely available. You could pick this up in most supermarkets around...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 15, 2008 | California, Chenin Blanc, Dry Creek Valley, Italy, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Leo Steen Dry Creek Valley Saini Farms Chenin Blanc 2007 This wine was excellent in ’06 and even better this time around. There is the mineral nerve that we associate with Savennieres and the ripeness of fruit that we associate with California sunshine. You can...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 2, 2008 | Bardolino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colli Euganei, Corvina, Della Venezie, Italy, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Veneto
Corte Gardoni, Bardolino, DOC Le Fontane 2006 The previous vintage sported a Beaujolais-like character, in the Nouveau vein, a carbo-mac fruit bomb with very light body – ideal for lunch in the sun when you demand red wine. This current vintage was quite stinky at the...
