by Ray Johnson | Oct 3, 2007 | Arneis, Italy, Piemonte, Roero
Vietti Roero Arneis DOCG 2006 Like the previous vintage, this is quite acidic in a light-bodied package with minerality and a touch of herbaceousness. Bot in Castiglione Falletto, Alfredo Currado began working w/ Arneis in 1967 13% $15.50 at Traverso’s in...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 3, 2007 | Barbera, Italy, Piemonte
Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Superiore Le Orme DOC 2005 As we found with the 2003, the wine displays textbook acidity in a very light bodied package with a bit of earthiness and some tannin. This works as a budget Barbera though won’t delight very many...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 3, 2007 | Brachetto, Italy, Piemonte
Monchiero Carbone Birbet nv Red fruits, light carbonation and sweetness that is not at all cloying. The lift of the carbonation lightens the weight of this wine. A natural for drinking with fresh berries. The grape is Brachetto grown in Roero at 200-300 metres...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | Italy, San Gimignano, Sardegna, Tuscany, Vermentino, Vernaccia
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...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | Fortified dessert, Italy, Marsala, Sicilia
Marsala is known the world over but like Madeira it often gets categorized as a mere cooking wine. This is unfortunate as the flavors can delight and since the wine is out of fashion, it’s price point is attractive. Florio Marsala DOC Fine Ambra Secco Marsala...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 30, 2007 | Italy, Muscat, Sicilia
Cantine Rallo Moscato di Pantelleria DOC 2003 This is the second bottle of this vintage tasted this year. The Muscat comes through (known as Zibibbo in this part of the world). During the last tasting we placed it side by side with a Passito from Donnafugata and...
