by Ray Johnson | Jul 14, 2010 | Italy, Piemonte
Vietti, Barbera d’Asti, Tre Vigne 2007 In the nose you’ll find tar, licorice, black fruit and chocolate. In the mouth there is Barbera’s acidic trademark, yet with density of flavor throughout – very nice and very long. The grapes are sourced from...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 14, 2010 | Italy, Tuscany, Vernaccia, Vernaccia di San Gimignano
Casa Alle Vacche, Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2009 The nose offers minerality, hay and citrus fruits. In the mouth you’ll find the expected acidity, in a lean format with a bit of roundness on the edges. The grape behind this wine is Vernaccia grown at an...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 14, 2010 | Chianti, Chianti Classico, Italy, Montalcino, Sangiovese, Tuscany
Castello della Paneretta, Chianti Clasico 2006 The nose shows baked cherries and brown spices. In the mouth the cherry fruit is quite vibrant as is the acidity which matches it – nice.The grapes behind this wine are 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo. Estate...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 13, 2010 | Italy, Moscato del Veneto, Muscat, Veneto
Vignalta, Moscato del Veneto IGT, Dry, Sirio 2007 It’s quite interesting tasting this wine 3 years on since the grapes were harvested. Often I drink up dry Muscats like this fairly soon. Tonight we have wine though, that is still out in the market and available...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 10, 2010 | Amarone della Valpolicella, Corvina, Italy, Valpolicella Classico, Veneto
Masi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Costasera 2006 The fruit shows both a fresh and a lightly-stewed and evolved, complex character in the nose. In the mouth the texture is velvety, with almost a sweet appearance to the fruit. Like the previous vintage, the...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 23, 2010 | Barolo, Italy, Nebbiolo, Piemonte
Silvio Grasso, Barolo, Ciabot Manzoni 2004 This is a very ripe Nebbiolo, giving a sense of New World fruitiness intertwined with new oak and traditional black licorice. In the mouth it is tannic for sure, yet not austere, actually approachable now. That said, I would...
