by Ray Johnson | Oct 16, 2008 | Dolcetto, Italy, Piemonte
Elio Altare, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC 2006 The density of this wine is of the inky variety. There’s tar and a sense of the forest in the nose. The mouth is amazing in that the tannin is there yet fully ripe, wrapping itself around a dense core of black fruit...
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 | Aug 26, 2008 | Italy, Nebbiolo, Piemonte
La Spinetta, Barbaresco DOCG, Vigneto Starderi 2004 The previous vintage was a concentrated, oaky heavyweight, still in its infancy when tasted in late ’07. This ’04 smells of sweet oak and New World fruit. Again we see a tannic monster that is caressed by...
by Ray Johnson | Aug 19, 2008 | Chianti Classico, Italy, Langhe, Nebbiolo, Piemonte, Sangiovese, Tuscany
Castello della Paneretta, Chianti Classico DOCG 2005 There’s loads of acidity and the taste of cherries. The grapes behind this wine are 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo. Estate bottled in Barberino val d’Elsa 13% $17.99 at Traverso’s Paneretta Andrea...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 23, 2008 | California, Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Italy, Moscato d'Asti, Muscat, Piemonte, Sparkling sweet
J, Russian River Valley, cuvee 20 nv Clean, fresh, fruit, tasted at the winery in May. This wine has the zip of fresh green apples. The base wine is from a recent vintage with 25% oak-aged reserves adding to the final blend. The wine is aged for 3 years on the lees...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 16, 2008 | California, Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Moscato d'Asti, Piemonte, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Dry, Sparkling sweet
La Morandina, Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2007 The ’07 is just as vibrantly fresh and full of orange blossoms as the previous vintage. There’s lots of residual sugar and the light body and freshness that you expect in Moscato d’Asti. P&B in...
