by Ray Johnson | Apr 22, 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Italy, Merlot, Sardegna
Agricola Punica, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Barrua 2004 Earthy notes dominate the nose initially along with dried and pruny fruit. The mouth features ripe New World-like fruit with substantial structure. Give this baby some time in the cellar. Bottled in Santadi 14%...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 14, 2008 | Italy, Mendocino County, Monica, Negroamaro, Sardegna
Argiolas, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Perdera 2006 There’s a sense of sweet oak and brown spices in the nose. There’s palpable acidity and red fruit flavors with a little bit of ripe tannin finishing the frame. The grapes are 90% Monica, 5% Carignano and 5%...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 14, 2008 | Grillo, Italy, Sardegna, Vermentino
Argiolas, Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, Costamolino 2007 The current vintage is just as vivaciously New World in appearance as the previous vintage. There’s plenty of perfume and citrus fruits with ample acidity to top it off. Notes from the ’06 vintages:...
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 | Italy, Sardegna, Sicilia
Planeta Sicilia IGT La Segreta Rosso 2006 Black fruits, mintiness and a moderate amount of extract and some light structure make this an easy drink. 50% Nero d’Avola, 25% Merlot, 20% Syrah and 5% Cab Franc grown at 100-250 metres, 9 tonnes per hectare, vertical...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 28, 2007 | Italy, Sardegna, Sicilia, Vermentino
Southern Italian white table wines have improved by leaps and bounds over the last decade. As in other hot winegrowing regions, temperature control in the cellar is making the difference between wines that smell like nuts and varnish versus fresh fruit and other...
