by Ray Johnson | Apr 14, 2010 | Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Sangiovese, Tuscany
La Rasina, Brunello di Montalcino 2004 This wine smells as if you’ve walked into a room filled with spices, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and more. In the mouth you’ll find lots of extract, a wine that is dense and acidic yet whose tannins are of a ripe...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 14, 2010 | Italy, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Tuscany, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Avignonesi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2006 In April, the nose spoke Old World with a bit of funkiness. In the mouth this Vino Nobile shined, concentrated, tannic and possessing electrifying acidity that accentuated the cherry fruit – very nice. I was so...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 16, 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon, Italy, Sangiovese, Tuscany
Frescobaldi, Toscana IGT, Remole 2008 This wine is fresh and fruit forward, ready to drink, a light-bodied quaffer which demonstrates that clean and juicy wine is not the exclusive realm of New World producers. Behind the bright cherry fruit is a nice thread of...
by Ray Johnson | Dec 16, 2009 | Chianti, Chianti Rufina, Italy, Sangiovese, Tuscany
Marchesi de Frescobaldi, Chianti Rufina DOCG, Nipozzano, Riserva 2006 Unfortunately the first bottle was corked and will make a good example for my seminar on wine faults. The second bottle shows the huge difference a cork can make. In bottle number two, the nose...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 7, 2009 | Cabernet Franc, Italy, Merlot, Tuscany
Tenuta di Biserno, Toscana, Insoglio del cinghiale IGT 2006 There’s a sense of France in this wine from Tuscany, with black fruit, an herbaceous edge and tannic grip. The grapes are Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This winery is shepherded by Lodovico and...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 7, 2009 | Chianti, Chianti Classico, Sangiovese, Tuscany
Badia a Coltibuono, Chianti Classico 2006 There’s a dusty,woodsy character in the nose at this point. In the mouth there is plenty of expected acidity and cherry fruit, with a soft dusting of tannin, an elegant Classico. The grapes for this wine are 90%...
