Italy

• Abruzzo
• Alto Adige
• Apulia
• Basilicata
• Calabria
• Campagna
• Emilia-Romagna
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Liguria
• Lombardia
  • Franciacorta
• Marche
• Molise
• Piedmont (Piemonte)
• Sicily
  • Mt. Etna
• Trentino-Alto Adige
• Tuscany
  • Brunello di Montalcino
  • Chianti
• Umbria
• Valle d'Aosta
• Veneto
  • Prosecco
  • Soave
• Sardinia

This is a blend of Glera and Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) from northern Italy.  Pale orange/pink in color with a nice mousse of small-ish bubbles.  The nose has strawberries, and slight peach.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is semi-sweet with citrus (orange and grapefruit) and a touch of strawberries.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own and very food friendly.  It will work well with fried calamari (or other seafood) but also chocolate.  Drink over the next few years.  

Nosiola is a grare that is indigenous to the Dolomites in northern Italy.  Pale straw in color, clear and bright.  The nose is fresh and inviting with pears, slight pine, white floral notes, and a whiff of spice.  Medium bodied.  Ever so slightly oily texture.  Nice balance.  On the palate, flavors of peach and a white flower/garden quality that is unique and interesting.  Good finish.  This is drinking well at age 4 but it probably should be consumed in the next few years.  Nice on its own but very food friendly, this would work well with Cheese Fondue.  

This is an excellent value (and wine) in Amarone.  It is a blend of Corvina 60%, Corvinone 30%, and Rondinella 10%.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, cherries, coffee, slight anise, slight raisin, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cherries, black cherries, chocolate, raisins, and spice.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  Braised Venison would be a great match but so would a Pepperoni Pizza.  Drink over the next ten years.

A beautiful wine.  Deep garnet in color with purple hues, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, black cherries, sandalwood, tea leaves and cedar.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, this is young-ish with good fruit and acidity.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries, with some earthiness/forest floor notes.  Complex and deep.  It opens nicely in the glass.  Long finish.  If drinking soon, gives this a quick decant.  This is nice on its own but better with food.   Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.

This is 100% Merlot from Tuscany.  Inky purple, ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens with some air.  Notes of Black cherries, cherries, milk chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm chewy tannins.  A nice backbone of acidity.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries, cherries, char and spice.  As it opens some chocolate.  Long finish.  This is still young and although it drank well, its best days are ahead.  No harm opening now, but ideally hold for five years and drink for fifteen years after that.  This would go well with Pasta Bolognese (with Mushrooms).