Flavorful and crisp, slightly fizzy mineral-driven white wine from the Veneto region.
Technical Data: 100% Turbiano grape which is a clone of the Trebbiano di Lugana grapes.
Description: Bright light golden color. Appealing nose with grapefruits, citrus and herbs aromas mingled together. This crisp medium-bodied wine displays exotic flavors such as grapefruit and honeysuckle laced together and tied by a long lasting finish with flintstone undertone.
Food Pairing & Service: Recommended with light seafood dishes, pasta or chicken, also well suited with Asian dishes.
Score: 9/10
Suggested Retail Price: $21.99
Strongly recommended for the coming Holiday’s Season
A sweet red aromatic Sparkling from Italy. A perfect Sparkler for Valentine’s Day!
Technical Data: 100% Brachetto d’Acqui grape which grows in Piedmont region.
Description: Light ruby red color with fine bubbles. Lively rose petal and fresh berry on the nose. Soft and elegant entrance on the palate, sweet red wine focused on strawberry, raspberry and rose petal. Long lasting soft and charming finish.
Food Pairing & Service: Ideally suited with desserts and specially with fresh berries and chocolate. It may also make a surprising Aperitif Sparkler.
Score: 9/10
Suggested Retail Price: $18.99
A smooth and fine Chianti not from the original area of production. This one is from one of the 7 other sub-areas allowed to produce Chianti, that’s why it’s not a called a Classico but a Colli Fiorentini from the name of its sub-area of production. Chianti Colli Fiorentini’s area of production was first established in 1932.
Technical Data:Fattoria ( that mean Estate) di Lucignano’s vineyard is surrounding the medieval town of Lucignano, located only a mile outside the western border of the Chianti Classico zone. The Chianti Colli Fiorentini from Lucignano Estate is considered one of the best if not the best of this Appellation! Made from 80% Sangiovese with addition of 10% Canaiolo Nero and 10% of other local varietals depending of the vintage. Traditional maceration on the skins for 12-18 days in cement vats, maturing in glazed cement vats for 12-18 months.
Description:Dark red color, distinctive Sangiovese characters on the nose with lots of red fruits aromas. Ripe cherries and berry flavors prevails on a velvety mouth with a touch of violets appearing on the mid-palate. Dry wine yet a very smooth finish showing soft tannins laced with woody notes in a long lasting finish.
Food Pairing & Service:Will go well with a wide range of food, my favourites will be mild cheeses and hearty pasta dishes.
Score:7/10
Suggested Retail Price:$13.98
Historically, the production of chianti was limited to the surrounding of San Gimignano city, but was after decades of production extended to a wider area of production.
In order to differenciate each sub-areas from the original area, they have been called differently, each after the exact name of the location where the new production take place, they are: Chianti Colli Aretini, Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Chianti colli Senesi, Chianti Coline Pisane, Chianti Montalbano, Chianti Montespertoli and Chianti Rufina.
All these sub-areas are located not so far away from the original one, so the borderline is sometimes hard to undestand.
Something interesting to mention, to ease the regnonition of Chianti Classico from the others type of Chianti, they have had on the neck of Chianti Classico’s bottle a Black Rooster.
A nice refreshing wine from Italy to enjoy with “wine-killers” like asparagus and artichokes.
Technical Data:100% Greco Bianco, aged in stainless steel tanks only, no oak. The vines are growing up nearby Naples on volcanic soil, more particularly on the slopes of the Vesuvio.
Description:Bright pale golden yellow color. Quite a nose! Typical nose of Greco wine concentrated on floral aromas with just a hint of apricot. Medium-bodied palate expressing candied apricot and citrus fruits flavors melted with acacia, honey and some fresh almond. Creamy style wine with a refreshing dry entrance, some sweetness on the mid-palate and a really earthy dry finish reminiscent from the place where the vine was growing up.
Food Pairing & Service:Will pair wonderfully with “wine-killers” like asparagus or artichokes! A nice accompaniment to “creme-brule” too. Serve chilled.
Score:7/10
Suggested Retail Price:$17.98
A refreshing Pinot grigio from Northern Italy.
Technical Data:100% Pinot Grigio aged in stainless steel tanks only.
Description:Straw yellow color. Clean Pinot Grigio showing equally fruity and floral nose with peachy and nutty aromas followed by acacia, honey and straw. Nice white fruity flavors exploding in the mouth with ripe pear, peach, nectarine, also a hint of honey and a lovely buttery character just at the end of the palate. The wine shows a silky and rich texture with a fresh acidity and a lingering finish.
Food Pairing & Service:This is a delightful wine to sip on its own, perfect for summer time to sip on the patio or pair with a wide range of food such as mild Asian dishes, fish, salads and shellfish. Serve chilled.
Score:7/10
Suggested Retail Price:$10.99
Excellent Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from a Selected Vineyard in Tuscany produced only from the very best vintage, that mean not every year. Too bad than we can’t find it yet on the shelf. If you cross this one on a wine list in a restaurant, you have to try it!
Technical Data:100% Sangiovese aged 16 – 18 months in new French oak-barrels with additional months of bottle fining prior release. Produce only from the very best vintage, that mean not every year.
Description:Dark ruby red color. Captivating aromas of berries laced with vanilla and cinnamon spice.. Full-bodied and elegant Sangiovese offering concentrated flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, chocolate and woody spice. Complex wine with excellent balance and a lot of depth. Rich texture, silky mouthfilling and supple tannins.
Food Pairing & Service:Will accompany well hearty pasta dishes, red meat and roasts. A wonderful one with chocolate. Open at least an hour before, this wine really need to breath a little bit before the consumption.
Ageing Potential:Ready to drink although could easily lay down 15 years.
Score:9/10
Suggested Retail Price:$32.00 – $41.50
A full-bodied but not aggressive red wine from Tuscany. Quite nice one, you’ll enjoy it!
Technical Data:80% Prugnolo Gentile ( a clone of Sangiovese), 20% Merlot. Only the Merlot part is aged in American oak-barrels for 8 months, the rest of the wine remain on steel tanks prior blending and bottling.
Description:Purple red color. Red fruits aromas bouquet, the palate recalls its nose with lots of cherry and raspberry flavors laced with smoky oak flavors and very smooth tannins. Rich texture, velvety mouthfilling and long lasting finish.
Food Pairing & Service:Will accompany well hearty pasta dishes with tomato based sauce and herbs. Also a good accompaniment with red meat.
Ageing Potential: 3 – 5 years.
Score:9/10
Suggested Retail Price:$13.99 – $16.99
A very dry and smoky velvety red from Sicily.
Technical Data:90% Nero d’Avola, 10% other native varieties. Aged 15 – 18 months in new French oak-barrels depending of the vintage. Additional bottle fining of 12 months prior release.
Description:Inky ruby red color. Fragant bouquet exhaling dark fruits and notes of violets. Elegant and complex very dry wine, the palate shows equally fruity and flowery flavors recalling the nose, with additional flavors such as tobacco smoke and balsamic scents backboned by solid tannins.
Food Pairing & Service:Will accompany well red meat with sauces and herbs. Also a good pairing with lamb chops, roasted veal and matured cheeses.
Score:7/10
Suggested Retail Price:$49.99 – $58.99
Nice characterful red from Sicily made from 100% Nero d’Avola, the red main grape there.
You’ll find this wine principally on restaurant’s wine list. As far as I know, I have never seen this one on a shelf!
Technical Data:100% Nero D’Avola, the main red grape from Sicily. A small amount of the wine was aged 9 months in French oak-barrels. Additional bottle fining of 3 months prior release.
Description:Ruby red color. Cherry and blackberry on the nose. The palate is dry but soft showing lots o f ripe cherries and blackberry flavors enticed with tobacco smoke, cedary spice and subtle earthiness notes. Very smooth tannins.
Food Pairing & Service:Will accompany well red meats, introductory dishes with meat sauce and tomato, baked pasta dishes and also lightly cooked tuna and salmon. Serve at room temperature.
Score:8/10
Suggested Retail Price:$12.00 – $16.00
