Grand Italia Tasting!
Wine Cellars of Annapolis
Sept. 25, 2010
1. NV Colutta Ribolla Gialla Spumante Brut – Friuli, Italy – Elegant, fairly dry sparkling with the second fermentation done in the bottle. This usually runs for $25 but was on sale for $22. Great floral bouquet with just a hint of toastiness. It is very light bodied with decent mousse and excellent acidity. It had a great fresh granny smith apple flavor. If I wasn’t on a very strict budget, a lot of this would have come home with me.
2. 2009 Colterenzio “Altkirch” Chardonnay – Alto Adige, Italy – This unoaked Chardonnay also had great green apple flavors, but more like a Grimes apple or a very fresh yellow delicious. It was very mineraly and had just a hint of honey that I enjoyed. The usual asking price is $20, but the sale price was $17.
3. 2007 Duca Carlo Guarini Primativo “Vigne Vecchie” – Puglia, Italy – This was 100% Primativo. The wine was rich and soft with black cherries and red fruits and spices. It held its 14.5% alcohol in check. I enjoyed this wine a lot as did my friend who was with me. Normally at $20, it was on sale for $17.
4. 2007 Garofoli Rosso Conero “Piancarda” – March, Italy – This is from 100% Montepulciano grapes. Great nose of various types of cherries. The palate delivers up the cherries with some nice spices and red fruits. This usually sells for $18 but was on sale for $16.
5. 2005 Nicolis Rosso Veronese “Testal” – Veneto, Italy – This wine is dubbed a super Veneto because it is made predominately from Corvina with Cab and Merlot blended in to the cuvee. I believe some of the Corvina is allowed to dry on the vine before being pressed, but it is not a true ripassa style wine. I enjoyed what it had to offer of fresh cherries and currants mixed with sweet spices and tannins. This was another wine that usually lists for $20, but was on sale for $17.
6. 2009 Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi – Piedmont, Italy – This wine was in the traditional wide bottle of Gavi. The color was a beautiful fall gold. It was a shame I did not drink it before having the reds listed above as some of its more subtle flavors did not shine through. It had a good body that would stand up to more than just light fish. It had great citrusy flavors and excellent acidity. It sells for $20 and was on sale for $18.
7. 2009 Massolino Dolcetto d’Alba – Piedmont, Italy – The nose on this wine was an amazing fireworks explosion of violets and blueberries. I could sniff this wine all night long. The palate had a delightful floral undertone with some hints of bacon a\or pork fat, but the blueberry flavor really drove the flavor. It reminded me of a good Gamay from Beaujolais. It sells for $22 but was on sale for $19. This was the only wine my friend bought. He is very picky.
8. 2008 Revello Barbera d’Alba – Piedmont, Italy – Now the wines started getting extremely serious! This brilliant Barbera was bursting with flavors of blackberry and blueberry along with raspberries and plum. It had a rich creamy finish that lingered in the air like the rich spices of the Orient. Usually $20, it was on sale for $18.
9. 2008 Poderi Colla Nebbiolo d’Alba – Piedmont, Italy – If someone wants to make a case for Nebbiolo being the best grape out there, I am willing to listen. This wine had very intense flavors of raspberries and wild strawberries. The tannins were well integrated. I would say it still has five or more years to go. If anyone wants to donate a wine to the Roscoe cellar, this is high on my list. It is only $30 usually and is on sale for $25. However, for just a few dollars more…..
10. 2006 Ceretto Asij Barbaresco – Piedmont, Italy – Plump, dark, juicy wine that seems ready now, but holds the promise of so much more. I would expect it to be like Ingrid Bergman at 18, beautiful, but wait ten years. So if you have $46 or $40 if you can get it on sale, please send me a bottle. Again, if you are willing to spend that kind of money…..
11. 2005 Luigi Pira Barolo Marghria – Piedmont, Italy – This is the best wine I have tasted in a long time. Red fruits, violets, a little earth, spices, this had the entire package. This was a wine that made me realize why people set Barolo above other Nebbiolos. This was a game changer. Please, if you have $70 to spare (I am not afraid to beg) or $60 on sale, send a bottle to the Roscoe family cellar. I promise not to touch it for ten years.
So a wee bit o’ complainin’ to do here. I did not buy any of these wines despite having a generally favorable opinion of all of them. Why? Notice the price. Look at Robin’s most recent column. I really look for qpr. I set a limit at $15 and generally try to stay below $12. I might reach higher for a sparkler, but in this job market it is a reach.
What did I bring home?
1. 2009 Dom. de Bertier Sauvignon Blanc/Viognier – Vin de Pays Cotes de Thongue, France - $10
2. 2009 Chateau des Alouettes Rosé – Coctieres de Nimes, France - $9
3. 2007 Annabella Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley, California - $15
4. 2008 Poggio Alla Luna Chianti – Tuscany, Italy - $13
This is just a sampling. Fifteen is the most I paid. I paid as little as $7 for a Minervois. Will any of them be as good as the Nebbiolos? No. Will they be as good as the other wines? Oh, yes! Notice, I did find a QPR Italian wine too!
(it's not always the $30 wine, but at least it gives me the option!)