While I just joined this board a couple of weeks ago, I will definitely be posting a lot more notes on Italian wines in the time to come, since Italy is one of my favorite wine-producing countries. I really enjoy the diversity of grapes and terroirs that Italy offers, and enjoy many different wines from all over Italy, not only from Piedmont and/or Tuscany.
These are some Italian wines from the past month.
2009 Giuseppe Cortese Barbera d’Alba
This was opened the day before I tasted it. Fresh, moderate in weight, with integrated tannins and acidity; dominated by bright cherry, red fruit, and blueberry flavors. Very good.
2009 Cantina Cincinnato Castore IGT Lazio
Made entirely from the Bellone grape, which is apparently best known as a permitted ingredient in Velletri Bianco – a wine that I have never actually seen. Greenish-yellow color. Lightly spiced tropical fruit nose. Medium-bodied, somewhat fleshy, with steely acidity. Bone dry, with flavors of white peaches, citrus fruit, herbs, and white pepper. Has a slightly bready note on the finish. At $12, a very good QPR.
2006 Podere le Boncie (Giovanna Morganti) Chianti Classico Le Trame
Mostly Sangiovese, with a bit of Foglia Tonda, a rare Tuscan grape. Medium-bodied, nicely balanced, with dusty tannins and good underlying acidity. Nicely mineral, with sour cherry and berry notes accented by earth, smoke, and a hint of leather. An excellent classical Chianti.
2005 Roagna Dolcetto d’Alba
Moderately full, elegant, and nicely balanced; unusually for a Dolcetto, there is a fair amount of structure here, and not all of the tannin has completely integrated yet. Still, it is quite drinkable now, with aromas/flavors of dark berries, plums, dried earth, and mint. While I normally drink Dolcettos within 4-5 years, this wine can certainly last longer. At $14, a great QPR red.
1996 Fattoria Ambra Carmignano Riserva Elzana
90% Sangiovese/10% Cabernet Sauvignon; Elzana is the name of the cru. Nose of dark berries, leather, venison, and spices. Full, broad, and well-balanced, with good underlying acidity and well-integrated oak. Shows notes of cherries, dried clay, bay leaves, tobacco, grilling spices, and eucalyptus. Some drying tannin on the finish. This wine persuasively argues that the more internationally-styled Italian wines can age well, at least in some cases, even if I tend to favor more traditionally made wines.