The wine guy at my favorite local gourmet store hosts periodic tastings at his house for his preferred customers. Back in June, he had a distributor from Winebow bring a bunch of Italians - what a fun evening for an Italophile such as myself. Oddly, at this tasting, I was most impressed with wines in the $10 - 15 range, and underwhelmed by the more expensive ones.
Zardetto, Private Cuvee Brut, Veneto NV
Prosecco with some Chard and Moscato. Frizzante. Would like more definition. * [6/20/11]
Zardetto, Brut, Prosecco (DOC) NV
Better definition and depth than the Private Cuvee. ** [6/20/11]
Zenato, Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie 2009
Nice nose. Light and fresh but pure. Some good citrus rind notes. ** [6/20/11]
Falesco, Vitiano Bianco, Umbria 2010
Very good nose. Really nice green apple, peach, and grassy notes. Fresh but with good depth. ** [6/20/11]
Bruno Giacosa, Roero Arneis 2009
Not much going on here. Very light. * [6/20/11]
Allegrini, Valpolicella Classico 2008
Excellent nose of fresh cherry and dark earth. Similar on the palate, with a bit of a bitter note on the finish. ** [6/20/11]
Prunotto, Fiulot, Barbera d'Asti 2008
Excellent nose of gravel, hint of tobacco leaf, and dark fruit. Similar on the palate. Bright and tart. A little light. Good summer red. ** [6/20/11]
Prunotto, Dolcetto d'Alba 2009
Nice nose of dark fruit and plum. Nice, juicy, and fresh. Underwhelming without food, but quite nice with cheese. ** [6/20/11]
Stella, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2009
Very nice nose. On the nose and palate, a personality of nice dark cherry, and a hint of orange rind, with tobacco leaf and earthy depth. Pretty typical Montepulciano. Simple but likable. ** [6/20/11]
Argiolas, Costera, Cannonau (IGT) 2007 (Sardinia)
Grenache and Cinsault. Relatively light, but a nice range of red fruit, dark fruit, and earth. I like it. ** [6/20/11]
San Polo, Rubio, Tuscana 2009
100% Sangiovese. I correctly identified it as Montalcino fruit based just on the nose. All the Montalcino hallmarks: dark earth, herbs, orange rind. Cherry blackberry. Some floral notes. Very, very nice. ** [6/20/11]
Falesco, Vitiano Rosso, Umbria 2008
Cab Sauv, Merlot, Sangio. Nice savory red fruit, some succulent undertones. Nice enough. ** [6/20/11]
Falesco, Merlot, Umbria 2008
Great nose: plum, herb/tobacco, grilled meat, and currant. Similar on the palate. Lovely fruit, with excellent tone and flesh. *** [6/20/11]
Falesco, Merlot, Umbria 2009
Riper and with less tone than the 2008. Much less successful to my palate, though Parker heaped praise on it. ** [6/20/11]
Leone de Castris, Maiana, Salice Salentino 2008
Lovely red fruit, apricot, currant, with a hint o barnyard, and some floral notes. Lovely. Good character. *** [6/20/11]
Leone de Castris, Riserva, Salice Salentino 2006
Very nice nose of red fruit, a touch of flowers, apricot, smoked meat, and sweet barnyard. Similar on the palate with nice succulent fruit, and some blackberry. Nice tone and structure, very good finish. Still the slightest bit taught. Will age nicely. *** [6/20/11]
Zenato, Valpolicella Superiore 2008
Excellent, meaty, raisiny nose. Black raspberry, lush blueberry, juicy but dark and rich, with chocolate, and a succulent, vegetal note of tobacco leaf and violets. Excellent. *** [6/20/11]
Allegrini, Palazzo Dell Torre, Veronese 2007
On the nose and palate, a personality of raisin, blueberry and a hint of tar/earthy mineral. Lush, but not enough tone. ** [6/20/11]
Zenato, Ripasso, Valpolicella Superiore 2007
Raisin, blackberry, blueberry, some dark mineral notes. Pure fruit, good tone. ** [6/20/11]
Poggio al Tesoro, Dedicato a Walter, Toscana 2005
100% Cab Franc from Bolgheri. Blackberry, black raspberry, cedar, green pepper/tobacco leaf, and black pepper. Nice, lush fruit, but not very expressive. Decanted for several hours, perhaps might be better with a few more hours. Others were much more excited by this that I was, though I was not the only descenter. Hard to be excited about it given the $70 price tag. *** [6/20/11]