This Dozen is a symphony of Italian wines – mostly reds – with a couple of Californians added in for added complexity.
202 Marchesi di Gresy Langhe Sauvignon ($22). Enjoyable herbal aromas, tart green fruitiness, savory notes and a medium body.
2022 Ornellaia “Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia” Toscana IGT ($61). This complex white wine offering from this super-Tuscan winery has lovely floral notes, rich but tangy apple flavors, metallic minerality and a hint of citrus and assorted spices in the finish.
2022 Capezzana “Barcole Reale” di Carmignano ($19). Warm and generous, with smooth combo of red and black fruits.
2022 Oberon Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon ($24). A steal for a Napa Cab with lovely blackberry and blueberry flavors, some savory notes and an almost tangy finish.
2019 Garofoli “Grosso Agontano” Conero Riserva ($30). From Marche, lots of slightly tangy but slightly creams cherry flavors with good tannins and depth of flavors.
2020 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico ($35). Smooth and pleasing with light and tight cherry flavors and easy tannins.
2022 Marco Felluga “Russiz Superiore” Collio Cabernet Franc ($35). You don’t see a lot of Cab Francs coming from northern Italy, and this one has an almost red-berry flavor here with some herbal notes and light tannins.
2020 Tasca d’Almerita Sallier de La Tour “La Monaca” Monreale Syrah ($35). This Sicilian has tart red fruit flavors with harmonious mature barrel notes and dusty tannins – a nice food wine.
2021 Aia Vecchia “Sor Ugo” Bolgheri Superiore ($42). Very good blending of red and black fruits, almost creamy with some savory notes, good acidity and moderate tannins.
2022 Inman Family “G&T Two Brothers Vineyard” Lake County Red Wine ($42). A blend of 65% Tempranillo and 35% Grenache, it’s a lovely floral red with satiny textures and tastes of black raspberries and baking spices.
2020 Inama “Bradisismo” Colli Berici Cabernet ($45). Interesting cherry and cranberry flavors, but could use a little more structural backbone.
2019 La Valentina “Bellovedere” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ($50). A wine of substance that should be decanted, it is very generous with almost-creamy, almost-tangy rounded berry fruits.
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
0 comments on “Italian Rhapsody”