Other Wines of Italy

[Oskaar]

L'Altri: The Other Wines of Italy - Tasting on June 10th, 2006

Ok Here's the line-up I went through listed by wine, vintage and (region)

Vini Bianchi:
1. Zardetto Prosecco Zeta 2004 (Conegliano)
2. Durin Pigato Riviera Ligure di Ponente (Liguria)
3. Gini Soave Classico La Frosca 2004 (Veneto)
4. Fiegl Pinot Grigio 2004 (Collio)
5. St Micheal eppan Pinot Blanc Schulthauser2003 (Alto Adige)
6. Volpe Pasini Sauvignon Zuc di Volpe 2004 (Friuli)

Vini Rossi:
7. La Vis Lagein i Baldazzini2004 (Trentino)
8. Marchese Carlo Guerrieri Gonzaga San Leandro2000 (Trentino)
9. Falesco Merlot Pesano 2004 (Umbria, winery in Lazio)
10. Arnaldo-Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco Collepiano (Umbria)
11. San Patrignano Montepirolo 2001 (Emiglia-Romagna)
12. Castello Fageto "Serrone" 2000 (Marche)
13. La Valentina Montepuliciano d'Abruzzo "Spelt" 2001 (Abruzzi)
14. A-Mano Primitivo 2003 (Puglia)
15. Dei Principi di Spadafora Monreale Syrah 2004 (Sicily)
16. Cusumano Nero D'Avola 2004 (Sicily)
17. Planeta Santa Cecilia Nero D'Avola 2001 (Sicily)
18. Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre Veronese 2001 (Veneto)
19. Bussola Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2003 (Veneto)
20. Manara Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2001 (Veneto)

OK That was the Line-up Prices varied from a low of $7.99-$69.99/bottle

Oskaar's picks:

RED: Bussola Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2003 (Veneto) $28.99
This one was a deep brick red brilliant and gemlike when held to the light. The nose presented raisin, violet, spice, and rich earthy mineral. The fore was nicely tannic with cedar, oak and spice and the mid was lush with raisin, chocolate, caramel and mocha. The finish was long and lingering with more chocolate, cherry, wood sugars, cherry and spice with fine grain tannin and nice vanilla notes on the end. This was my number one pick and is a fine example of what a well crafted Valpolicella is all about. This is not your TV commercial Valpolicella but a very complex, structured and lush red with plenty of punch for the price. Well worth the spend

WHITE: St Micheal eppan Pinot Blanc Schulthauser2003 (Alto Adige) $13.99
A very nice Pinot Blanc made by a cooperative wine-group near the Italian-German border. This one was brilliant and pale gold to straw with a wonderful floral nose and accents of acacia honey. Some nice mineralic overtones and stone fruit undertones presented as well. The fore was smooth and citric with a bit of melon and the mid was light, crisp and full of the honey promised in the nose. The finish was smooth and full with a nice lingering perfume of honey, blossom, peach and apple. A great very quaffable white wine for those long hot summers in So Cal.

VALUE: Cusumano Nero D'Avola 2004 (Sicily) $9.99
Hey the Sicilians knocked out a nicely balanced vino here in this bottle! Just goes to show that Pizza isn't the only thing the Sicilians do well, right Tony?! This wine was a very dark brilliant red when held to the light. Great consistant color, leggy as Hell, with nice floral aromas hinting at black currant and spice. Nicely mineralic on the fore with some bold tannin and soft lush ripe black fruit on the mid. These guys aren't afraid to lay on the wood either so if oak ain't your thing, turn and run for that bottle of two buck Chuck at TJ's. The finish was smooth, soft long and lingering with cherry, mocha, chocolate and vanilla notes. Very nice and a great deal!

HONORABLE MENTION: A-Mano Primitivo 2003 (Puglia) $7.99
Great color and clarity, smooth, nice balanced aroma nice finish and a great value for the price. Decant this one and it'll drink like a bottle costing twice as much.

Cheers,

Oskaar