4 December 2012 2008 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre

2008 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre

December 4, 2012 By

In the glass, this affordable Italian wine is inky red. On the nose, it is bold with ripe cherries and dried cranberry aromas. Just hard to stop sniffing in order to take a sip.

In the mouth, it has blackberry and dried fig flavors with licorice and leathery notes. The 2008 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre has great balance and nice level of acidity. Finish is long and spicy.

90 points Wine Spectator.

Pairings: Pasta with red sauce, deeply-roasted meats, cheese course.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Corvina Veronese, Rondinella and Sangiovese

Region: Valpolicella, Italy

Price: $17

Filed Under: Italy, Red Wine, Sangiovese, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
16 October 2012 2009 Poggio alle Sughere Morellino di Scansano

2009 Poggio alle Sughere Morellino di Scansano

October 16, 2012 By

This Italian wine is dark purple in the glass. It offers aromas of dark, ripe cherries and Chinese five spice and flavors of stone fruit and dark berries with hints of leather. Soft tannins with a nice level of acidity.

Lovers of Chianti will enjoy this affordable Sangiovese.

Pairings:  Grilled beef, cured meats and cheese platter, pasta with red sauce.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Sangiovese (90%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%)

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Price: $20

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19 October 2011 2007 Antinori Tignanello

2007 Antinori Tignanello

October 19, 2011 By

Sampled this beauty at a tasting last week where it was poured alongside other stars and it was super.  This wine is considered the original Super Tuscan and it remains a top Italian wine.

In the glass, it’s medium garnet.  On the nose, it’s dense, rich and oaky.  There are aromas of ripe fruit, grilled bread and mocha with hints of fir, cracked black pepper and leather.  On the palate, it’s chewy with ripe, lush berries, chocolate and stone fruits.  Slight tannins on a long, smooth finish.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $79

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15 October 2011 2005 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino

2005 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino

October 15, 2011 By

I sampled this Tuscan wine at a recent tasting and it was one of my favorites, even against cult French and Californian wines.

On the nose, it has floral qualities and tons of raspberry aromas.  In the mouth, it’s lush, lightly jammy with ripe raspberries, offers spicy notes and is balanced and elegant.  This wine is more medium-bodied than full and it has a long, clean finish.  Really love it.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type: Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $175

 

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24 September 2010 2004 Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello di Montalcino

2004 Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello di Montalcino

September 24, 2010 By

'04 Fattoria La Lecciaia

Enjoyed this wine last night paired with grilled prime rib and thought it was all you’d want in a Brunello: Big, beefy, silky, complex.  Noseful of black berries, jammy, earthy mouthful and long, slightly tannic finish.

Not sure how many Brunellos of this caliber can be found in this price range, but probably not many.

Around $35.

93 Points Wine Spectator

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2005 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva

November 1, 2009 By
2005 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva

2005 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva

This big and rich Chianti was rated 91 by Wine Spectator and rightly so.  This wine features spicy and sweet layers and intense dark berry flavors.  The color of this wine is the darkest ruby.

Served half the bottle decanted and the other half not.  The wine out of the bottle was sharp but not unpleasant and made me glad that I decanted some of it.  The decanted wine show more velvety tannins and was smooth and delectable.

Successfully paired the 2005 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva with bacon-wrapped filet mignon and it was a good match.  Not the first thing I’d think of pairing with it, but worked well none-the-less.

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