Director’s Cut: Up and Coming Regions, 2/15/08

Back To The Future: Campania Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina, 2005 Aminea Fiano di Avellino, 2005 East Of Reisling: Austria Weingut Hofer Gruner Veltliner, 2005, …

Italy: Terroir Or Not Terroir

Abbazia di Novacella Sylvaner, 2005, Alto-Adige Vicentini Agostino Soave “Terre Lunghe”, 2006, Veneto Fattoria di Corsignano Chianti Classico Riserva, 2003, Toscana Fattoria di Fiano “Ugo …

L’Angolo di Vino Fondo Antico

Sicily, Part II The Gambino winery sits in the shadows of Mount Etna near Linguaglossa, its terraced vineyards sloping toward the ring of towns that circle the still …

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Castano 2003 Hecula

Year after year, a consistent rocker for the money. Lovely fusion of complex fruit flavors and Provencal lavender that build to a chilling frisson . …

Philly Wine Festival

Another year, another Philly Wine Festival. Looking for this year’s Tudori, looking past the usual suspects. Seeing old acquaintances and making some new ones. Learning …

Intermediate Class: France 2/13/08

Sauvignon Blanc Ch. Cantelys 2003 Pessac-Leognan (Bordeaux) Regis Manet 2005 Pouilly Fume (Loire) Blanc de Bourgogne Simmonet-Febvre 2005 Chablis “Vaillons” Vins Eouges du Nord Ch. …

Classic Wines for Paul Wilner, 6/14/08

Mastroberardino 2004 Sannio Falanghina, Campania (IT) Spy Valley 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (NZ) Faiveley 2003 Mercurey 1er Cru “Clos de Myglands”, Burgundy (FR) Montebuena 2005 …

Chateau Leoville-Barton 2004, St,-Julien

had the great misfortune of being sandwiched between the exotically ripe 2003 and the already-legendary 2005. But for serious terroir-lovers, for those who want to …

Vino Divino

As a follow-up to our trip to Tuscany, here are the best among scores of wines tasted, whether at the winery, an enoteca, with meals, or sitting around the campfire:

10. Coltarenzio Muller- Thurgau, 2005…aromatic and spicy, balanced by crisp minerality and an off-dry mouthfeel.

9. Villa a Sesta Chianti Colli Areteni “Ripaltella”, 2004…..less dense, earthy, or leathery than a Classico.Riper fruit flavors offer a solid “old school” alernative.

8. Podere Colla Nebbiolo d’Alba, 2004…..the Langhe perfume of dusty roses and ripe plums. Layers of bitter cherry, earth, and raspberry leading to a firm and tannic finish.

Eraldo Viberti

As promised, some more of the interesting wines Icame across the last two months. Tenuta Roveglio 2008 Lugana…Trebbiano is one of the more maligned Italian …

Katharina and Helmut Gangl HG Zweigelt Dry 2003 Luss

Velvety smooth nose, like a cross between the game of syrah and the smoke of sangiovese, all of it brightened up nicely by ripe, red …

Hidden Italy: Frank’s Top Picks

1. Morgex et De La Salle “ViniÂ Estremi,” 2005, Valle D’AostaÂ 2. Cascina Chicco Roero Arneis 2005, Piemonte 3. Caldora Pecorino, 2005, Abruzzo 4. Cormons …

Emilia Romagna

Selvapiana Chianti Rufina Riserva “Vigna Bucerchiale”, 2003, Toscana Of the seven sub-zones of the Chianti DOCG outside the Classico area, Rufina is the most highly …

Renwood 2003 Zinfandel “Old Vine”

Blood-colored with a brick-like rim, this wine shows a nose of rich, ripe blue and black berries, the expected zinfandel spice, and something almost nutty. …

Foundations: Italy, 5/21/08

Mastroberardino 2005 Greco di Tufa “Nova Serra” Campania Attems 2004 Tocai Friulano Collio Friuli Massolino 2006 Barbera d’Alba Piemonte Allegrini 2004 “Palazzo delle Torre” Veronese …

Top Wine Buys for Our Pennsylvania Peeps

Here is a list of our top wine buys in the Pennlyavania Wine & Spirits Shoppes. You can find these wines easily by using the Wine School‘s Wine Finder. Happy Hunting!

Ravenswood 2002 Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley

$17.99 in PA ($25 outside PA) PLCB Code 13804

A definite must buy for Zin drinkers. Dense and full bodied, the wine uncorks with an explosion of deep black fruit and freshly roasted coffee beans. Rich but soft tannins carve out a core of caramel & chocolate that is quickly filled with a spicy finish. Damn fine.

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