Sylla Sebaste 2001 “Bussia” Barolo
For the past few years, there has been an ongoing debate regarding what constitutes a “true” Barolo…or makes a Barolo truly great. On one side of the aisle are the Traditionalists, …
Italian Pick
Roagna 2005 Dolcetto d’Alba, Piemonte
The name Dolcetto derives from dolcezza, meaning sweetness, and refers to the berries of the varietal, a quality that does not show up in the wines of its seven DOC zones. …
Corte Agnello 2004 Corvina, Veronese IGT
You’ve probably had Corvina, the Veneto’s “little crow,” somewhere along the way, even though you may not have realized it. A light, easy-drinking Bardolino? Corvina and Rondinella. Valpolicella in all its …
Saladini Pilastri 2004 Rosso Piceno, Marche
.Viticulture in the coastal area near Ancona predates Roman times, yet the wines of the Marche are still relatively unknown save for Fazzi-Battaglia’s “fish” bottle of Verdicchio. The Rosso is a …
Argiolas 2004 “Perdera”, Isola dei Nuraghi
Monica is a varietal indigenous to Sardegna, believed to have been introduced, as was Cannonau, by Spanish monks in the 11th century.There are two DOC zones where it predominates. However, this …
Tasting Campania
We’ve dropped Italian Wine Pick of The Week in favor of a more suitable header, one which translates as “The Wine Corner.” A place not just for reviews but all things …
Botromagno Primitivo, Gravina
The Botromagno winery is located in an area more known for white wines from a grab bag of Malvasia, Trebbiano Toscana, and Greco di Tufo among others. The source for this varietal …
Monteloro 2007 “Mezzo Braccio” IGT, Toscana
You know the old saying, “If you can’t say something nice, say nothing”? It probably accounts for my rarely holding forth on Pinot Egregious…sorry, Pinot GRIGIO. A grape is often derided …
Dino Illuminati 2005 “Ilico”, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC
Montepulciano is one of those Rodney Dangerfield grapes, the kind that gets no respect. It can be a crowd-pleaser for its pronounced, rounded fruitiness and soft tannins. A modest grape not …
Mauro Molino Barolo, 2000, Piemonte
What makes a Barolo truly great? Or how does one make a great Barolo? Two sides of the same coin in the ongoing debate among the “modernists” and “traditionalists” of Piemonte, …
Pieropan 2004 Soave Classico, Veneto.
Thirty or forty years ago, Soave, as was the case with its Tuscan cousin Chianti, suffered the ignominy of becoming a “brand” name, a generic term for mass-produced, easy-drinking Italian white …
Torre dei Gesuiti 2004 “Sarrocco” Puglia
From the inky purple-black pigment to the balanced and slightly herbal finish, this is a mouthful of wine. Substantial and juicy at the same time, with layers of dark berries and …
Cusumano 2004 “Benuara”, Sicily
Nero d’Avola has slowly gained credence as THE red grape of Sicily, combined here with Syrah to produce an interesting IGT wine that tones down the sometimes jammy, chewy quality of …