The Five Top Italian Red Wines for $20
Italian Red Wines 101 Walk into any wine shop, and you will be confronted with hundreds of Italian red wines, ranging in price from six dollars to hundreds. In this scenario, …
Nebbiolo
What are Tannins?
What are Tannins? The dictionary isn’t much help. Here is the definition: tan·nin noun a yellowish or brownish bitter-tasting organic substance present in some galls, barks, and other plant tissues, consisting of …
Michele Chiarlo 2007 “Tortoniano” Barolo
Barolo is a luxury that no one should do without. In the world of wine, it is like royalty. When a bottle of Barolo is priced under $40, it’s often worth …
Terre da Vino 2009 “La Casa in Collina” Barbaresco
Lange wine review I am always looking for good values for Nebbiolo. The high-quality $20 bottle is a rare and wonderful thing. Typically that takes me to the larger Langhe region, …
Terre Da Vino 2005 “Essenze” Barolo
This is a under-the-radar Barolo negotiant that deserves a bit of attention. The price point is excellent for this level of Barolo. Blended from a few of the top vineyards in …
Antiche Vigneti di Cantalupo 2005 “Primagenia” Piemonte
The Colline Novarese DOC is located in the smaller cluster of designated zones in northern Piemonte, including Gattinara and Ghemme, two familiar names for devotees of Nebbiolo. The regulations for both …
Giuseppe Cortese 2007 Nebbiolo, Langhe
The Cortese winery is located in the coveted Rabaja region of Barbaresco and produces magnificent bottles from their vineyard. This bottle is the hidden gem of the vineyard: it is sourced …
La Ca’ Nova 2007 “Bric Mentina” Barbaresco
A brilliantly crafted Barbaresco. Bric Mentina is an estate bottling from this excellent producer and pushes me to be a bit more poetic than I can usually muster. This Barbaresco has …
Cristina Ascheri 2006 Langhe Arneis, Piemont
In the land of Barbaresco and Barolo, this grape is truly, in the local patois, an unruly child, the one who doesn’t quite fit in. Once planted among rows of Nebbiolo …
Castello di Verduno Pelaverga 2004 “Basadone”Piemonte
In a region famous for its Nebbiolo-based wines, several varietals don’t get the attention they deserve, and this is one. Pelaverga is an ancient cultivar native to the Langhe, once planted …
Casa Librandi Ciro, “Duca di San Felice” Riserva, 2003, DOC, Calabria
The Ciro DOC is home to Gaglioppo, a vigorous grape known as “The Black Prince.” Genetically related to Sicilian Frappato, it was used in ancient times to make crimissa. Today it …
Walter Massa’s 2004 “Pertichetti” Bonarda
Let’s set the record straight – Croatina is NOT Bonarda, although, in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, that is how it is erroneously identified. Bonarda is a separate varietal that is extensively cultivated …
Elvio Cogno 1999 Montegrillo Langhe Rosso
Elvio Cogno’s established his reputation in Piedmont long before he purchased his own property in Novello. His mark had been made at the renowned Marcarini estate in La Morra, bridging the …
Pecchenino 2005 Dolcetto di Dogliani “San Luigi”
Nebbiolo and Barbera may get most of the accolades. Still, a good Dolcetto, like this one, is perfect for this time of year with its modest weight, easy drinkability, and amazing …
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, …
