Tasting Notes For Friday, 3/30/12

A Wonderful Tour of Italy This Time!

NCWC ITALIAN TASTING 3/30/12

ARGIOLAS COSTAMOLINO VERMENTINO 2009

                The birthplace of pizza is Naples, where this delightful food began as a flatbread used to verify oven temperature.  What this lovely Vermentino verifies is that Italy offers many more intriguing white options than Pinot Grigio.  It shows off “ripe citrus fruits and almond on the nose, with complicating notes of flowers and herbs. With ripe, almost creamy-rich herbal apricot and apple flavors, this one manages the neat trick of being both well delineated and rich.”  89 points Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer.  $13.97.

 POLIZIANO ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO 2008

                Florence is the capital of Tuscany, and as the cradle of the Renaissance is widely considered to be one of the top artistic cities in the world.  Rumors of Michelangelo sipping this wine while sculpting David may be exaggerated, but it’s fun to imagine!  80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, this displays cherry, blackberry, and floral notes on the nose, with those same elements coming through on the medium-bodied, round, soft palate.  $9.97.

 BANFI CENTINE TOSCANA 2009

                Verona, in northern Italy, is of course the setting of “Romeo and Juliet.”  Their affair turned out much less happily than the marriage in this wine between traditional (Sangiovese) and international (Cabernet and Merlot) grapes.  The bouquet is intense, vinous and spicy, while the taste has a gentle approach making the wine soft and easy-to-drink.  It’s a “juicy and fun young red, with berry character and soft, velvety tannins.” 87 points Wine Spectator.  $9.97.

 ANNUNZIATA BARBERA D’ALBA 2008

                Turin, the capital of Piedmont in northwest Italy, is both the home of Fiat and the famous Holy Shroud.  The surrounding region is shrouded in vines, and produces some of Italy’s finest wines.  Barbera is not as high-profile – nor as expensive – as Barola and Barbaresco, but it can make wonderful wine nonetheless.  Deep ruby red in the glass, this carries a rich and fruity bouquet of cherry and spice.  On the palate it is silky and balanced, with a long finish and that great food-friendly quality Italian wines are famous for.  $15.97.

 PACINA CHIANTI COLLI SENESI 2007

                Milan is a world capital of fashion and design, known for Gucci, Prada, Armani, Versace, etc.  This Pacina is made by husband and wife team Stefano and Giovanna Tiezzi who cultivate Sangiovese with as much passion and attention to detail as those designers. Made of 97% Sangiovese and 3% Canaiolo, this is pure and delicious with red fruits, flowers, subtle spices and subtle earth notes.  91 points Bill Tobin.  $23.97.

 SECCO-BERTANI VALPOLICELLA RIPASO 2008

                Built entirely on submerged islands, Venice is a maze of 170 canals and 400 foot bridges, but the result is a gorgeous combination of romance and history.  This ripaso results from re-fermenting Valpolicella on the pomace left from production of Amarone, and it’s also gorgeous!  The nose of sweet cherries, a port-like, dark berry and prune note, and feisty spiciness leads to a supple texture for the dried berry and cherry flavors, as well as terrific balance.  $16.97.

 SELLA & MOSCA TANCA FARRA ALGHERO 2004

                Then there is Rome.  The eternal city, almost 3000 years old, rich in culture, religion, and history.  Its Colosseum was engineered so efficiently that all 70,000 spectators could exit within three minutes.  But you’ll want to linger longer with this wine.  Its complex nose suggests both the complexity of the Cannonau and the strength of the Cabernet.  It’s “dark and dense with lingering flavors of black cherry and exotic spice.”  A well-structured palate with smooth, complex tannins and balanced acidity.  92 points Wine Advocate.  $25.97