($8). You may
have seen these bottles popping-up all
over your local grocery store. This is
a new line of value-priced wines, so check
them out! This Merlot was yummy (to use
a technical wine term...) -- ripe and
juicy, with loads of plum and berry fruit
and a nice toasty vanilla oak finish.
Ready to drink now. It was a good match
to some (also yummy) shitake mushroom
risotto. (Weekend Wine, 07/01)
($21). Appealing sweet
floral and spicy vanilla mingle with
ripe blackberry and black currant aromas
and flavors. Delicate finish picks up
toasty oak. Velvety mouthfeel. Very
nice now and over the next couple of
years. (Italian Connection, 12/04)
($21). Soft
raspberry and red cherry aromas and flavors
are slightly simple, but still tasty.
Light to medium bodied with a simple,
juicy finish. Ready to drink now. (Italian
Connection, 12/04)
($21). Jammy
red fruit aromas with hints of game and
earth lead to fresh raspberry and toasty
oak flavors. Medium bodied, but with plenty
of tannin and acidity holding up the fruit.
Finishes with a touch of sap and briar
notes. Needs some time in the bottle as
is a little clunky now. Try again in a
couple of years, then drink over the next
three or four. (Italian Connection, 12/04)
($21). Spicy red
cherry aromas lead to ripe cherry and
berry flavors with toasty oak, spice and
vanilla notes. Medium bodied, easy to
drink. Builds through the lingering, ripe
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next year or two. (Italian Connection,
12/04)
($21). Deep, dark
red with a spicy, earthy, slightly wild
bouquet. Rich, ripe red berry fruit is
accented with chocolate, briar and burnt
toffee. Nice balance between richness
and acidity, with a smooth mouthfeel.
Persistent finish. Would be a good match
for grilled pork or lamb. Ready to drink
now and over the next four years. (Weekend
Wine, 03/04)
($24). A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%),
Merlot (30%) and Cabernet France, this
lush red is smooth, with vanilla-laced
red cherry and berry fruit that linger
on the finish along with cream, warm spices
and a touch of earth. Ready to drink now.
(Italian Connection 06/07)
($14). This
is a nice and tidy wine. Good structure,
balance of flavor, and a respectable finish
combine for a very good Merlot. Ready
to drink now. (Robyn’s Picks, 10/99)
($15). A
beautifully colored red with notes of
bright berry and fennel. This is a great
example of the teroldego grape, and
an excellently priced choice to start
with if you’ve never had this varietal.
(Robyn’s Picks, 10/99)
($45). A bit
of a splurge, but worth every penny.
Rich and lush, with ripe fruit and spice.
The finish lingers for days. (Robyn’s
Picks, 10/99)
($14). Full of cherry, blackberry, and
pepper, this age-worthy red is very good.
Somewhat tight on the nose, it opens up
beautifully in the mouth and finishes
strong. (Robyn’s Picks, 10/99)
($21). Lipsmacking blackberry and black
cherry flavors are accented with aromatic
anise and tobacco. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine 02/07)
($16). Really appealing, with smooth,
aromatic blackberry and plum flavors supported
by spicy oak and firm tannins. Ready to
drink now and over the next year or two.
(Weekend Wine 02/07)
($8). Appealing concentrated fruit with
lush vanilla oak notes and a bit of spice.
Medium-bodied with decent tannins and
an enjoyable finish. Not a blockbuster
Cab, but a nice buy at this price. Ready
to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 03/02)
($15). The
perfect balance between spicy and smooth,
this Merlot will please just about any
red wine drinker. An excellent example
of the Trentino DOC. (Robyn’s Picks,
10/99)
($12). Appealing fresh and
clean bouquet leads to juicy apple fruit
with herbal accents. Straightforward and
easy to drink. Ready to drink now. (Italian
Connection, 06/03)
