Wine Review
Archive - Italy, Tuscany - Red
($68). Excellent stuff -- and kind of
a bargain as far as Brunello of this
quality goes! With intense, full-bodied
red rasperry, blackberry and wild strawberry
flavors that stay focused throughout
the long, supple finish. Includes accents
of lavender and mocha. A beauty. Ready
to drink now and over the next 10+ years.
(Wine Tasting, 02/06)
($75). Elegant
and smooth, with pretty blackberry,
floral and mocha aromas and flavors
that linger on the full, focused finish.
Absolutely beautiful. A blend of Sangiovese,
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Tempting now and over the next ten years.
(Weekend Wine 10/05)
($17).
Heck of a deal on this complex Super
Tuscan from one of the most recognized
names in Italian wine. With layers of
juicy black plum and cassis fruit, spice,
mineral and restrained vanillin oak.
Moderate finish. Ready to drink now
and over the next couple of years. (Wine
Tasting 04/05)
($9). Each year I buy a few bottles
of this wine. Partly because the first
time I drank it, I was sitting in Piazza
Navona in Rome (my favorite city in
the whole world). And partly because
it's just good, affordable, easy-drinking
Italian red wine. Hard to beat. This
1999 vintage is no exception. It is
a lovely bright red color, and tastes
rich and smooth, with concentrated cherry
and raspberry fruit and light tannins.
Ready to drink now. I paired it with
baked chicken breasts stuffed with Roquefort
and tarragon. Delicious! (Weekend Wine,
01/01)
($N/A). Wonderful! Full
of ripe, bright fruit – think raspberry
and cherry – with wonderful warm
spicy notes. Drink now and over the
next three years. (Label Art, 06/02)
($20).
Hard to go wrong with this easy-drinking
and widely available wine. Bright red
berry and cherry flavors, medium tannins,
light herb and pepper accents, and a
smooth, tasty finish. We paired it with
a Wild Mushroom Strudel with Goat Cheese.
Outstanding. (Weekend Wine, 08/00)
($22). Rich and elegant, with aromatic
red berry and violet notes and ripe flavors
that linger on the lush, complex finish.
Ready to drink now and over the next four
or five years. (Italian Connection 02/07)
($10). Appealing
everyday quaff and easy to pair with
food, with medium-bodied red berry and
cranberry flavors and a clean finish.
Ready to drink now. (Italian Connection
12/06)
($10). Meaty red
cherry and currant fruit is laced with
aromatic black pepper. Smooth finish picks
up nice acidity along the way. Ready to
drink now. (Italian Connection 12/06)
($15). Ripe
black cherry fruit is accented with loads
of vanillin oak and a hint of spice. New
World style; lacking the acidity and brightness
of the other wines tasted here. Ready
to drink now. (Italian Connection 12/06)
($22). Medium-bodied
and crisp, pretty blackberry and plum
flavors, accented with exotic tea and
orange rind notes, with appealing bright
acidity on the moderate finish. Ready
to drink now. (Italian Connection 12/06)
($20). Lighter
than expected, but still tasty, with fresh
red berry and plum fruit laced with light
herbal and mineral notes. Ready to drink
now. (Wine Tasting 04/05)
($10). Tasty and a
good value, offering fresh red berry and
cherry fruit with delicate cream and floral
notes. Ready to drink now. (Italian Connection,
04/03)
($17). Wonderful ruby color. Full and
ripe with raspberry and red cherry fruit,
good focus, refined tannins, and a lingering
smoky finish. Very good now and over
the next few years. (Richard's Picks,
06/02)
($15).
Excellent wine and a great value. Ripe
raspberry and blackberry fruit show
on the bouquet and linger through the
finish. Medium bodied with a nice spicy
kick. Drink now and over the next two
or three years. (Party Planning, 02/01)
($17). Most
enjoyable. Super smooth with loads of
berry fruit and a touch of earthiness,
the wine has a nice generous finish and
is ultra food-friendly. Ready to drink
now and over the next year or so. (Weekend
Wine, 05/01)
($43). Fantastic,
full-bodied blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet
Sauvignon, with layers of concentrated
black currant, cherry, espresso, exotic
spices, and cream. Focused finish lingers
beautifully. Ready to drink now and over
the next four or five years. (Weekend
Wine, 04/04)
($65).
Deep and fragrant, with subtle floral
notes mingling with focused wild berry,
cedar, earth and tobacco. Lovely, velvety
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next four or five years. (Wine Tasting,
02/06)
($28).
A great value on a polished Riserva,
offering full-bodied cassis and black
plum fruit with waves of appealing mineral
notes and well integrated spicy oak.
Ready to drink now and over the next
three or four years. (Wine Tasting 04/05)
($24).
A deep ruby red with a fresh bouquet,
then loads of red cherry accented with
blueberry and violets. Rich and full-bodied,
but very well balanced. Drink after 2003.
(Richard's Picks, 06/02)
($12). Lovely
floral, blackberry and licorice aromas
introduce medium-bodied blackberry flavors,
with mocha and toasty oak accents that
linger on the bright finish. Ready to
drink now. (Weekend Wine 12/07)
($9). Great bang
for the buck here, with focused red
berry and plum fruit, nice mineral notes,
and a touch of sweet vanilla on the
moderate finish. Ready to drink now
and over the next three years. (Weekend
Wine, 12/03)
($11). Fresh and
flavorful, with tart red fruit and berry
flavors, finishing with just a hint of
earthy vanilla. Ready to drink now and
over the next couple of years. (Weekend
Wine, 12/03)
($66). Very,
very good -- with aromatic red and blackberry
leading the way, expertly layered with
cedar, spices and toast. Ready to drink
now and over the next five or six years.
(Wine Tasting, 02/06)
($9). Light bodied
and with a slightly charred taste. More
green pepper than fruit. Not appealing.
(Weekend Wine, 03/02)
($19).
Very nice overall package of floral-scented
blackberry and currant flavors, with moderate
spice and cedar. Ready to drink now. (Wine
Tasting 04/05)
($10). Fairly light,
but easily drinkable. A good pizza wine!
Offers dried red fruit, cranberry and
mineral. Ready to drink now. (Bargain
Wine 10/07)
($13). Medium-bodied,
with more character than the Chianti
(above). Black currant and berry flavors
are laced with pepper and spicy oak.
Ready to drink now. A nice everyday
red that works with a variety of foods.
(Bargain Wine 10/07)
($10). Fruity red berry
and cherry flavors and aromas are fresh
and juicy and accented with mineral
and floral notes. A nice wine for ten
bucks! Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 10/05)
($10). Light and pretty,
with floral laced fruit aromas and dried
cherry, blueberry and spice flavors.
Moderate finish. Easy to drink now!
(Italian Connection, 08/04)
($17).
Deep red berry fruit, violet and spice
aromas and flavors, picking up accents
of tobacco and creamy milk chocolate on
the moderate finish. Yummy! (And a good
value, too.) Ready to drink now and over
the next five years. (Party Planning,
08/04)
($35). A blend
of Sangiovese Grosso, Merlot and Cabernet
Sauvignon, with a deep black pepper laced
bouquet, offering black cherry and plum
fruit, along with lots of sweet vanilla
and toasty oak. Ready to drink now and
over the next three years. (Italian Connection,
08/04)
($30). 100% Sangiovese
Grosso, this single vineyard wine offers
pretty blueberry and red cherry flavors
layered with plenty of sweet vanilla and
spicy oak. Medium bodied, with a moderate
finish. Ready to drink now. (Italian Connection,
08/04)
($46). Beautiful
dark ruby color and deep berry and spicy
oak aromas lead to smooth cassis and
cherry fruit, cinnamon, smoke and balanced
vanillin oak accents. Long, elegant
finish. Blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet
Sauvignon. Delicious now, but will age
beautifully for another five or six
years. (Italian Connection, 04/03)
($46). Bright and elegant, with a heady
bouquet of ripe fruit and mocha, followed
by focused red berry fruit, cinnamon,
floral and creamy vanilla oak. Beautifully
balanced. Outstanding. Ready to drink
now and over the next couple of years.
(Italian Connection, 04/03)
($19). Lush
red cherry leads the way on the bouquet
and palate, with spice, mineral and
delicate earthy notes hanging in through
the finish. We could happily drink this
everyday! Ready to drink now and over
the next year or two. (Italian Connection,
04/03)
($5).
Been a while! Simple, certainly, but in
a tasty way. Juicy red fruit with light
spice and even a dash of earthiness. At
this price, it's not a bad choice for
big crowds! Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine, 12/03)
($19). Bright,
racy red berry and cherry fruit is nicely
accented with anise and earthy nutmeg.
A harmonious, balanced wine. Focused
through the finish. Ready to drink now
and over the next three years. (Weekend
Wine 01/06)
($13). Sweet berry and rose aromas and
flavors, with a light hint of black
pepper on the finish. Light and easy
to drink now. Nice with a light chill
on it for summer. (Italian
Connection 06/05)
($80). Wonderful
earthy, roasted coffee bean bouquet
introduces velvety smooth Cabernet fruit
flavors, with a bright mineral character
supporting the lingering finish. Nicely
structured - should age nicely. Very
good now and over the next ten years.
(Italian Connection 06/05)
($11). Fruity, straightforward table
wine with spicy cherry and berry fruit
on a medium-bodied frame. Smooth texture.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 12/02)
($46).
Not a huge Brunello, but still quite
tasty. Smoky, rose petal aromas introduce
ripe red berry and currant flavors.
With toast and vanilla lingering on
nicely integrated, smooth tannins in
the finish, along with a burst of mouthwatering
acidity. Ready to drink now and over
the next 2-3 years. (Wine Tasting, 02/06)
($60). A blend
of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
and 20% Syrah, this lush, aromatic red
offers ripe black cherry and plum fruit,
smooth chocolate and licorice accents,
and pretty vanilla oak on the focused
finish. One of my favorites of the evening!
Ready to drink now and over the next
4-5 years. (Italian Connection
06/05)
($32). Ripe and rich, with plum and
berry flavors and earthy tannins that
dissolve into a sweet fruit finish and
a burst of appealing minerality. Ready
to drink now. (Italian
Connection 06/05)
($15). Deliciously
ripe and rich, offering dried cherry and
floral aromas, followed by deep plum and
cherry fruit, finishing with chocolate
and a smoky note. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine, 12/02)
($27). Polished berry and plum fruit,
with delicate orange peel and chocolate
notes emerging on the finish. Ready to
drink now. (Weekend Wine, 12/02)
($120). Just amazing stuff,
this, with powerhouse ripe fruit - berry,
dusty plum, dark cherry - and lovely structure.
Rich, generous finish. Ready to drink
now and over the next five or six years.
(Italian Connection 06/05)
($50). Elegant
tea, anise, and berry aromas lead to a
medium-bodied wine that features smooth
cherry fruit with touches of spice and
tobacco. Picks up a hint of earthiness
on the finish. Ready to drink now and
over the next couple of years. (Weekend
Wine, 12/02)
($50). A gorgeous wine,
with complex layers of cedar-scented cassis
and black cherry, warm spices, mineral and
vanillin oak. Beautifully knit, with a generous
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next six or seven years. (Wine Tasting 04/05)
($16). Delicious and
easy to like, with pretty raspberry
and cranberry flavors laced with toasty,
vanilla and a touch of fresh herbs.
Moderate finish. Ready to drink now.
(Wine Skinny Cooks 06/07)
($24). Deeper
and slightly fuller-bodied than the
"regular" Chianti, with blackberry
and plum fruit accented with smoky oak
and allspice. Smooth finish. Ready to
drink now. (Wine Skinny Cooks 06/07)
($16). Easy to like,
with juicy, aromatic red cherry and
berry flavors accented with spicy pepper,
dark chocolate and espresso notes. Smooth,
lingering finish. Ready to drink now.
(Italian Connection 02/06)
($20). Spicy floral
aromas introduce dried cherry and plum
flavors that are accented with toasty
oak. Finishes a bit short. Ready to drink
now. (Italian Connection 02/06)
($12). An easy quaff, offering
juicy red berry flavors with pleasing
tartness and mineral and herbal notes.
A good value on a medium-bodied wine.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 11/04)
($20).
Fruity aromas and flavors include plum
and red cherry - showing admirable ripeness
in a rainy, watery vintage - with pretty
spices and fine tannins. Focused, moderate
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next year or two. (Italian Connection
02/06)
($70). The
first Brunello vintage from Da Vinci,
it offers loads of aromatic, elegant black
fruit (berry, plum, currant, cherry) laced
with hints of tobacco and leather, and
plenty of toasty oak. Long, mouthwatering
finish. Really good! Ready to drink now
and over the next seven-plus years. (Italian
Connection 02/06)
($17).
Light and juicy, with ripe red plum
and slight earthy notes on the soft
finish. Ready to drink now. (Italian
Connection, 02/04)
($30). Super Tuscan
featuring a flowery bouquet that introduces
wild red berry fruit with green olive,
herbal and sweet vanilla on the finish.
Ready to drink now and over the next couple
of years. (Italian Connection, 02/04)
($36).
Each year, Dievloe chooses another wine
from another vintner of another country
to blend with and create a new version
of Plenum, a proprietary wine. This third
("tertius") in the series blends
50% Dievole Sangiovese with 50% Tempranillo
from Spain's Munoz winery. A wonderful
combination of juicy and earthy, with
robust black fruit, waves of warm spices
and a decided earthiness. Perfect with
a rustic roasted chicken and a wide range
of cheeses (Manchego!). Ready to drink
now and over the next three years. (Italian
Connection, 02/04)
($11). Easy
to like, with fresh tasting, juicy red
berry laced with light spices and just
a touch of vanilla. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine 01/06)
($10). A lot of wine for the price,
this red offers juicy red berry on a
moderate frame with delicate herbal
and spicy oak overtones. Ready to drink
now. (Italian Connection, 08/03)
($16). Very good expression of ripe
berry fruit is full-bodied and smooth,
with accents that include roasted hazelnut,
earth, fennel, and pepper. Rich, lasting
finish. Delicious now and over the next
five or six years. (Italian Connection,
08/03)
($25). Elegant floral
and wild berry aromas introduce smooth,
ripe cherry with earth, game and deep
spicy notes. Stays focused and elegant
through the lingering finish. Drink
now and over the next five or six years.
(Italian Connection, 08/03)
($20). Textbook example of what a Classico
should be -- supple mouthfeel, medium
to full bodied, bursting with spicy raspberry,
black cherry and touches of fennel. Lingering
yummy finish. Drink now and over the next
two or three years. (Party Planning, 02/01)
($20). Medium-bodied mix
of dark plum and earthy aromas and flavors.
Not overly complex, but tasty and easy
to pair with food. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine, 04/04)
($20).
Full bodied and refined, full of harmonious
red berries with appealing mineral notes.
The finish is super long and ripe. Very
good now and will age beautifully for
at least five years. (Weekend Wine,
01/01)
($16).
If you’re in the market for a very
good Chianti, you really should buy
this one. It’s unbelievably good,
the best Chianti I have had in ages.
Could easily retail for $40 or more,
so it’s a steal at this price.
but you should be able to find it for
about $15. (Robyn's Picks, 10/99)
($23). Unusual
and interesting -- in a good way! Rosewater
accents the red berry fruit, picking up
just a touch of nutmeg on the finish.
Medium body and smooth tannins. Drink
now and over the next two or three years.
(Party Planning, 02/01)
($12). Totally
drinkable - and at an affordable price.
With lively, fresh cherry and red berry
fruit laced with cracked black pepper
and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied. Easy
to like. Ready to drink now. (Italian
Connection 08/05)
($73). Super-concentrated
and still just a baby, with fruit forward
ripe plum and blackberry jam, a big, ripe
vanillin oak finish, and smooth tannins.
Mostly Merlot, with 20% Sangiovese. Ready
to drink now and over the next three or
four years. (Italian Connection 08/05)
($22). Appealing bouquet of fresh berry
and warm, earthy spices introduces full-bodied,
voluptuous black cherry and berry flavors,
peppery, spicy oak and dusty tannins.
Ready to drink now and over the next two
or three years. (Italian Connection 08/05)
($63).
Lovely lavender, mint, clove and ripe
blackberry aromas and flavors are beautifully
structured and balanced. Full-bodied,
with a long, generous finish that shows
some grip. Delicious now and over the
next ten years. (Italian Connection 08/05)
($48). Slightly more New World than Old,
with ripe (but not too much so) cherry
and plum fruit, followed by vanilla oak,
spice and mineral notes. Ready to drink
now and over the next four years. (Splurge
Wine, 06/02)
($45). Still in great shape, even if the
color is picking up some brick tints,
with loads of Merlot flavors, including
dried cherry and plum, milk chocolate
and warm spices. Drink now and over the
next three or four years. (Italian Connection
08/05)
($75). Heady aromas of rose petals and
wild blue and black berries, introduce
ripe red fruit flavors with subtle accents
of fresh herbs, bittersweet chocolate
and toasty oak. Lovely, velvety mouthfeel
and lingering finish. Ready to drink now
and over the next seven or eight years.
(Wine Tasting, 02/06)
($65). Classic
blackberry fruit flavors and aromas,
with full-bodied, concentrated black
fruit, cedar, spicy oak and vanilla
notes. Big tannic structure; generously
lingering finish. Could use a couple
more years of bottle age to smooth out,
then drink for another ten years. Outstanding.
(Weekend Wine, 03/04)
($22).
Attractive earthy bouquet introduces pretty,
medium-bodied red berry and plum fruit,
laced with some funky earth and light
spices. Moderate but focused finish. Ready
to drink now and over the next year or
two. (Weekend Wine, 03/04)
($14). This is
a great bottle -- vibrant color, yummy
raspberry and cherry flavors with just
enough kick. Great with the pasta with
sun-dried tomato pesto that I whipped
up for dinner. (Weekend Wine, 04/00)
($18). By
the second glass of this fruity, well-balanced
Chianti, I was ready to hop a plane and
head to Italy. This is a white table cloth,
gregarious waiter, big city night, sausage
and peppers kind of wine. Molto buono!
(Weekend Wine, 06/00)
($16). Deep,
wet earth aromas and flavors mingle
with blackberry, plum and warm spices,
finishing with cedar and dry tannins.
Ready to drink now and over the next
two or three years. (Weekend Wine 01/06)
($12). Easy to like red
(90% Sangiovese Grosso and Sangiovese),
with fresh red fruit flavors, a touch
of earth, moderate tannins and a clean,
easy finish. Ready to drink now. (Italian
Connection, 10/03)
($42). Rich
and concentrated, with sleek red berry
and plum flavors and aromas laced with
black tea, dried herbs and mineral notes.
Stays focused and complex through the
generous, lush finish. 100% Sangiovese.
Ready to drink now and over the next
five to ten years. Practically begs
for lamb chops or game -- try grilled
venison sausages! (Weekend Wine 05/06)
($21). Mouthwatering bouquet of ripe,
red fruit and spicy earth notes, with
those same flavors repeating on the
palate along with deep spices and a
generous finish. Nice concentration.
Ready to drink now and over the next
four years. (Italian Connection, 10/03)
($18).
Medium-bodied red raspberry and cranberry
fruit have appealing underlying spice
and richness. Ready to drink now. (Italian
Connection, 10/03)
($40). Beautifully structured,
with complex layers of concentrated red
berry and plum fruit, mineral, earth,
and toasty oak. Generous finish continues
to evolve and linger. Delicious now and
over the next five or six years. (Italian
Connection, 10/03)
($27). Almost garnet in color, with an
intense bouquet. Surprisingly refined
and medium-bodied, with raspberry and
blackberry fruit and just a hint of mocha.
Very good now and over the next four years.
(Richard's Picks, 06/02)
($30). Again, the 1999
vintage is the current release, but I
didn’t care after tasting this wine!
Possibly my favorite of the evening, with
elegant, integrated berry fruit layered
with baking spices, sage, mineral and
light earthy notes. Finishes rich and
focused. Ready to drink now and over the
next three years. 100% Sangiovese Grosso.
(Italian Connection, 10/03)
($25). The 1999 is the current release,
but we tasted the 1997 vintage –
deep, spicy bouquet, with ripe plum and
red berry fruit accented with waves of
spice and moderate tannins. Ready to drink
now and over the next year or two. (Italian
Connection, 10/03)
($18). Medium-bodied
and smooth, with aromatic red cherry and
strawberry fruit that builds through the
finish, picking up warm baking spices
and a touch of chocolate along the way.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine 02/08)
($35). Smooth and pretty, with moderate
red currant and berry flavors accented
with roasted herbs and earthy notes that
linger on the finish. Ready to drink now.
(Italian Connection 08/07)
($24). Tasty, aromatic,
slightly tart cherry fruit is accented
with vanilla and smoky herbal notes. Stays
balanced through finish, picking up smooth,
warm spices. Ready to drink now and over
the next three or four years. (Italian
Connection 12/05)
($22). Really delicious, with pretty black
cherry and berry fruit laced with mocha
and soft spices. Lovely balance, acidity
and tannins keep things lively through
the finish. Ready to drink now and over
the next four or five years. (Italian
Connection 12/05)
($25). Delicious! Mouthwatering, cedar-scented
wild plum and berry flavors are nicely
layered with toast, ginger and baking
spices. With a finish that goes on forever.
A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon
and Merlot. Ready to drink now and over
the next 3-4 years. (Italian Connection
12/05)
($20). This is always
a great deal and a favorite of mine. I
try to let reserve Chianti age for about
five years from the vintage date, so I
often pick up bottles of the Ruffino whenever
I see them and just rotate them through
my cellar. (Great labels, too! I'm always
reminded of trips to Italy just looking
at them.) The 1997 vintage is a beautiful
deep red color with an impressive bouquet.
Good body and a fantastic finish -- I
highly recommend it! (Weekend Wine, 07/01)
($28).
A lean, lively style, with moderate blackberry
and plum fruit laced with minerals and smoke.
Focused finish dries up quickly. Traditional
style makes a nice change of pace these
days, and works easily with anything from
pizza to pasta to grilled meats. Ready to
drink now and over the next two or three
years. (Weekend Wine 10/05)
($48). The epitome of Toscana
greatness – this wine is elegantly
layered, showing lovely aromas and flavors
of blackberry, plum, and earth, with a
nice smoky note and lovely finish. So
good now, but even better in a couple
of years! (Splurge Wine, 06/02)
($55). Traditional styled Brunello, with
plenty of earthy, cedar accents to the
intense blackberry fruit. Full-bodied
and muscular, with compelling cigar box
notes on the supple, generous finish.
Ready to drink now and over the next four
or five years. (Wine Tasting, 02/06)
($9). So simple it
practically has no taste at all -- just
some very light red fruit in the beginning.
Then it all but disappears. (Weekend Wine,
12/03)
($61). Lovely fruit and floral aromas
introduce this well-balanced and easy
to enjoy wine. Blackberry and cherry fruit
are accented with toasty vanilla oak and
a hint of chocolate. Ready to drink now
and over the next three years. (Splurge
Wine, 06/02)
($60). It is beautifully perfumed, with
elegant aromas of red fruit laced with
delicate cedar and earth. Full-bodied,
but with velvety smooth tannins, flavors
include concentrated red fruit, sweet
tobacco, earth and cream. Outstanding
now and over the next 7-8 years. (Italian
Connection, 04/04)
($29). Ripe bouquet features cherry and
coffee aromas. Full-bodied, with plenty
of tannins at this point, offering concentrated
red cherry and berry fruit, with espresso
notes showing up again on the finish.
Very nice. Drink after 2003. (Richard's
Picks, 06/02)
($13). The
beautiful deep red color, spicy berry
bouquet, and silky smoothness are excellent.
This is a versatile wine that is ready
to drink now and would pair well
with a wide range of food. Pasta, pizza,
roasted chicken, you name it. We had big
vine-ripened tomatoes, thickly sliced,
a dollop of aļoli, and some good crusty
Italian bread. (Weekend Wine, 08/00)
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