Spinelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

April 15th, 2008 Sean Posted in Italy, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2 Comments »

VALUE!!! Now that I got that out of my system, lets begin. The night we tasted this wine the menu was hamburgers, chicken pot pie, and a salad that had red cabbage, onion, mango, kiwi and parmesan cheese in it (don’t knock it till you try it, it was amazing). If you asked a somellier what to pair with that manic menu they would probably over heat and suggest beer.It’s been hit and miss for me with lower priced Italian wines, but I think we might have found a new house favorite. Very pleasant red wine, non-offensive with nice soft fruit that left you wanting another sip.
Tip: Serve this to someone and ask them to guess the price.
 
At a Glance
Taste plum, fruity, earth
Smell ripe cherry, stone fruit, herb
Food beef stroganoff
Sweetness dry
Price $6.95
LCBO# 454629
Score 3
Spinelli




Memoria Primitivo di Manduria 2004

April 2nd, 2008 Chuck Posted in Italy, Zinfandel 4 Comments »

Via DNA fingerprinting, it has been determined that Primitivo is essentially the same grape as California’s Zinfandel, this vintage proves that grape type does not always result in a cookie cutter style.
Although quite palatable, it took me a few sips to lock down the aroma, but once I did, I found it a bit tough to get past it. My intention was to get California Zinfandel for a bargain basement price, but in this case I’ll have to keep looking. If you looking for a very earthy, mushroomy, wet hay type of wine, you’ve just found it.
Tip: tulip glass
At a Glance
Taste wet hay, plum, green
Smell barnyard, earthy
Food old cheese
Sweetness dry
Price $12.95
LCBO# 687210
Score 1.5




Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio Trentino Riserva 2005

February 24th, 2008 Chuck Posted in Italy, Pinot Grigio No Comments »

Thankfully, this golden straw, off dry grigio put me back into the pinot spirit after my last attempt at it.
Here is a wine that tastes just like it smells and it’s good in both areas. A white that proved to be a crowd pleaser and gives you the chance to explain to people that the nice but unfamiliar taste is Mineral! Have a semi-snobby moment on us ;)
Tip: a good choice over the Santa Margherita & use a balloon glass
At a Glance
Taste minerals, lemon, subtle oak
Smell minerals, lemon, subtle oak
Food pasta with cream sauce, pork ribs
Price $15.85
LCBO# 32714
Score 3.5




Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio 2006

February 24th, 2008 Chuck Posted in Italy, Pinot Grigio No Comments »

Labeled as an LCBO essential, this dry, pale straw colored pinot grigio (otherwise referred to as pinot gris) threw me a curve ball.
I absolutely second guessed myself when writing notes about this wine due to all the attention it’s been receiving. I could not distinguish very many flavors and aromas from this wine and thought it to be a little bit indistinguishable. This was confirmed by our resident editor Sean who shared with me that this grigio had been excellent in past years but the 2006 was not a red letter year for them.
A couple years ago, people would have been happy to pay this price for a Santa Margherita, but I found this less than stellar harvest to be a bit too pricey. Surely coming as no surprise to the winery and dealers, I ask, shouldn’t the price follow the quality from year to year?
Tip: tulip glass worked best for this vintage
At a Glance
Taste golden apple, peach, lemon
Smell apple, peach
Food seafood or just as an aperitif
Sweetness dry
Price $16.85
LCBO# 106450
Score 2




Rocca Delle Macie Chianti Classico 2005

February 23rd, 2008 Chuck Posted in Chianti, Italy 1 Comment »

Chianti is Italy’s most famous wine, and rightly so, it’s an excellent varietal that goes very well with (surprise) Italian food.The winemakers at Rocca Delle Macie are chianti specialists and this vintage is proof in a bottle. Enjoy it’s fruit and oak flavours with a touch of black pepper in it’s long dry finish.
Interesting: Try a taste test between normal chianti and chianti classico. See if you can taste the difference between the types due to aging and grape quality. The classico will be much more sophisticated and less table wine like.
Tip: swish this chianti around for 5 seconds to get a hit of black pepper (sans sneeze)
At a Glance
Taste raspberry, oak, black pepper
Smell raspberry, oak, earth
Food antipasto, pasta
Sweetness extra dry
Price $16.80
LCBO# 741769
Score 4




Monte Zovo Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2004

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Valpolicella No Comments »

From the winemaker www.montezovo.com
The wine stakes its name from the method which is used to make it.
The wine is left to re-ferment on the grape skins of the which are used when making the Amarone and Recioto wines, giving it its rich ruby red colour and characteristic aromas and taste.
Tasting Notes: Pleasant aromas, fine and characteristic with hints of bitter almonds. On the palate the wine is dry, velvety, slightly bitter and harmonious.
$ 18.95
This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com
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Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio 2006

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Pinot Grigio No Comments »

From the winemaker www.ruffino.com
Lumina is produced from grapes grown on Ruffino’s Borgo Conventi estate, as well as grapes coming from the Venezia Giulia area’s finest vineyards. This combination offers the wine both complexity and elegance. It merges the qualities of a very popular grape variety with the virtues of a historical vine-growing area, perfect for the production of fine quality white wines.
Lumina is a Pinot Grigio with a well recognizable personality. It’s medium-bodied structure and full aromas makes it stand out in the broad Pinot grigio category. This wine, which was first introduced in 2002, has in fact been so well received by consumers world-wide that its production has grown well beyond 1.000.000 bottles per year in only 4 years.
$ 13.10
This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com
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Tommasi Valpolicella Classico

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Valpolicella No Comments »

From the winemaker www.tommasiwine.it
FRAGRANCE: Very fresh and fruity, with lots of cherry notes.TASTE: Fairly intense, sweet cherry flavours. Well balanced and full of flavours.

RECOMMENDED WITH: White pasta, pizza, vegetables, white and red meat, fresh cheeses
GRAPES: Corvina Veronese 60% - Rondinella 30% - Molinara 10%
$ 13.95
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Ruffino Chianti 2007

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Chianti, Italy No Comments »

From the winemaker www.ruffino.com
Aroma: As always this Chianti features a deliciously vinous bouquet, where the floral and fruity notes lead towards a finish of slightly spicy scents of white pepper and hazelnuts.Tasting profile: Medium-bodied, Chianti Ruffino is pleasantly fruity, harmonious and persistent.

Tasting profile: Medium-bodied, Chianti Ruffino is pleasantly fruity, harmonious and persistent.
A young Sangiovese which can be perfectly matched with a wide variety of traditional Italian dishes.
$ 15.05
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Ruffino Orvieto Classico 2007

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, White Blend No Comments »

From the winemaker www.ruffino.com
Aroma: fresh and fragrant with delicate flowery notes of meadow flowers and clover accompanied by fruity hints of green apples and greengages.

Tasting profile: fresh and harmonious with good body and an aftertaste reminiscent of citrus fruits.
GRAPE VARIETALS: Grechetto 50%, Procanico 30%, Verdello 10%, Canaiolo bianco 10%.
$ 11.10
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Fontana di Papa Colli Albani

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, White Blend 2 Comments »

From the winemaker fontanadipapa.it
Colour: Deep straw-like yellow

Bouquet: Gentle, fruity and lingering, with hints of an aromatic varietal bouquet.

Taste: Dry, harmonious and elegant. Serving Temperature: 8 - 10°C
Grape Types: Malvasia di Candia, Trebbiano Giallo, Malvasia del Lazio
$ 12.85
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Bolla Valpolicella

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Valpolicella 1 Comment »

From the winemaker bolla.com
Made from grapes in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. This soft scrumptious wine has flavours of berries, almonds, rasins and spicy black cherries. The wine pairs nicely with beef dishes, and zesty pasta meals
$ 12.85
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Masi Levarìe Soave Classico 2007

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Soave No Comments »

From the winemaker masi.it
This classic Italian white is world famous for its delicate flavour and
aroma. It is a modern-styled wine made from traditional Veronese
grape varieties (Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave). It is excellent
as an aperitif or with antipasti, and also perfect with fish and with
light modern cuisine.
Pale straw yellow with green reflections. Intense floral nose with clear hints of wisteria flowers,
together with bananas and pears. Strikingly fresh on the plate thanks to good supporting acidity;
well balanced with good weight and structure. Dry and attractive on the finish.
$ 15.95
This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com
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Masi Modello Delle Venezie Rosso 2006

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Red Blend 1 Comment »

From the winemaker masi.it
Refosco, Raboso and a small percentage of other important local
grape varieties, are the basis for this unmistakably typical wine from
the Venetian territories, which is fruity, well-structured and quaffable.
Ideal with a variety of dishes, from soups to grilled meats; also
perfect with pasta dishes.
Versatile enough to go with many dishes. Perfect with soups, pasta and risottos. Very good both with simple and more substantial dishes based on red meat, or with fresh cheeses.
Recommended drinking temperature 18° C (64° F).
$ 11.85
This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com
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Masi Modello Delle Venezie Rosato 2007

January 22nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, White Blend No Comments »

From the winemaker masi.it
Bright, lively pink wine colour with violet tinges to the edges. Attractive nose with intense, sweet
strawberry and raspberry aromas. Rich and pleasantly fruity on the palate. Sweet fruits of the
forest flavours stand out with a refreshing hint of gooseberries and red currants on the finish.
Ideal served as an aperitif, with hors d’oeuvres, light pasta dishes and seafood. Serve chilled and drink while young and fresh. An excellent picnic wine. Recommended drinking temperature 10° C (50° F).
Grape varieties: 70% Refosco, 30% Merlot.
This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com
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Santa Margherita Chardonnay 2005

January 20th, 2008 Archive Posted in Chardonnay, Italy No Comments »

From the wine maker www.santamargherita.com
In 1981 Santa Margherita presented its own Chardonnay, a new, fine white wine with a different style. It had a younger, fruitier taste than the other Chardonnay available, which generally favoured the use of malolactic fermentation and a finishing process in French oak cask.
$13.80
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Masi Modello Delle Venezie Bianco 2007

January 20th, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, White Blend No Comments »

From the winemaker masi.it
Bright straw yellow with green reflections. Excellent, deep aromas of flowers and fruit, particularly
pears with a hint of vanilla, on the nose. Dry on the palate with hints of ripe apples and bananas
giving depth to the wine. Good refreshing acidity to lighten the finish.
Perfect as an aperitif, with the starter, with rice and pasta accompanied by delicate sauces, and with Mediterranean cuisine in general. This wine goes particularly well with white meats, poultry and vegetarian cuisine. Serve at 8-10°C (46-50°F).
Grape varieties: 70-80% Garganega, 20-30% Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco
This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com
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Bosco Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2004

January 15th, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo No Comments »

From the winemaker www.nestorebosco.com
Colour: dark ruby red with light violet nuances.
Bouquet: fine and persistent with smells of ripened red fruit and spices.
Taste: dry, sapid and full.
Serving Temperature: 16/18° C.
Gastronomical Joining: it is the best for main dishes with meat sauce, and with ripened cheeses.
$ 8.00
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Vino dei Poeti Prosecco

January 12th, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Sparkling No Comments »

From the winemaker www.alexander.it
NOSE: Aromas of flowers, wild strawberries, hay and wild flowers
TASTE: Fragrant, slightly bitter, pleasantly aromatic.

COLOR: Straw yellow, clear, with a fine and persistent perlage
$ 13.75
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Masi Bonacosta Valpolicella Classico 2006

January 2nd, 2008 Archive Posted in Italy, Valpolicella No Comments »

From the winemaker masi.it
Bright ruby red with violet tinges on the edges. Young and vibrant on the nose with typical cherry
aromas to the fore and a distinct hint of cloves. Good structure on the palate; ripe cherry is still
the dominant flavour with cooked plums and touches of sweet cinnamon spice.
Versatile enough to go with many dishes. Perfect with soups, pasta and risottos. Very good with both simple and more substantial dishes based on red meat, or with fresh cheeses. Recommended drinking temperature 18° C (64° F)
Grape varieties 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara.
This wine has not been reviewed by nosnob.com
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