Wines
of the Week: Sips Via Italy
We
love a good bargain, especially when it comes to wine, and one
of our favorite countries to find nice bottles for a nice price
is Italy. With hundreds of years making wine under their belts,
the Italian know how to deliver classic character for a reasonable
price.† Here are a few bottles that we discovered recently:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Gabbiano
2015 Chianti Classico
Winery:
Gabbiano
Grape(s): Sangiovese
Region: Chianti, Italy
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
Lots of bing cherries mingle among expressions of cigar
box, herbs, and leather on the nose. Fairly lively on
the palate, cherry and red plum flavors wrap around nuances
of floral earth, leather, and herbs. The solid acidity
lifts the fruit in this wine, making chicken parmigiana
a nice pairing. Drink now.
Rating: 90 |
|
Pico
Maccario Lavignone 2016 Barbera DíAsti
Winery:
Pico
Maccario Lavignone
Grape(s): Barbera
Region: Italy
Year:
2016
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
Cherry and pomegranate aromas merge with accents of leather,
herbs, and violets on the nose. Savory flavors take center
stage, as leather, herbs and violet notes flow into elements
cherry and plum. A lively acidity and plush tannins make
this wine ideal for a gourmet pizza.
Rating: 89 |
|
Monte
Antico 2014 Toscana
Winery:
Monte
Antico
Grape(s): 85%
Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet, & 5% Merlot
Region: Toscana, Italy
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
A bouquet of dark cherries, violets, ginger, and spice
rises up from a glass. The palate brings together expressions
of cherry and raspberry with suggestions of cedar, vanilla,
and perfumed flowers. Delivering polished tannins and
good fruit character, itís a bargain for your Italian
night dinner.
Rating: 90 |
|
Icario
Rosso 2014 Icario Toscana
Winery:
Icario
Rosso
Grape(s): 70%
Sangiovese, 20% Teroldego, & 10% Merlot
Region: Toscana,
Italy
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
Aromas of cherries and plums interweave among hints of
earth and herbs on the nose. Flavors of black cherry,
blackberry, and plum meld with suggestions of herbs and
forest floor on the palate. Welcoming fruit and supple
tannins make this an approachable wine.
Rating: 89 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
|