Guasti Clemente 1990 Barolo Riserva

Guasti Clemente 1990 Barolo Riserva, $55.24-$89.99, 91 points, appeared a coppery red and lightened to an orange with an almost yellow hue at the clear rim.
The aroma began somewhat unpleasant, but with a little air and time wafted caramel, wood, bourbon, chocolate, with hints of cedar and leather.
The medium body was smooth with good acidity, resolved mild tannin, flavors of bourbon, raisin, plum, and red cherry.
Finished long on the trailing palate with hints of the 13.5% alcohol and spice notes.




Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

 

Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Il Bruciato 2011 D.O.C. Red Wine

Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Il Bruciato 2011 D.O.C. Red Wine, $19.54-$26.99, 91 points, appeared deep ruby trending crushed blackberry and slightly orange at the transparent rim.
Toasty black cherry and vanilla on the nose were rich and pleasant, but subtle black currant and cedar added complexity.
The medium-plus body carried very good acidity and powerful, but manageable tannin.
Flavors faithfully followed the aroma.
Finished long on the trailing palate with tart pomegranate, spice, coffee, tobacco, and a well integrated 14% alcohol.
Varietals were 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 15% Syrah.


Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

 

Cecchi Val Delle Rose 2009 Morellino Di Scansano Riserva

Cecchi Val Delle Rose 2009 Morellino Di Scansano Riserva, $16.99-$21.99, 87+ points, poured deep ruby trending rosewood and slightly orange at the clear rim.
The aroma, not that pleasant, was wet socks and black cherry.
The hearty medium body was smooth, acidic, and moderately tannic.
Cola, black and red grape, bay leaf, eucalyptus, black cherry and a hint of tobacco were very good flavors.
This 90% Sangiovese finished well with spice and a hint of the 14% alcohol.



Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

 

Château Grand-Pontet St. Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2008 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château Grand-Pontet St. Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2008 Bordeaux Red Wine, $35.69-$41.99, 92 points, appeared crushed blackberry trending deep ruby with a purple/orange hue toward the clear rim.
The nose was a complexity of earth, leather, espresso, plum, and black currant which was good.
The medium-plus body carried excellent acidity with pleasantly firm tannin and flavors that mirrored the aroma, but added nuanced mint, eucalyptus, and blackberry.
Finished long on white and cayenne pepper.



Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

 

Rutherford Ranch Napa Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Rutherford Ranch Napa Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.99-$21.99, 86 points, began with my trying to think of the old and wise saying about: "Into every life a little rain must fall"; well, when a wine I was looking forward to with great anticipation fails almost completely as did this wine, I'm not singing "I love a rainy night."
The rosewood trending crushed black currant color with a silvery rim was fine, but the aroma was strong and enduring barnyard blues for me.
The flavor of espresso was fine too, but from there it was downhill with petrol and green grape-skin notes that stole the thunder from a medium and lush body of good acidity with mild to moderate tannin.
Finished well with that espresso, mint, spice, and just a hint of the 13.5% alcohol.
The 2011 is young, and since I bought more than one bottle, I'll be visiting this one again.
Recently I tasted the 2007 and was amazed, pure and simple, it was wonderful, and a very different wine.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Is Argiolas D.O.C. 2011 Vermentino di Sardegna

Is Argiolas D.O.C. 2011 Vermentino di Sardegna, $18.69-$21.99, 92 points, had a deep straw yellow color.
The bouquet of flowers, honeydew melon, mint, and a hint of fennel was outstanding.
Having a rich medium body with fair acidity and flavors of the remarkable, but sustainable 14.5% alcohol, flowers, and the trending neutral white grape made a lasting impression.
Finished very long on a trailing palate and ginger.


Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Secco-Bertani I.G.T. Verona 2009 Red Wine

Secco-Bertani I.G.T. Verona 2009 Red Wine, $21.24-$24.99, 90 points, appeared copper colored with a deep ruby core and a broad transparent rim.
Loads of flowers on the nose, with mostly lilac and lavender, but red cherry bursts through as well.
Though this red wine is mostly Corvina with dollops of Syrah, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon, it was reminiscent of Spanish Garnacha, though a raisin-like flavor was added to its red cherry floral one-two-punch.
The medium body carried fair acidity with mellow tannin.
Finished fair on a trailing palate, a well integrated 13.5% alcohol, and a touch of brie and bourbon.




Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Tenuta di Nozzole D.O.C.G. 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva

 

Tenuta di Nozzole D.O.C.G. 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva, $13.59-$18.99, 91+ points, poured a rich pomegranate red with a slight bricking toward the clear rim.
Roses dominated the nose, but subtle black cherry and apple-wood curved any perfume-like accents.
The slightly more than medium body carried mouthwatering acidity with early palate good background tannin that escalates toward and into the finish.
Front palate luscious blueberry and blackberry transitioning into edgy pomegranate toward mid-palate were delicious.
The trailing palate finished long with a complexity of plum, mint, herbs, spice, and a well integrate 13.5% alcohol.
Lovely red wine at an incredibly good price.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Cecchi 2011 Chianti Classico

Cecchi 2011 Chianti Classico, $10.19-$14.99, 88 points, began in the glass as a deep ruby with shimmering hints of purple hues up to the broad clear rim.
Black olives, red cherry, and a slight floral note on the nose were pleasant.
The medium-plus very smooth body carried good acidity with comfortably enduring tannin.
Flavors of red fruit were rich, savory notes with cooking herbs subtle, and a hint of petrol (diminished quickly) were very good.
Finished on a trailing palate, roses, black pepper, and just a hint of the 13.5% alcohol.
Need a red wine for pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, Italian subs, lasagna, beef stews, and almost anything saucy? For about $10 you'll offer yourself and your guests a near perfect libation. No need to decant, but open and let breathe for at least a few minutes before serving.  

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

 

Cesari Fiorile Delle Venezie I.G.T. 2012 Pinot Grigio

Cesari Fiorile Delle Venezie IGT 2012 Pinot Grigio, $6.79-$15.99, 86+ points, appears a very bright polished gold color.
The aroma began with lively granny-smith apple, then settled down with kiwi and honeydew melon.
Having a light plus and crisp body with flavors that mirrored the aroma, fair acidity, and finishing fair on the trailing palate and the 12.5% alcohol climaxed an excellent value Pinot Grigio.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger
 

 

Cesari Vineyards--An Introduction

 

Vineyard over vintage is a common adage among wine lovers.
As I continue to explore wines from Italy I've decided to buy wines more with a vineyard motif than just as a haphazard choosing of one bottle of wine over another.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Cecchi Wines of Italy

 

It's Italian Wines that are 15% off at the NHLSs, and that makes it a very good time to sample them. I've had a few Cecchi wines in particular with a better than average

 opinion of them; so, with the encouragement I have

 received from my friend at TuscanVines,

 I bought a bunch of Italian wines

 with the emphasis on Cecchi.

Tuscanvines gets into Cecchi Wines of Italy!

 

I defer to John for the simple reason that he has met the owners and winemakers of Cecchi wines, and with his experience offers the reader an in-depth interview and assessment I cannot. What I do bring to the table is my humble New Hampshire tasting perspective which already has included these wines from Cecchi: Tenuta Alzatura docg 2008 Montefalco, Cecchi 2010 Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano, and Villa Cerna 2008 Chianti Classico.

 

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger





Rutherford Ranch Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Rutherford Ranch Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $17.99-$19.99, 92 points, was black at the core and trended crushed blackberry toward the clear rim.
The nose was a complex expression of flowers, black currant, coffee, and grape notes.
Near full bodied with fair acidity and mild resolved tannin.
Surprisingly good flavors of violets, mint, coffee, cola, earth, and lingonberry jam.
Finished long on red fruit (red cherry and pomegranate), a well integrated 13.5% alcohol, and mild spice.
I bought this wine almost four years ago and I've had this in my Euro-cave for the last three years; I was surprised just how well it has held-up, but I certainly think that this seven year-old Cali Cab is not going to get any better than it is right now.


Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Buccella Napa Valley 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Buccella Napa Valley 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, $109.99-$129.99, 92 points, appeared black all the way to the purple rim with its silver lining.
Overwhelming black currant wafted out of the glass and continued to dominate not only the nose, but the flavor of this very full bodied wine with its velvety texture (Inky), fair acidity, and rather mellowed tannin. This of course did not conclude the aroma, but coffee, blackberry, and cedar notes added depth and extended into the flavor profile too.
Finished long on a trailing palate, licorice, cayenne spice, and some heat from the 15.1% alcohol.

California Cabernet Sauvignon Are Beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index-of-reviewed-wines




Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

 

Carpenè Malvolti Extra Dry Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Carpenè Malvolti Extra Dry Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, $16.99-$19.99, 86 points, poured with a good head of foam and a slow, but continuous bubbly action, with an almost water clear appearance and just a hint of gray and green tones.
The nose was a faint Glera grape, the body was light and crisp (Very spritz-like on the palate) with good acidity, and the flavor was a mild tart citrus, but predominantly neutral in nature.
Finished with a touch of ginger and the 11% alcohol.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Château Angelus Premier Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion 2009 Bordeaux Red Wine

Château Angelus Premier Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion 2009 Bordeaux Red Wine, $292.49-$453.99, 97 points, poured opaque ruby with a transition to a small band of sunburst orange/red toward the broad clear circumferential rim and leggy glass wall.
The bouquet of roses, coffee, blueberry and black fruit with sea breezes was astounding, and carried over onto the palate with mint, eucalyptus, licorice, and cola flavors.
Having a full satin-like body with good acidity and restrained powerful tannin which accelerated deep into the very long finish of gathering spice and some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.
A special occasion wine for my special guest tonight, and worth every memory and every penny!

Bordeaux Red Wine vintage 2009

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger


 

Anzivino Emanuele Gattinara D.O.C.G. 2006 Nebbiolo Red Wine

Anzivino Emanuele Gattinara D.O.C.G. 2006 Nebbiolo Red Wine,
$16.06-$20.99, 89+ points, appeared bright ruby at the core, but there was a large band of brick red before the transparent rim.
A beautiful cinnamon red cherry aroma bode well for this wine.
The medium-plus body was luscious with an almost creamy texture, a tad of sweet red cherry and strawberry, fair acidity with mellow tannin.
Finished on a trailing palate, an almost unnoticeable 13% alcohol, some slightly green grape-skin, and spice notes.


Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Duckhorn Napa Valley 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

Duckhorn Napa Valley 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, $22.94-$31.99, 92+ points, appeared a beautiful polished gold color.
Aromatic honeysuckle and tangerine were lovely.
The medium body carried fair acidity and citrus flavors of tangerine, grapefruit, and hints of lemon on a bed of a creamy sherbet-like texture; what it lacked in crispness, it gained in its stand-alone drink-ability!
Finished long on the well integrated 13.5% alcohol, flowers, white pepper, and ginger.
When I want to be serious about a white wine, this is my go-to Sauvignon Blanc, because it is so consistently good.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger 

Fattoria Monsanto Fabrizio Bianchi 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva

Fattoria Monsanto Fabrizio Bianchi 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva, $15.29-$19.99, 91 points, poured as deep and true a ruby red as any red wine I've seen, but a slight orange transition before the silver lining was beautiful.
The gentle strawberry, red cherry, earth, and coffee notes were pleasant.
A shade richer than medium bodied with good acidity, fine tannin, and complex flavors of cola, red fruit, mint, and bay-leaf struck me as remarkably good for a $15 red wine.
Finished long on the trailing palate, tart pomegranate, and a well integrated 14% alcohol.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger 

Château Lamothe De Haux Grand Vin 2012 Bordeaux White Wine

Château Lamothe De Haux Grand Vin 2012 Bordeaux White Wine, $13.99-$14.99, 84 points, appeared a bright gold color which transitioned to light brass and finally gray toward the glass wall.
At colder temperatures the aroma was a pristine lemon/lime, but as it warmed a rather complex evolution transformed the aroma from sweet saltwater taffy to honeysuckle, and finally cantaloupe.
The light body carried fair acidity with rather flat citrus and green melon flavors.
Finished fair on the trailing palate with hints of the 12.5% alcohol and thin tangerine notes.
Varietals were 40 percent sauvignon blanc, 40 percent semillon and 20 percent muscadelle.


Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger                                    



Arnaldo~Caprai 2009 Montefalco Rosso

Arnaldo~Caprai 2009 Montefalco Rosso, $16.99-$19.99, 87 points, appeared bright ruby at the core, but the dominant color was orange/red with a transparent rim.
Cedar, black currant, and leather on the nose were okay.
Medium bodied with lip-smacking acidity and mouth-puckering tannin were a bit surprising in their intensity, but proved to be a Buffalo-wings buster of red wine characteristics.
Strawberry and red cherry were almost fruity, yet quite dry, and nuanced savory herbs added some depth to the flavor profile.
Finished long on spice and some heat (14% alcohol).
With a descriptor like "rustic" being tossed about, I've not been very good at nailing that one down, but the word does seem to apply to this rather rough-edged and austere red wine.
Varietals were 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, 15%Merlot.



Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Château Cantemerle, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, Haut-Médoc 2008 Bordeaux Red Wine

 

Château Cantemerle, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, Haut-Médoc 2008 Bordeaux Red Wine, $32.29-$37.99, 92 points, poured pomegranate red trending sunburst orange toward a broad youthful clear rim.
Smells of red fruit and warm earth were lovely.
The medium-plus body carried good acidity with very drinkable layered tannin and rich red fruit flavors with violets, currants, and dried herbs.
Finished on a long trailing palate, licorice, pomegranate, coffee notes, and a well integrated 13% alcohol.
Varietals are 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.

Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014 Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger

Banfi Castello San Angelo 2013 Pinot Grigio

Banfi Castello San Angelo 2013 Pinot Grigio, $13.59-$18.99, 92 points, poured a lovely light brass color, and trended gray to the edge of the glass.
An outstanding aroma of apples, peaches, pears, and honeysuckle excelled.
Loads of contradictions with this pinot Grigio: crisp and creamy, fruity with a dominant peach, extra non-descript flavors, 13% unnoticeable alcohol, with good acidity and a high drinkability.
Finished long on the trailing palate which reflected the aromas, but excelled with good ginger notes.
I've never had a vintage of the Banfi Pinot Grigio I didn't love.


Index-of-reviewed-wines

Copyright 2010-2014  Dennis Tsiorbas. All rights reserved, Template provided by Blogger