Italian Wine

Organic/Bio In a line-up of very impressive wines, the Chianti Vallenuova takes things pretty easy. There’s plenty of fruit, structure and complexity here, but the overwhelming impression is, “Ah – this is easy... Read More

A relatively new winery (first vintage 2014) from a family with 100+ years on Etna, the Tornetore style runs less extracted and powerful than most, but still very delicious! From older vines up the volcano from the winery, this... Read More

A relatively new winery (first vintage 2014) from a family with 100+ years on Etna, the Tornetore style runs less extracted and powerful than most, but still very delicious! This is from Contrada Trimarchisa, on the lowest slopes... Read More

Too much Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is too ambitious, with oak and winemaking getting in the way of the wine's dark cherry fruit and natural cocoa powder charm. Not here! As Suckling says in the 92 point review, it's... Read More

Sardinia’s Cannonao (Grenache) grape has a tendency to funky rusticity. Not here! This is fresh, clean and alluring with berry, graphite and spice flavors pulling you into a sleek, almost crisp, mouthful of juicy fruit and... Read More

“Chianti DOCG” can be a bit hit or miss – there’s a reason these vines aren’t in the “Classico” zone, but when it hits, the value is huge. Like here in a blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo... Read More

Villa Jolanda Prosecco is made from the Prosecco grape, Glera, grown in the hills north of Treviso. The wine features lovely aromas of white flowers, orchard fruits, and a touch of mineral. Lightly sparkling, the wine is full... Read More

We ran across a post on the web asking, “Villa Papiano’s Terra Bitter Bianco: the best Italian bitter?” Seems probable to us! It’s wildly aromatic and flavorful, with plenty of wormwood bite matched by... Read More

When Andrea Cortonesi decided to open a modern Tuscan restaurant in Siena 15 or so years ago, he wanted to serve some of his own wine with the re-imagined Tuscan dishes he planned. But, production at Uccelliera was too small,... Read More

Lower ABV The Verdicchio grape emerged long ago in the Veneto near Verona and moved south into the Marche sometime in the 13th or 14th centuries. Called Trebbiano di Soave in the Veneto, the greenish hue of wines grown in Marche... Read More

Zenato goes after the richer, deeper, even more full-bodied style of Amarone (made from air-dried grapes) and delivers that with style in 2019. As Suckling says in the 95 point review, Very complex nose of bay leaves, dried prunes... Read More