Chianti, Brunello, Tuscans & Super Tuscans , Piedmont, Sicily, Umbria, Abruzzo, The Veneto, Friuli Red, Trentino Red                                     Italian Whites

Chianti

2006

Tenuta Mormoraia Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG 
Mostly Sangiovese from the rolling hills north and east of the hilltop town of san Gimignano.  Ripe fruit, spices, plum and tobacco with a hint of meatiness and a fresh tart cherry finish.  Excellent example of the slightly meatier character that you find in the wines east of Siena.

$14.99

2004

Meraviglie Chianti Classico
Plush black cherry and cinnamon spice.  Meatier and richer than many Chiantis, this one hails from the warm slopes of western edge of the Chianti Classico zone.  In fact, it might remind you Chianti aficionados of a top-shelf Chianti Colli Senesi with its rich dark fruit and loamy earthiness. A hint of sweet leather kicks in at the finish to bring it all home.  Very nice, quite traditional, mouthfilling Chianti Classico from the outstanding 2004 vintage.

$17.99 

2005

Casa Emma Chianti Classico  
Beautiful garnet color with red cherry and sandalwood aromas followed by a mouthful of tart cherry, orange rind, mineral, tar and a caramelly, smoky effect that comes from Slavonian oak.  Smooth up front with good acidity on the finish.  This is a quintessential northern Chianti Classico zone red from just outside Florence as the Chianti region begins to open up to the south.

$15.99

2004

Fontodi Chianti Classico 2004
One of Tuscany’s class acts, Fontodi is as reliable a producer as you will find in Italy.  Ripe, resonant black cherry, savory herbs, dried fruits and flowers and a persistent, fresh finish and a hint of smoke.  Made from Sangiovese grown on a south-facing slope south of Panzano in Tuscany.  Prime real estate for Sangiovese!

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -- 90 points
"The estate’s 2004 Chianti Classico shows the pedigree of its superior vintage. A dark ruby, it offers gorgeous aromatics along with plenty of clean, vibrant red cherry fruit and an almost weightless, super-elegant personality. It is not to be missed"

$29.99

1999

Fontodi  Vigna del Sorbo

Tasted this recently and thought it was amazing!  Holding up as well as the flagship Flaccianello and showing even darker fruit. This fantastic Chianti Classico is from a 20 acre plot of estate vineyards in the famed Conca d’Oro slopes of Panzano.  Made by Franco Bernabei and Giovanni Manetti, Sorbo was one of the first Tuscan reds to blend Sangiovese and Cabernet.

$74.99

Brunello di Montalcino

2002

 UCCELLIERA Brunello di Montalcino

An old adage is “follow great producers in bad vintages”, and it holds up here. Andrea Cortonesi has made a deliciously full and fleshy Brunello with savory herb, black fruits, subtle smoke and a persistent finish in what everyone agrees was a difficult vintage for Tuscany.  But difficult vintages can bring good values, if you know where to look.  Being thought of as somewhat of an Italian “expert” means I know that I must be careful recommending a wine from a difficult vintage.  I think this is a solid, delicious Italian red, full of true Italian character, at a fair price. Drink up and save your 2001 Brunello Riservas!

$31.99

2001

 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
An excellent example of Brunello produced exclusively from vineyards lying north of Montalcino town (many producers blend north and south).  Concentrated and rich to please any red wine lover, but with the elegance and length on the finish to charm the most serious collectors. One of our favorite properties. 

Wine Spectator - 91 points
"Lots of blackberry, tar and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a long finish. Chewy. Best after 2010."

$89.99

2001

Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova Brunello di Montalcino ~ Reserve Room

Wine Spectator's #1 wine of the year! 

SOLD OUT

2000

Fornacina Brunello di Montalcino
Lush, dense black cherry, licorice and roasted, toasty oak from traditional Slovenian barrels.  Wow!  This is delicious!  A traditional style Brunello, held back five years from harvest… so this is the current release.  Amazing Brunello at this price!

$44.99

2001

Tenuta Friggiali Brunello di Montalcino
A Wine Street favorite, for sure!  Olga Peluso Centolani has a deft touch and makes a Brunello that is balanced, floral, layered and supple… restrained, you might say, compared to some of today’s “powerhouse” wines of high alcohol and high extract.  This wine is all about nuance and class.  Beautiful by the glass and absolutely fantastic with foods from roast chicken to carpaccio to Tuscan salumi.

$69.99

Super Tuscans & Other Reds

2005

Tuscany Red, Le Bocce, Panzano, Italy
Full, round, tasty and imminently drinkable little red showing abundant black plum, savory spice and well-integrated tannins on the finish.  Sangiovese blended with 15% Merlot from the very highly regarded “Conca d’Oro” (Golden Shell) slopes of the Tuscan village of Panzano about an hour’s bike ride south of Florence.  Exceptional juice for under $15!

$11.99

2004

COLLOSORBO  Rosso di Montalcino

Aromatic, savory spice over black cherry.  Plush and smooth in the mouth with dark fruit, smoke and underbrush notes.  This is fantastic food wine!  For those of you who have been drinking Italian wines long enough to remember, this beautiful Rosso from southeast of the village of Montalcino is the best of “old school” Rosso done right! 

$24.99

2006

Castello Romitorio Morellino di Scansano
Wild berries, spice and plum abound in this tasty version of Morellino, the local name for a particular strain of Sangiovese grown on the slopes of southwest Tuscany, just inland from the Tyrennhian Sea.  Sandro Chia is the owner of Romitorio, one of the Top producers of Brunello.  He is now sourcing fruit from Scansano.

$19.99

2005

Poggio alle Querce "Il Guado" from Bolgheri    
This red is 80% cabernet and 20% merlot  from Bolgheri - across the road from Ornellaia. It is full of big, savory red berry, chocolate and caramel with a long, layered finish and quintessential Italian character.  If you like your Italian reds long and layered, with honest structure and no residual sugar, this is the wine for you! Drinks great now, with decanter time, and I think it can age for 10-12 years easily.

$46.99

2001

Antinori Tignanello

$99.99

2004

Antinori Tignanello

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 93 points
"The 2004 Tignanello (85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc) presents a livelier shade of ruby along with fresher aromatics and flavors. Deeply expressive, it reveals black cherries, licorice, tar and sweet toasted oak on a linear, silky-textured frame of great class and elegance, showing outstanding presence on the palate and fine tannins to round out the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019."

$89.99

2004

Brancaia il Blu, Tuscany -- 97 points - Wine Spectator
One of our favorite Italians every year,  Sleek, rich, elegant and refined with an aromatic nose of rose petals and violets sweet blackberry fruit, notes of licorice and spice, a hint of char and a long, layered finish of new saddle leather and black cherry.  Wow!  Like always, a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot from Tuscany.  Carlo Ferrini is the consultant.  This is one of the labels that established the category “Super-Tuscan” back in the 80s. Awesome!

Sold out

2003

Icario Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
100% Prugnolo Gentile, a clone of Sangiovese) from southeast Tuscany. Leather, earth, dried red cherry and chickory aromas and flavors mingle with smoke and caramelized nuts.  Clean and polished, with pure Sangiovese flavors and minimal influence of Hungarian oak, this is more modern than traditional and a good example of what is happening today in Montepulciano.

$29.99

2004

Le Serre Nuove (Ornellaia)
40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
“Baby Ornellaia”, you might say.  Made from younger vines on the Ornellaia property in Bolgheri, along Tuscany’s west coast. We thought it was delicious, smooth and fragrant, packed full of red currant.  Balanced and succulent on the finish.  An outstanding wine.

$52.99

2000

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia

$189.99

2001

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia

$189.99

2003

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 points
”The opulent 2003 Ornellaia (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot) presents a dramatic contrast to the 2004 in its super-ripe, open nose and jammy dark fruit. Ample and warm on the palate, it is clearly the product of a very hot vintage, yet it shows notable freshness along with much persistence, great overall balance and a lingering note of sweetness on the finish. 93/Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is without question one of Italy’s blue-chip properties.”

$139.99

$119.99

2004

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia

97 Points Wine Spectator

$179.99

2005 

Podere Sapaio Volpolo
Smooth, layered, plush and dense dark chocolate, pepper and clove.
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot stainless steel fermented, 14 months in barriques with another 6 months in bottle before release.  Released as an IGT Toscana in 2003, since 2004 the Volpolo is classified as a Bolgheri Rosso DOC.

Sorry Sold Out

2004

Podere Sapaio Sapaio  
This is the new kid on the block in Bolgheri.  Neighbor to Ornellaia, Guado al Tasso, Argentiera and other luminaries.   70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot 18 months in barrique and then 10 months in bottle before release. Huge, rich, forward, yet beautifully balanced despite great concentration and complexity.  Great quality for the price.

Sorry Sold Out

2004

Tignanello
One of the original Super-Tuscans… the one that put Piero Antinori on the world wine map, and the first of the Super-Tuscans to use Tuscany’s Sangiovese as a primary grape. Given the prices for Tuscan wines today, “Tig” can be considered a value.  No, it is not inexpensive, but, relatively speaking, the quality-to-price ratio is tremendous.   The 2004 version is deeply expressive and shows typical silky texture, elegance and class. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc

Sorry Sold Out

2000

Sassicaia

$179.99

2001

Sassicaia

$189.99

2003

Sassicaia (Spectator 92; Tanzer 93)

$149.99

2000

Solaia

$149.99

2001

Solaia

$154.99

Piedmont

2005

ICARDI Moscato d’Asti La Rosa Selvatica
Rose petals, honey blossoms and orange peel on the nose.  Delicious apricot and peach in the mouth with just enough bubbles to keep things lively.  “Frizzante”, the Italians say.  Fizzy and fresh with layers of fruit and citrus.  Icardi is one of Piedmont’s star producers with a reputation for vivid, precise fruit in all of their wines.

$16.99

2006

ICARDI Brachetto Suri Vigin
Fresh red cherries and strawberries on the nose with a mouth full of floral red fruit, bing cherry and a fresh, clean finish. This delicious, slightly sparkling red wine is a traditional pairing for the cured hams and rich meat dishes of northwest Italy.  Made from the uniquely Italian red grape called Brachetto in southern Piedmont not far from the town of Asti. 

$16.99

  2006

ENZO BOGLIETTI Barbera d’Alba
One of our favorite Piedmont producers, dynamic, young Enzo Boglietti is one of the new breed of Barolo producers electrifying the wine scene of Piedmont. This 2006 is fragrant, plush and beautifully balanced. Cherry blossoms on the nose, juicy black cherry and notes of anise and orange rind followed by a layered, persistent finish.

The future of Barbera?

  $22.99

2005

CADIA Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy
Beautiful magenta color leads to a nose of red fruits and flowers.  In the mouth, this wine is big and broad… surprisingly broad for a Dolcetto, with a nice, clean finish of fresh raspberries and cranberries with another nice reminder of the fragrant wildflowers.  Delicious Northern Italian red at a delicious price.

$15.99

2005

Braida MonteBruna Barbera d’Asti
A slightly reduced nose showing mature cherries and mixed red fruits leads to a mouthful of blackberry, forest floor, herbs, hints of toasty oak and a long, earthy finish.  Perfectly suited to first courses like risotto and pasta as well as appetizers like salumi, and aged cheeses.  100% Barbera from the trendsetting Giacomo Bologna “Braida” estate.

$19.99

2004
 

 Chionetti "Briccolero" Dolcetto di Dogliani --
The Chionetti family has been producing some of the greatest Dolcetto made in Italy since 1918 when current owner/winemaker Quinto’s grandfather founded the estate. The wines are all estate,  single-vineyard productions. "Briccolero" shows beautiful weight, a lifted floral nose of rose petals and red fruits, hints of gravel and oak spice and a solid, full finish of soft, easy tannins, luscious fruit and hints of earth..  We've come a long way from Dolcetto being merely Piedmont's "workhorse", overshadowed by the better known Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera. Excellent for backyard fare, cold cuts and lamb.

$19.99

2005

Braida Il Baciale
Giacomo Bologna’s cutting edge property, Braida, is a leading exponent in Piemonte of the Barbera grape. Il Baciale is blended with 20% Pinot Noir and a little Cabernet Sauvignon, and is a delightful balance of blackcurrant and raspberry flavors. We thought is showed a nice, dark, loamy richness. Delicious. A slightly spicy nose leads to a mouthful ripe plums and cinnamon. In Piedmontese dialect "Baciale" means matchmaker.

$24.99

2003

Sylla Sebaste Bricco Viole Langhe Rosso
50% Barbera and 50% Nebbiolo combine to make a tasty red wine full of sweet black plum, black cherry and fragrant spice.  Balanced and flavorful with a medium-full body and a nice, plush texture. The fragrance of Nebbiolo with the plummy richness of Barbera.

$24.99  

2003

Gomba Barolo Sori Boschetti
Deep clack cherry in the mouth with powder box spice and notes of coffee and cigar on the finish intermingled with notes of mushroom, cedar, forest floor and tar.  There aren’t too many “bargains” in Barolo any more, so we have been thrilled to have this wine for two terrific vintages now -- 2001 and 2003.
Barolo lovers rejoice!

$29.99

2001

Pelissero Pasquale Barbaresco Cascina Crosa
Chicory aromas and blackberry fruit abound in this delicious, traditional Barbaresco from a fantastic vintage.  Just beginning to hit its stride, this wine packs full Nebbiolo character into a sleek, lush package with notes of savory herbs, truffle and mineral.  Piedmont fans know that Barolos and Barbarescos with character can cost much, much more than this.  Really an very good wine for the money.

$42.99

2003

Rinaldi Brunate le Coste Barolo
This wine has beautiful weight, a lifted, aromatic nose and a fantastic finish.  But the real payoff for this Brunate bottling is its plush, layered texture and the mouthful of flavors it gives.  Truffle and blackberry and orange rind and spice and rose petals.  This one is built for Barolo purists, to be sure, but it is the richer, fuller of the two when compared to the Cannubi from Rinaldi.

WORLD CLASS Barolo at a great price considering what good Barolo goes for these days.  Aerate for hours or hold for 7-10 years.

Sorry Sold Out

2003

rinaldi Cannubi S. Lorenzo Barolo
Heady aromatics of rose petals, blackberry liqueur and tarry mineral lead to a medium-full wine with great intensity, terrific structure and a long, layered finish.  It’s sister, Brunate may have the abundant, plush mouthfeel, but this Cannubi has the extraordinary length and power that marks out Cannubi as a fan favorite.

WORLD CLASS Barolo at a great price considering what good Barolo goes for these days. Collectible. Aerate for hours or hold onto for 12-15 years

$89.99

Sicily

2006

CUSUMANO Nero d’Avola, Sicily
Fresh raspberry/boysenberry lead the way into a mouthful of smoke, meat and black raspberry rounded out by a fresh, supple and smooth finish.  Nero d’Avola is an indigenous Sicilian variety reminiscent of a smoky, soft Syrah. Try it with Mediterranean dishes; roasted vegetables, cured meats, tapenades, grilled fish, etc.

$13.99

2005 

Chiaramonte Nero d’Avola
This pretty, youthful version of Sicily’s Nero d’Avola has Syrah-like weight and a juicy red fruit character all rounded out by notes of pancetta and just a whisper of oak spice.

Firriato is the ultra-modern winery behind Chiaramonte.  They are one of the major players in Sicily’s resurgence as a source for a delicious variety of value-priced wines.

$15.99

2002

Feotto dello Jato Terra di Giulia
Nero d'Avola, Syrah and Merlot blend from the Jato Valley in Sicily's north western quadrant.  Organically cultivated, stainless steel fermentation.  An intense ruby red wine with refined and creamy tannins and a mellow, full taste. Persistent and refined bouquet of red fruit, wild berries, Oriental spices, refined floral and cocoa scents.  Full and flavorful in the mouth with a lush, layered finish.

$26.99

Umbria

2004