2013 Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri tour

Union Station, Chicago, IL
Tasted Tuesday, February 12, 2013 by KeithAkers with 1,052 views

Introduction

Unfortunately last year I wasn't able to make this tasting. I needed to change that this year and made sure I was here. I was most looking forward to getting a chance to try a bunch of wines that I don't normally come across.

Flight 1 - Northern Italy (21 Notes)

  • 2011 Monchiero Carbone Roero Arneis Recit 87 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero

    Nose: Nice, light, and crisp nose with tones of minerals, lemon zest, pears, and white fruits.

    Taste: Light bodied with medium acidity. The tones of minerals, lemon zest, and white fruits are balanced, but the mid-palate is slightly lacking and it's lacking a real spine.

    Overall: This is a nice arneis, but it's lacking a bit of zip on it. It's very easy drinking and has a nice mineral quality to it.

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  • 2010 Monchiero Carbone Barbera d'Alba MonBirone 91 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba

    Nose: Nice and balanced nose with tones of dark red fruits, red cherries, roasted herbs, leather tones, and a touch of florals. There is nice depth to this with a real plumpness as well.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity. Very well balanced with very good tones of dark red fruits, roasted herbs, floral tones, and red cherries.

    Overall: This is a really good barbera. The tones on both the nose and palate are very well balanced with a real nice dark red fruit core.

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  • 2008 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 92 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    Nose: The nose is on the bigger and richer side, but with good balance and depth with tones of red fruits, raisins, plums, chocolate, black cherries, and some spices.

    Taste: Full bodied with big and chewy tannins. The structure is very noticeable along with complex tones of cherries, chocolate, spice tones, plums, and red fruits.

    Overall: This is a really good amarone, and it can get better with time. While it is certainly a bigger wine, there is good balance and depth on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2006 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mazzano 91 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    Nose: Bigger and rich nose with tones of black fruits, black cherries, plums, and chocolate tones. There is good depth to this as well, though it does seem to be holding back a slight bit.

    Taste: Full bodied with chewy tannins. The structure is on the more coarse side right now, but there are rich and balanced tones of black cherries, spice tones, chocolate, and some oak as well.

    Overall: This is very much on the young side. The oak is slightly noticeable on the palate, but it's more an addition than a primary note. While it's very young, there is a good richness to this and good depth.

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  • 2006 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Serègo Alighieri Vaio Armaron 92 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    Nose: Rich and bigger nose with tones of black cherries, spices, liqueur tones, licorice, and chocolate. There is good depth to this, though while it is larger, it is on the tighter side.

    Taste: Full bodied with some big tannins. The feel is rich with bigger and balanced tones of black cherries, liqueur tones, licorice, and chocolate.

    Overall: This is very young and very impressive. While it is larger scaled, there is balance to it along with very good depth.

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  • 2008 Frecciarossa Oltrepò Pavese Giorgio Odero 87 Points

    Italy, Lombardia, Oltrepò Pavese

    Nose: Nice and fragrant nose with tones of red cherries, red fruits, earth tones, and some spices. There is nice balance on the nose, though it is slight lacking some depth.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity. There is nice balance to the tones of spices, cherries, and some red fruits. While there is good balance, it is lacking on the mid-palate a slight bit.

    Overall: This is a very good pinot noir, but nothing all too memorable. There is good balance on both the nose and palate, but it is lacking some depth and complexity.

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  • 2006 Ferghettina Franciacorta Extra Brut 91 Points

    Italy, Lombardia, Franciacorta DOCG

    Nose: Very aromatic with excellent balance and fresh tones of white fruits, pears, biscuits, baking spices, and green apples. There is good depth and style to this as well.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity. The acidity is fairly sharp and showing youth along with balanced tones of white fruits, pears, baking spices, and green apples.

    Overall: This is an extremely good bubbly. There is a real good crispness to it on both the nose and palate. It certainly needs some time to fully come together, but the raw materials are really good right now.

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  • 2010 Provenza Lugana Fabio Contato 88 Points

    Italy, Lombardia / Veneto, Lugana

    Nose: There is a real creaminess to the nose with tones of peaches, minerals, white fruits, and some tree fruits. There is very good balance on the nose, but it is lacking some depth.

    Taste: Light bodied with medium+ acidity. The acidity is nice and refreshing with tones of creams, peaches, minerals, and some tree fruits.

    Overall: If this had some more depth on both the nose and palate, it would be an outstanding wine. It is slightly lacking, but the tones are very good and refreshing.

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  • 2011 Cantina Tramin Gewürztraminer Alto Adige - Südtirol Nussbaumer 92 Points

    Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

    Nose: Very spicy nose with excellent depth and aromatic tones of lychees, red apples, peaches, and some papaya.

    Taste: Fuller bodied with medium acidity. The feel is gorgeous and balanced with classy tones of lychees, lots of spices, and peaches. There is very good depth on this as well with some nice layering.

    Overall: This was a serious gewurztraminer. Showed all of the spice and lychee fruits one would want along with very good depth and class as well.

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  • 2011 Colterenzio Schreckbichl Chardonnay Alto Adige - Südtirol Altkirch 88 Points

    Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

    Nose: Nice and fragrant nose with lighter tones of creams, pears, lemon zest, and mineral tones. The nose is open, but it's lacking some depth.

    Taste: Light bodied with crisp medium+ acidity. The feel has a softer touch with very good tones of pears, minerals, and some cream tones.

    Overall: This is a very good chardonnay. It has a lighter touch on both the nose and palate. It does slightly lack some depth, but is very enjoyable.

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  • 2011 Colterenzio Schreckbichl Sauvignon Alto Adige - Südtirol Prail 89 Points

    Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

    Nose: This has a real attractive minerality on the nose with tones of crushed rocks, white fruits, pears, and some lemon zest.

    Taste: Light bodied with zippy medium+ acidity. This is well balanced with mineral driven tones of crushed rocks, pears, and lemon zest.

    Overall: This is a very attractive sauvignon blanc. It has a real good mineral base to it and the nose is very aromatic right now.

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  • 2010 Livon Collio Friulano 90 Points

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Collio

    Nose: Complex nose with tones of oranges, peaches, nectarines, and some roasted nuts. There is good depth to this with with nice layering as well.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity. The structure is a bit imposing right now. The acidity has a sharpness to it along with tones of oranges, peaches, and roasted nuts.

    Overall: This does need some time to sort out. There is good depth to this on both the nose and palate, but the structure gets in the way. This is very good right now and feels like it can get better.

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  • 2010 Cavalchina Custoza Superiore Amedeo 85 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Custoza Superiore

    Nose: Lighter nose with tones of minerals, white fruits, and lemon zest. There is nice balance to this, but it's very straight forward.

    Taste: Light bodied with medium+ acidity. The acidity is more crisp than it is imposing with straight forward tones of minerals and white fruits.

    Overall: This is a solid wine. It isn't all to memorable nor is it off putting. It's a nice wine with good balance on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2011 Volpe Pasini Friuli Colli Orientali Sauvignon Zuc di Volpe 88 Points

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

    Nose: Nice and fresh nose with tones of lemon zest, white fruits, pears, gooseberry, and minerals.

    Taste: Light bodied with medium/high acidity that is very tart. While the structure is noticeable, there are also very fresh and nice tones of lemon zest, white fruits, and minerals.

    Overall: This is a very good sauvignon blanc. There is a real nice freshness to the fruit with some mouthwatering acidity.

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  • 2011 Kellerei Nals-Margreid Pinot Bianco Alto Adige - Südtirol Sirmian 87 Points

    Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol

    Nose: Refreshing and crisp nose with tones of minerals, pears, and lemon zest.

    Taste: Light bodied with refreshing medium/high acidity. There is a lighter take to the tones of minerals and lemon zest, but with a real crispness to them as well.

    Overall: While it's no the most complex pinot blanc, it does what it does well.

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  • 2009 Nino Negri Sfursat 5 Stelle 87 Points

    Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Sforzato di Valtellina

    Nose: This is on the richer side and with a good dose of oak along with tones of chocolate, wood spices, blackberries, and some dark red cherries.

    Taste: Full bodied with some big and chewy tannins and medium+ acidity. The oak is very noticeable on the palate along with tones of chocolate, dark red cherries, and wood spices.

    Overall: This was bordering on too oaky for me. The oak was certainly there and it was the base on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2008 Speri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Monte Sant'Urbano 93 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    Nose: Deep, rich, and layered nose filled with tones of chocolate, black berries, spices, plums, and some coffee bean tones as well.

    Taste: Full bodied with big and chewy tannins. The structure is showing the youth of the wine, but there are deep tones of chocolate, dark red cherries, black berries, and spice tones.

    Overall: This is a puppy, but it can grow into something amazing. It's showing a lot of depth and class already and can keep getting better.

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  • 2007 Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Capitel Monte Olmi 92 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    Nose: This is very well balanced with bigger tones of black fruits, black pepper, chocolate, liqueur tones, and black cherries.

    Taste: Full bodied with chewy tannins. There is good depth along with tones of black fruits, black pepper, chocolate, and black cherries.

    Overall: This was on the young side, but there was a lot to like. It's definitely a richer amarone, but it shows good depth and dark fruits.

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  • 2008 Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella 89 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella

    Nose: The nose is fairly open with tones of black olives, black pepper, chocolate, earth tones, and dark red cherries.

    Taste: Full bodied with good chewy tannins. There is decent depth along with tones of black olives, dark red cherries, and violets with some earth.

    Overall: This is a very good amarone. There is nice balance to it, but it just lacks some depth on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2008 Monte del Frá Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Lena di Mezzo 88 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    Nose: Balanced nose with tones of coffee grounds, chocolate, liqueur tones, and black cherries. This is slightly lacking some depth though.

    Taste: Full bodied with good tannins. The feel is very rich with tones of coffee grounds, chocolate, liqueur tones, and spices.

    Overall: This was a very good amarone. It lacked a next gear to make it a lot better. It's on the richer side, but it lacks some depth.

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  • 2008 Prà Amarone della Valpolicella 90 Points

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella

    Nose: Balanced and rich nose with tones of chocolate, black berries, dark red cherries, spices, and liqueur tones.

    Taste: Full bodied with sneaky tannins. The tannins really catch up on the back end along with tones of chocolate, black berries, dark red cherries, and liqueur tones.

    Overall: This could use about 5 years to fully come together. The feel is really good and the tannins show their youth on the back palate.

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Flight 2 - Tuscany (15 Notes)

  • 2009 Tenimenti d'Alessandro Syrah Cortona Il Bosco 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Cortona

    Nose: This has a real plush and upfront quality to it with really good tones of dark red fruits, chocolate, berries, spice tones, and dark red fruits.

    Taste: Full bodied with chewy tannins and medium acidity. The structure does show the wine's youth, but there are really good and plush tones of dark red fruits, chocolate, spice tones, and dark red cherries.

    Overall: This is a quality syrah. It's on the more forward side, but there is very good depth on both the nose and palate. The nose is more open than the palate is right now, so it could likely use a couple of years to come together.

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  • 2009 Poggio al Tesoro Bolgheri Superiore Dedicato a Walter 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

    Nose: This really shows off the elegance of cab franc with tones of herbs, dark red cherries, hi-toned spices, florals, and dark red fruits.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. There is some real youth in the structure and the tones of herbs, dark red cherries, spices, and floral tones.

    Overall: This is on the youthful side, but it also has real nice depth and a savory quality as well.

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  • 2009 Castello di Bolgheri Bolgheri Superiore 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

    Nose: The nose is very aromatic with a real savory bent on the tones of dark red fruits, spice tones, roasted herbs, red florals, and some bits of cedar. There is very good depth with an expressive side to it as well.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and some very chewy tannins. The structure is fairly imposing, but there are very good and savory tones of dark red fruits, roasted herbs, red florals, and cedar.

    Overall: This is very young, but showing a lot of quality as well. There is good depth on both the nose and palate with it having a real expression to it as well.

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  • 2008 Fattoria Poggerino Chianti Classico Riserva Bugialla 89 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    Nose: Aromatic and savory nose with tones of red fruits, cherries, spice tones, and some roasted herbs.

    Taste: Well balanced medium feel with medium/high acidity and refined tannins. The tones of red fruits, cherries, and herbs all balance well together.

    Overall: This is a very good Chianti Riserva. There is good balance and style to it on both the nos and palate. It does lack some depth that would really make it, though.

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  • 2010 Piaggia (Vannucci) Poggio de' Colli Toscana IGT 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Nose: Well balanced and very fragrant nose filled with tones of red currants, red florals, spice tones, herbs, and red cherries. There is some nice depth and layering to this on the nose already.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and some noticeable tannins. The tannins are on the coarse side right now, but there are silky tones of red currants, red cherries, herbs, and some rose petals.

    Overall: This is a real pretty cab franc. It's certainly young, but it has some really nice aromatics already.

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  • 2009 Piaggia (Vannucci) Carmignano Riserva Piaggia 87 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Carmignano

    Nose: This is more forward with tones of red cherries, currants, spices, and berries. The tones are balanced, but lacking some depth.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity. The tones of red cherries, currants, and berries are on the easier side and are balanced.

    Overall: This is a good wine, but it's lacking some depth. There is good balance with a nice red fruit core on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2009 Podere Sapaio Sapaio 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri

    Nose: Aromatic and savory nose filled with tones of dark red fruits, cherries, spice tones, and some wild flowers. This is well balanced with nice depth.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and chewy tannins. The feel is elegant with silky tones of dark red fruits, red cherries, roasted herbs, and wild flowers.

    Overall: While on the young side, this is a very elegant and pretty wine. There is good depth on both the nose and palate with really good tones as well.

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  • 2007 Tenuta Carlina Brunello di Montalcino La Togata 90 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Nose: Nice and fragrant with red fruited tones of red cherries, spice tones, berries, roasted herbs, and red fruits.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and some silky tannins. There is some real youth on the palate with plush tones of red fruits, cherries, berries, and roasted herbs.

    Overall: This is a nice and open young brunello. The palate does show the youth, but this doesn't feel like a long term ager.

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  • 2009 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

    Nose: This is wound very tight right now on the nose with tones of red cherries, roasted herbs, spice tones, florals, and some hints of cedar. There is very good balance and depth that is showing through the tightness.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with big and chewy tannins as well as medium+ acidity. The structure is extremely youthful along with classy and balanced tones of red cherries, roasted herbs, spice tones, and some cedar.

    Overall: This is painfully young right now, but it shows the class and depth one would expect from Ornellaia. This is certainly a long distance wine and needs a good amount of time to fully show itself.

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  • 2009 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT 87 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Nose: This is extremely big, rich, and extracted with a good dose of oak along with tones of vanilla, dark red fruits, spice tones, and some ripe tones of cherries. There is good depth, but the oak is certainly one of the first things you smell.

    Taste: Full bodied with some big and chewy tannins along with medium acidity. The structure is very big and imposing. The oak is again very noticeable along with tones of dark red fruits, spice, dark red cherries, and vanilla tones.

    Overall: The oak is extremely prominent on both the nose and palate. It isn't too overwhelming, but it is certainly there. This is on the bigger and rich side, but you can see the pedigree there though the oak is a bit blunt.

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  • 2006 Pian Delle Vigne (Antinori) Brunello di Montalcino 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Nose: While the nose is on the tighter side, there are still plush tones of licorice, dark red cherries, dark red fruits, roasted herbs, and spice tones.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and some good youthful tannins. The structure is certainly there, but it isn't completely overpowering. Beneath the structure lie plush tones of licorice, dark red cherries, dark red fruits, and roasted herbs.

    Overall: This is a very young brunello. It can certainly use some age, but there is very good balance and depth on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2009 Antinori Tignanello 90 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Nose: Well balanced and somewhat forward nose with tones of licorice, red cherries, spice tones, roasted herbs, and some oak tones.

    Taste: Medium/full bodies with medium+ acidity and good chewy tannins. The feel is slightly more plush with tones of oak, red cherries, spices, roasted herbs, and dark red fruits.

    Overall: The oak is a bit noticeable right now. Under the oak though are very good tones, but this doesn't have the normal depth I'd expect from a Tignanello.

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  • 2009 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT 92 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Nose: There is very good depth from the outset along with polished tones of red fruits, cherries, red berries, spices, and some licorice.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and chewy tannins. The feel is more polished with tones of red fruits, cherries, red berries, and licorice tones.

    Overall: This is a very attractive Oreno. There is good polish and depth on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2009 Orma Toscana IGT 91 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    Nose: The nose has a plumpness to it with balanced tones of licorice, red fruits, cherries, spice tones, and some bits of roasted herbs.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with good tannins and medium acidity. Well balanced with plump tones of licorice, red fruits, cherries, and spice tones.

    Overall: This was pretty open for business. It could probably shed some baby fat, but this is a quality super tuscan. There is very good balance to this along with nice depth.

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  • 2009 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia

    Nose: This was relatively open with very well balanced tones of roasted herbs, spice tones, dark red cherries, cedar, fresh picked berries and a touch of root vegetables.

    Taste: Full bodied with big tannins and medium+ acidity. The structure is very big, but underneath the structure lie great tones roasted herbs, spices, root vegetables, dark red cherries, leather and some cedar tones.

    Overall: This is very young, but is more open than I expected. This has really good balance and poise on both the nose and palate with class and depth as well.

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Flight 3 - Central Italy and Sardinia (14 Notes)

  • 2010 Valle Reale Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Vigne Nuove 85 Points

    Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

    Nose: Fresh nose with nice tones of red berries, blueberries, florals, and red fruits. The tones are balanced, but there isn't much depth to them.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity. The palate is on the softer side with nice tones of red berries, florals, and red fruits.

    Overall: This is a nice wine, but it lacks depth on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2008 Valle Reale Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 90 Points

    Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

    Nose: Aromatic and balanced with savory tones of red fruits, cherries, licorice, spice tones, and some bits of herbs. This has a more feminine quality to it on the nose as well.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity. The feel is very pretty with rounded tones of red fruits, cherries, spice tones, and herbs.

    Overall: This is a really good montepulciano. There is good balance on the nose and palate with a more feminine style to it as well.

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  • 2010 Falesco Lazio Montiano 89 Points

    Italy, Latium, Lazio

    Nose: There is a nice and attractive red fruit base to the nose with tones of red berries, spice tones, cherries, and some bits of roses. The nose is nice and aromatic with good balance to it.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and some youthful tannins. The structure is a bit overpowering right now with the tones of black cherries, red fruits, red berries, and spice tones hiding underneath.

    Overall: The structure is hiding a really good merlot. This should really show itself with some aging as there is nice depth on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2008 Antonelli San Marco Montefalco Sagrantino 91 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

    Nose: This is on the tight side, but there are balanced and perfumed tones of roasted herbs, violets, berries, red cherries, and some incense.

    Taste: Full bodied with some massive tannins and medium+ acidity. The structure is very imposing with balanced tones of roasted herbs, violets, licorice, spice tones, and cherries.

    Overall: This certainly needs time. The tannins are what one would expect from such a young sagrantino, but the nose is showing well right now.

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  • 2009 Fattoria di Milziade Antano Montefalco Rosso 88 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Rosso

    Nose: Nice and savory nose with tones of red fruits, cherries, herbs, and some purple florals. There is good balance, but it is lacking some depth.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and chewy tannins. The tannins are there, but not overpowering along with tones of red fruits, cherries, and herbs.

    Overall: This is a very good montefalco rosso. It has some nice body to it, but is lacking some depth on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2009 Fattoria di Milziade Antano Montefalco Sagrantino Colleallodole 94 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

    Nose: While the nose is on the tighter side, it is gorgeous and layered with tones of roasted herbs, crushed flowers, mineral rich earth tones, dark red fruits, red cherries, and wild spices.

    Taste: Full bodied with medium+ acidity and punishing tannins. This is exactly the kind of structure you'd expect from a young sagrantino. Even with the punishing structure, there are gorgeous and sanguine tones of roasted herbs, crushed flowers, some leather, dark red fruits, cherries, and wild spices.

    Overall: This is a killer young bottle of sagrantino. It has all the hallmarks with a real savory and sanguine nature to it along with real good depth and class. This certainly needs time, but it should really reward patience.

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  • 2007 Fattoria di Milziade Antano Montefalco Sagrantino Passito 92 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

    Nose: There is a real richness to the nose with tones of liqueur, black cherries, spice tones, and some red fruits. There is very good depth with some good balance as well.

    Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and some tannins. The sweetness is in balance along with tones of liqueur, black cherries, and spice tones.

    Overall: This is a really good passito. This was definitely a departure after the sagrantino, but this holds the sweetness well and has nice depth on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2009 Tabarrini Montefalco Rosso 88 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Rosso

    Nose: Nice nose of red fruits, cherries, berries, and spice tones. There is nice balance to the nose and there is a slightly softer side to it as well.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and some noticeable tannins. There is good balance with tones of red fruits, cherries, and berries.

    Overall: This is a very good montefalco rosso. It has solid depth for what it is with some very good tones on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2008 Tabarrini Montefalco Sagrantino Campo alla cerqua 93 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

    Nose: Very savory with excellent depth and layered tones of red fruits, roasted herbs, incense, violets, and red cherries. It is on the tighter side, but there is great balance to go with this as well.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and extremely big tannins. This is extremely well balanced and deep with savory tones of red fruits, licorice, cherries, and a touch of violets.

    Overall: This is a killer young sagrantino. It obviously needs a good amount of time, but the raw materials are amazing.

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  • 2008 Sella & Mosca Alghero Tanca Farra 89 Points

    Italy, Sardinia, Alghero

    Nose: This is an attractive nose with tones of red fruits, spice tones, cherries, liqueur, and coffee beans.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and good tannins. The tannins are certainly there with tones of red fruits, spices, and dark cherries.

    Overall: This is a very attractive wine. There is good style on both the nose and palate, but it's lacking some depth.

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  • 2007 Sella & Mosca Alghero Marchese di Villamarina 86 Points

    Italy, Sardinia, Alghero

    Nose: There is a decent amount of oak that strikes right off the bat along with tones of dark red fruits, wood spices, cherries, and some bits of berries.

    Taste: Full bodied with chewy tannins that feel more like wood tannins. The oak is very noticeable on the palate along with tones of dark red fruits, wood spices, and some dark berries.

    Overall: This was showing a a decent bit of oak. The feel is very good and the tones are balanced, but the oak is there just a bit too much.

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  • 2009 Agricola Punica Barrua 91 Points

    Italy, Sardinia, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT

    Nose: Well balanced with good depth and really good tones of herbs, red cherries, spice tones, florals, and some cedar.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with tones of red fruits, cherries, spice tones, herbs, and some root vegetables. There are good tannins on this with medium+ acidity.

    Overall: This is a really good and young wine. It needs a few years to fully come together, but there is good balance and tones on both the nose and palate.

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  • 2011 Monte Schiavo Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 88 Points

    Italy, Marche, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi

    Nose: Nice and fragrant with fresh tones of peaches, pears, minerals, and some orange zest.

    Taste: Light bodied with crisp medium/high acidity. The acidity is very noticeable, but it leans more refreshing with tones of peaches, minerals, and orange zest.

    Overall: This is a nice and refreshing verdicchio. It has a nice minerality to it with the tones being lighter.

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  • 2010 Agricola Punica Montessu Isola dei Nuraghi IGT 89 Points

    Italy, Sardinia, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT

    Nose: Well balanced nose with tones of cherries, herbs, spice tones, some bits of florals, and cedar. There is solid depth to this with with a savory quality to the tones as well.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is showing the youth of the wine along with savory and balanced tones of herbs, cherries, cedar, and spice tones.

    Overall: This is a very good wine. It could use a couple of years to fully come together, but this is very enjoyable right now.

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Flight 4 - Southern Italy (9 Notes)

  • 2010 Tasca D'Almerita Sicilia Cygnus Nero d'Avola/Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points

    Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

    Nose: Very rich nose with a good dose of oak along with tones of licorice, black fruits, black cherries, and some wood spices.

    Taste: Full bodied with some chewy tannins. There is noticeable oak on the palate along with tones licorice, black fruits, and wood spices.

    Overall: There is a juicy and forward wine underneath the oak. It would be more enjoyable if the oak weren't so heavy handed. It's still a good wine, but it's hidden a bit.

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  • 2010 Di Majo Norante Aglianico Molise Contado Riserva 89 Points

    Italy, Molise

    Nose: Very good and robust nose of cherries, spice tones, herbs, tobacco, and some earth tones.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with good supporting tannins and medium acidity. There is good balance to the tones of cherries, herbs, earth tones, and some tobacco on the back end.

    Overall: This is a very good aglianico. There is nice balance to this and there is also nice depth for an aglianico at this price.

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  • 2010 Mastroberardino Aglianico Campania IGT 90 Points

    Italy, Campania, Campania IGT

    Nose: There is a good savory quality to this along with a plushness to the tones of dark red fruits, spices, black cherries, and licorice.

    Taste: Full bodied with good chewy tannins and medium acidity. Well balanced with nice depth and plusher tones of dark red fruits, black cherries, licorice and some bits of herbs.

    Overall: This is a very enjoyable aglianico. There is a good savoriness on both the nose and palate while also having a slightly more forward side to it as well.

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  • 2008 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici 93 Points

    Italy, Campania, Taurasi DOCG

    Nose: This is a real brawny nose with real good depth and savory tones of black fruits, wild spices, roasted herbs, dark red berries, black cherries, and violets.

    Taste: Full bodied with very big tannins and medium+ acidity. The structure is very imposing, but there is really good depth and robust tones of black fruits, wild spices, roasted herbs, licorice, and black cherries.

    Overall: While this is extremely young, it's also very impressive. There is really good depth with this showing a very masculine side to it. This will need some time, but it can be something tremendous with age.

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  • 2010 Librandi Gravello 88 Points

    Italy, Calabria, Val di Neto

    Nose: There is a savoriness to the nose, but with a bit of an upfront quality as well with tones of dark berries, red cherries, licorice, and spice tones.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and some good tannins. The tones of dark berries, red cherries, licorice, and spice tones have a savory quality to them, but the mid-palate is slightly lacking.

    Overall: This is a very good wine, but is just lacking that last bit to make it a really good wine. There is good balance to this with a savoriness as well, but it just doesn't have really good depth.

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  • 2010 Tenute Rubino Primitivo Visellio Salento IGT 90 Points

    Italy, Puglia, Salento IGT

    Nose: Big, rich, and upfront with tones of black fruits, liqueur, black cherries, plums, and some chocolate tones.

    Taste: Full bodied with chewy tannins. This is on the bigger side, but there is good balance to the tones of black fruits, liqueur tones, black cherries, and dark spices.

    Overall: This is on the richer side, but it is also a quality wine. There is nice depth on both the nose and palate with good balance as well.

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  • 2009 Torrevento Castel del Monte Riserva Vigna Pedale 88 Points

    Italy, Puglia, Castel del Monte

    Nose: This has a red fruit based nose with tones of red berries, cherries, floral tones, hi-toned red fruits, and spice tones.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and silky tannins. Well balanced, but slightly lacking on the mid-palate along with tones of red fruits, red berries, cherries, and spice tones.

    Overall: If the palate can flesh out this could be a really good wine. It's very good right now with a very attractive red fruit base.

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  • 2009 Terrazze dell'Etna Etna Cirneco 91 Points

    Italy, Sicily, Etna DOC

    Nose: Very well balanced and aromatic nose with tones of dark red fruits, dark red cherries, berries, spice tones, and some bits of roses.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity. There are some really good and balanced tones of dark red fruits, dark red cherries, berries, and spice tones.

    Overall: This was an excellent wine. It had very good depth with a good amount of dark red fruits on both the nose and the palate.

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  • 2010 Feudo Maccari Nero d'Avola Saia 90 Points

    Italy, Sicily, Sicilia

    Nose: There is a real sleekness to the nose with tones of licorice, dark red fruits, dark red berries, and cherries. There is good balance to this along with solid depth.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity and some nice supporting tannins. The palate is very smooth with good balance and tones of licorice, dark red fruits, cherries, and spice tones.

    Overall: This is a really good Nero d'Avola. It has a good sleek and plush side to it, but it is just lacking some depth on both the nose and palate.

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Closing

This was completely packed. I hope next year they spread it out a bit more as you did kind of feel like a sardine in a can. Still, it was a great tasting with a whole lot to taste. I can't wait for next year's tasting.

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