VIA NYC Tasting

VinItaly International Academy presents 5 Star Wines winners, a walk through Italy’s great wines. Tasting presented by Ian D'Agata

• 2014 Les Crêtes Valle d'Aosta Cuvée Bois 85 Points

  Italy, Valle d'Aosta

  Lots of rubber on the nose suggests reductive winemaking. Not a good thing at this point, but could blow off. Soft, needs more acidity.

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• 2015 Chiarli Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Villa Cialdini Secco Frizzante 89 Points

  Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro

  Marachino cherry, cherry chan, sligtly fizzy, slightly medicinal. Big tannin too. Not a huge fan of Lambrusco in general but there is something compelling here.

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• 2011 Castiglion del Bosco Prima Pietra Toscana IGT 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Lots of complexity: ripe fruit, tobacco, stinky cheese, vegetal notes, butter, dark fruit. Only 10% Cab Franc, but it makes itself known, especially on the nose. Overall a well-made wine that didn't really speak to me.

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• 2011 Speri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Monte Sant'Urbano

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

  Jammy and tannic, but still on the light side for Amarone. Ok.

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• 2013 Donnafugata Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé 91 Points

  Italy, Sicily, Passito di Pantelleria

  Huge apricot notes on nose and palate, alongside sweet peaches and figs. Acid is good but needs to be even better for this to be truly great.

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• 2008 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Ca' Florian 90 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

  Big chocolate notes, alcohol heat, dark berry, warm spice, huge tannin, lengthy finish. Compelx and intriguing but I doubt I could drink more than a glass of this behemoth.

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• 2009 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva

  Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

  Hot & Sweet. Quite a bit of VA on the nose. Good complexity though.

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• 2013 Argiolas Iselis Rosso 92 Points

  Italy, Sardinia, Monica di Sardegna

  This wine totally conveys a sense of place. Violets, red plum, dust, hint of smoke. Most importantly it's alive, creating a tingling sensation in the mouth that lasts for minutes. Quite interesting.

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• 2011 Podere Casisano Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Tight & Tannic. Needs time. Still, cherries and dirt, lots of anise, black tea. Potential here for sure.

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• 2011 Bortolin Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Extra Dry 88 Points

  Italy, Veneto, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene

  Clean, off-dry palate. Creamy. I don't drink much Prosecco but this is solid.

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• 2015 Cantine Ceci Terre Verdiane Lambrusco dell'Emilia IGT 88 Points

  Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Lambrusco dell'Emilia IGT

  Bubble gum, candied dark fruit, plum pudding. I didn't love it but think it is well made.

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• 2014 Principe Pallavicini Lazio Stillato

  Italy, Latium, Lazio

  Honey, almonds, herbs. Could use a touch more acid but overall quite good.

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• 2015 Cantina Cincinnato Bellone Lazio Castore

  Italy, Latium, Lazio

  Resinous nose leads to notes of herbs and big red. Flat without much fruit.

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