It was only two months ago that I spent a perfect spring afternoon with Silvia Imparato, the vision and force behind the wines of Montevetrano. My time with her, roughly three hours, fills my heart and mind to this day, to this minute. Silvia is an astonishing woman, larger-than-life, a blend of education, wit, ambition,…
Category: wine review
2011 Tenuta di Biserno Biserno, superb
The Alta Maremma, or Upper Maremma is probably not an area that too many are familiar with; this wine gives them very good reason to become not just familiar, but very good friends. It so happened that I tasted this wine not too long after tasting some sparkling wines and a few white wines while…
2009 Selvapiana Vigneto Bucerchiale
Bucerchiale (boo-chair-key-al-ay), a name you need to know, even if you can’t pronounce it. The same goes for the tiny sub-region of Rufina, and the tiny area of Selvapiana within that tiny sub-region. The maps below should give you an idea of this sub-region, one of Chianti’s smallest, just east of Firenze (Florence), far in…
G.B. Burlotto – 2013 Barolo wines, and more
I’d contacted Fabio Alessandria, winemaker at G.B. Burlotto, several months in advance of my trip to Langhe – I know how busy he is, not only in the vineyards/cellar, but also marketing the wines in London, New York City, etc. And even though I saw Fabio on 2 April, at the Grandi Langhe 2017 event that morning…
2011 La Prevostura Lessona, classy, young
Still young, just getting started. Another very classy showing. This blend of 95% Nebbiolo and 5% Vespolina presents a lovely, bright garnet>garnet+ hue, it’s clear and fades ever so to the rim. The nose is soil driven for the first 2/3 of the bottle – which is just fine with me. Paired with braised rabbit…
Really impressed with this – 2011 Cascina Chicco Roero Riserva Valmaggiore
It’s not often (enough!) that I’ve got a glass of wine that makes me repeat, like a broken record (dating myself here, oh well) exclamations, like wow!, and fantastic!, or really?, that’s amazing!; this was one of those wines/experiences. (below: inside a part – there are more than half a dozen – of the old…
Mature beauty – 1997 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino
It’s been far, far too long since I’ve enjoyed a wine from La Rasina. That said, the bottle I enjoyed yesterday more than made up for a prolonged absence. Sangiovese, as you probably already know, can be many things; fresh and young, mature and graceful. And, to be clear, these are not things specific to…
2004 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére
Scores and reviews/descriptors for this wine have been all over the place since this wine’s release (and afterward, too). Some said drink now, other said hold. One critic in particular was far removed from all the others, with his lofty score that that created a price bump on release. However, the only thing worth commenting…
Nebbiolo, you rascal you – 2010 Pietro Cassina Coste della Sesia Ca’ Daj Tass
There’s a certain amount of excitement that comes with tasting a wine for the first time; maybe there’s some trepidation, too. That said, what I’ve come to expect from the red wines of Alto Piemonte, and in particular, those that are 100% Nebbiolo, is to have my expectations exceeded. The degree to which things exceed,…
‘Faro’, or, ‘how I fell more deeply in love with Sicilian wines’ – Az. Agr. Palari
I’ve had wines from Faro (region) before, though most times have generally been at trade tastings, when the wines are young, and for the most part, diffident, and reserved. As with many varieties, Nerello Mascalese can take many forms, some are immediately approachable, others demand to be cellared for years before they are ready. (I…
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