Rose petals and hibiscus are followed by graphite and flint and then finally strawberries and cranberries on the nose that come out again on the palate, combining with more stony, metallic notes and vibrant acid.
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Rose petals and hibiscus are followed by graphite and flint and then finally strawberries and cranberries on the nose that come out again on the palate, combining with more stony, metallic notes and vibrant acid.
The NV Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Bosco di Gica punches well above its price point, boasting an intensely smoky and mineral expression on the nose that pulls you close to the glass. Beneath, I’m finding notes of pear and sweet herbal tones. It’s soothing and creamy yet balanced by brisk acids, as ripe orchard fruits satiate the senses, leaving a salty twang that resonates through the finale. Wow. This is a pleasure to taste. This was bottled in September of 2020.
The 2021 Collio Sauvignon from Russiz Superiore shows the dimension the region can produce in the variety. The wine has a great balance of fruit, herbs, and minerals — less racy and “grassy” than Sauvignon from New Zealand and more like some of those from France’s Loire Valley. Flavors of green apple, apricot, and lemon-lime are accented by touches of flinty minerality and herbs like sage and thyme. There’s a bit of creamy softness on the long finish, a reflection of aging on the leesand a small percentage of the grapes fermented in oak barrels. Aging takes place in stainless steel tanks. It is more expensive than many of the countless Sauvignons you’ll find from just about every corner of the wine world. But the price is offset by the fact that this is a singular Sauvignon Blanc that’s among the world’s best.
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is spicy and intense, wafting up with a wild mix of sweet herbs, cloves, dried citrus peels and crushed red plums. This is darkly elegant and refined, with polished red and black fruits elevated by hints of lavender and mint; yet beneath, a web of fine tannins slowly saturates the palate. Hints of cranberry and tangerine mingle with lavender through the long and structured finale, as the 2018 finishes beautifully balanced and classic in feel. With maturity, this may deserve an even higher score.
Intensely spicy and complex, the 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Le Caggiole smolders up from the glass with a bouquet of crushed ashen stones, dried black cherries, cedar spice box and rosemary. This is pure elegance, deep and textural, with a dense wave of ripe red and black fruits that rush across a core of salty minerals and brisk acidity. It finishes long and structured, with a lingering concentration promising steady evolution. This is the best rendition of Le Caggiole that I've ever tasted. A wine for the cellar.
Heady aromas of pressed chamomile flower, bread crust and white stone fruit waft out of the glass on the classy Ouedis Brut from Enrico Serafino. Elegantly structured, seductively smooth and savory, the palate features ripe yellow apple, pear, citrus and pastry shell alongside vibrant acidity. A persistent, refined perlage provides even more energy and finesse.
The 2019 Etna Rosso Contrada Sciaranuova is darkly alluring yet perfumed, showing cedar and wild herbs giving way to crushed black cherries. This is elegant and refined, with polished red and blue berry fruits carried across a core of vibrant acidity as fine-grained tannins slowly mount toward the close. It leaves a slight balsamic tinge to linger while tapering off lightly structured and with medium length as echoes of licorice fade.
A rich plum and cherry sauce is offset by autumnal spice and a dusting of cocoa as the 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Bellovedere comes to life. It's silky-smooth with a pretty inner sweetness balanced by zesty acidity and tart wild berry fruits as a mineral tinge adds traction toward the close. This tapers off long and staining with grippy tannins, leaving licorice and clove hints. While quite intense and verging on opulent, balance is expertly maintained.
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