Abruzzo and Molise: More Than Meets the Eye
Italy: Center & South, featured
, Apr 2021
The time has come to dig into Abruzzo and Molise, regions that offer everything from easy-drinking wines to world-class bottles, all while delivering terrific value. My recent tastings suggest the wines have come a long way - and this is just the beginning.
Cellar Favorite: 2014 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Bianco Santo Spirito Cuvée delle Vigne Niche
Italy: Center & South, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Apr 2021
I remember quite well the first time I tasted the 2014 Santo Spirito Cuvée delle Vigne Niche Bianco. My eyes lit up the second I put my nose to the glass.
Where the Wild Things Are: Welcome to Sardinia
featured, Italy
, Mar 2021
Vines, like people, endure and build character through living and growing within the most harsh and rugged environments. Nowhere within Italy is this more evident than on the Island of Sardinia, which can almost seem like a country, or even a continent unto itself. The island covers 9,300 square miles; and with a 125-mile separation from the mainland, when touring its diverse terrain, listening to its own dialect and taking in the regional flavors, it would be easy to forget that you are indeed in Italy.
Vinous in the Kitchen: Solve the Amarone Pairing Dilemma: Risotto al Vino Rosso
Vinous in the Kitchen
, Mar 2021
What should I pair with Amarone? This is one of the most common questions I am asked whenever discussing Amarone. Luckily, the times really are a changin’ and many winemakers are now producing more balanced and savory wines that make bringing a bottle of Amarone to the dinner table a much more palatable option than in the past. So, what do you pair with Amarone? When all else fails, make a Risotto.
In the Sweet Spot: 2001 Brunello di Montalcino
Italy: Tuscany, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Mar 2021
Montalcino has come so far in a relatively short amount of time. Generational transitions, a focus on terroir and the willingness to showcase Sangiovese’s inherent character above winemaking wizardry have come together, resulting in many wines that have never been better than they are today. In this article I look back at the 2001s, wines from another era that, in a sense, helped pave the way to the region's success. So where do the 2001 Brunellos stand today, twenty years later?
Valpolicella & Soave: The Times, They Are A Changin’
Italy: North, featured
, Feb 2021
Veneto is home to a number of oenological riches, from the whites of Soave to the reds of the Valpolicella district, including the renowned Amarone, one of Italy’s most important wines. The region’s most dynamic, passionate producers are determined to show that their wines stand in stark contrast to the at times indifferent wines that once penalized the image of these appellations in the mind of the consumer.
Cellar Favorite: 2006 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio
Italy: Tuscany, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Feb 2021
Because of Il Poggio’s amazing ability to mature over the course of decades, this night was the first time that I decided to open a bottle of the 2006 since tasting it upon release - and I sure am glad that I did.
Friuli Venezia Giulia – In Constant Motion
Italy: North, featured
, Jan 2021
This is not quite Italy, Austria or Slovenia; it is distinctly Friuli Venezia Giulia, and what forward-thinking producers in the region have accomplished through decades of toying and tinkering to find that perfect mix has created a kaleidoscope of styles from ancient to international to completely experimental.
The Power of Three: New Vintage Rosso di Montalcino
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jan 2021
Rosso di Montalcino took a bit of a backseat this year due to all of the excitement over 2016 Brunello di Montalcino, but now it’s time to focus some attention on these wines. The three vintages currently in the market all have their merits, and also provide some insight as to what might be in store for Brunello.
Cellar Favorite: 1998 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva
Italy: Center & South, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Dec 2020
As soon as it feels like winter, when sweaters start to be worn indoors and the meals turn meatier and richer, all I want to drink is mature Barolo and Taurasi. It’s at this time of year that I pull a mixed case of the two from my storage, and stand the wines up so that all I need to do is choose, pull, decant and indulge.