Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2007

• Area: Italy, Veronese
• Grape: 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese.
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black A- Dilettante A-

Description: About 30% of the fruit is air dried, Amarone style, giving this wine an added dimension of elegance and complexity. The nose has lovely aromas of perfume and espresso. A black licorice attack is immediately followed by elements of stewed fruit, coffee, chocolate and leather. It finishes with a rich burst of cassis. Yummy. Decant for at least 30 minutes to tame and soften any rough edges. We will revisit this one in a year or two and see how it developed.

Price: $17

Vitiano 2008

• Area: Italy, Umbria
• Grape: Cab Sauv, Sangiovese, Merlot
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: This is a great pizza wine. Actually, I think this is my favorite pizza wine. The nose has elements of black cherry and vanilla ice cream. Ripe mulberries and cherry on the attack with a creamy mouth feel. The lingering finish has a New World brightness that makes it playfully unpretentions. Good balance between light and dark, fruit and dry. Decanting not required.

Price: $8 We will certainly pick this up again for our next wild mushroom and Spanish chorizo pizza.

Santi Solane Ripasso 2006

• Area: Italy, Valpolicella
• Grape: 75% Corvina, 25% Rondinella
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 87

Description: New World in styling, this offers notes of vanilla, toast, red fruit, spice, almond and cherry jam. Smooth in the mouth with a spicy attack and an apple tart, lingering finish. Despite this being in the Ripasso style, it had no amarone character whatsoever. After 40 minutes in the decanter it develops a caramel note on the finish.

Price: $12

Monte Antico 2006

• Area: Italy, Toscany
• Grape: 85% Sangivese, 10% Cab Sauv, 5% Merlot
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Rating: Black 89 Dilettante 89

Description: This Super Tuscan has a New World brightness. Elements of cherry, oak, florals and fine tannins make this a friendly, easy going wine. Decanting not required.

Price: $9

Note: Screw top

Beni di Batasiolo 2003

• Area: Italy, Barolo
• Grape: Nebbiolo
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: Herbs, wood and a touch of florals make up the nose. Dark and brooding with a cherry and red currant lift on the finish. We enjoyed this wine even though we thought it was missing something that kept it from being great. Since this was our first experience with the Nebbiolo grape we must revisit it. Decant 15-20 minutes.



Price: $15 (list $44)

Beni di Batasiolo on the web

Villa Pillo Borgoforte 2007

• Area: Italy, Toscana
• Grape: Merlot, Sangiovese, Cab Sauv
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Rating: Black 91 Dilettante 90

Descripton: This Super Tuscan was aged 12 months in oak. The nose is bold with notes of romano cheese, wood and dark fruit. The weak attack of dark fuits morphs inot a black cherry, mixed fruit bouquet where each grape can easily be detected. Bone dry finish of black licorice and black currents. Black said, "this one sings like Pavarotti." We will buy this again. Decant at least 35 minutes. Better after an hour.


Price: $12


Note: Short synthetic cork. Not recommended with salads or sour foods.

Tomaiolo Chianti Classico Riserva 2004

• Area: Italy, Chianti
• Grape: Sangiovese
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: Wood and dark fruit nose. Sweet fruit attack with a chalky/dry mouth feel. This is a bold and intense, classic Sangiovese with tones of dark fruit, coffee, anise and cherry. So very dry with a back of the tongue finish. Decanting not recommended. Air peaks this one quickly. Aged in oak for 19 months and in the bottle for 1 year.


Price: $11

Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco Collepiano 2004

• Area: Italy, Umbria
• Grape: Sagrantino
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 92 Dilettante 93
  
  Description: Leather, blackberry, eucalyptus, dark chocolate and vanilla waft out of the glass and seduce the nose. The attack is bold with a short burst of fruit that morphs into a dry, sour cherry, black licorice, Italian espresso, red fruit kind of thing. Rich and meaty in the mouth, it finishes very dry with the full compliment of flavors from the nose. I would share this powerful vino with my wine snob friends. Never with a novice. Aged for 22 months in small oak barrels. Decanting not required.
  
  Price: $40
  
  Note: Excellent with wild mushrooms

Velenosi Brecciarolo 2006

• Area: Italy, Rosso Piceno
• Grape: Montepulciano, Sangiovese
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 91 Dilettante 90

Description: Brooding aromas of dark fruit, spice, vanilla, olives and pan drippings waft out of the glass. Filled with Italian teroir, it attacks with pure concentrated fruit. Chewy in the mouth with flavors of walnuts and olives sauteed in spicy pan drippings. Like Mario Andretti, this wine drives through the finish line with bone dry testosterone. Intensely Italian and robust. Tight when first opened so decant for at least 35 minutes. We'll visit this one again.

Price: $14

Note: Synth Cork

Food: Good with red sauce. Stands up to diavolo with skill.

Bigi Vipra Bianca 2007

• Area: Italy, Umbria
• Grape: Chardonnay, Grechetto
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: Totally un-oaked, this wine has a nice richness. Not too sweet and not too dry it has a touch of almond with a Fresca-like citrus lift. The Grechetto takes the 'edge' off the chardonnay, giving it a fresh, balanced and soft flavor. Nice.

Price: $9

Cantele Salice Salentino Riserva 2004

Area: Italy
Grape: 85% Negroamero, 15% Malvasia Nera
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90

Descripton: Aromas of purple flowers, smoke and plums lead the attack of burnt raw sugar. Chewy and earthy, this Old World style wine is loaded with chocolate dipped dark fruits, moon flowers, amber, tea and cassis. Bitter undertones and a vibrant acidity balance this wine nicely. We will certainly buy this one again. Decanting for 35 minutes brings out a nice depth.


Price: $9 wow

Masi Campofiorin Vendemmia 2005

• Area: Italy, Veronese
• Grape: 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 89 Dilettante 88

Description: The nose has aromas of smoke, leather and plums. Fruit forward on the attack, it follows through with flavors of cherry, red plums, raisins and a hint of tobacco. The lingering finish tastes of bitter cherries sprinkled with walnuts. This wine was nice, unfortunately it lacked a solid low note. As with most Italian wines, it's better after an hour in the decanter.

Price: $15

Pietraluna Negramaro Del Salento 2006

• Area: Italy
• Grape: Negramaro
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 87

Description: Aromas of grape and red fruit are accented with a touch of menthol. The attack is fruity with tones of licorice, spice, cherry and hazelnut. This wine has an intriguing character of opposites; light and dark, acidity and cream. The finish is smooth and dry. Decanting not required although it benefits from a little air.

Price: $11

Note: the wrong kind of glass will make this harsh and sour. Good with calamari in a marinara sauce. It probably would be good with every thing red sauce.

Villa Petriolo Golpaja Toscana 2001

• Area: Italy, Tuscany
• Grape: Sangiovese
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 87

Description: Meaty, muscular and just shy of bone dry. Soft around the edges, this highly concentrated wine has elements of sun dried tomato and herbs with a light acidic lift. Decanting 45 minutes softens this out. This wine is all about dry texture.

Price: $15

Note: Pairs well with marinara sauce.

Villa Petriolo on the web

Rubrato Aglianico DeiFeudi Di San Gregorio 2005

• Area: Italy, Iprinia
• Grape: Aglianico
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90 Nwjr 90

Description: The nose has aromas of oak, saddle leather, spice and rich coffee. The attack is sleek and fruity without being wimpy. Bold and confident flavors of earth and black plums fill the mouth, leading to a bright and bone dry finish. A distinct aura of chocolate and black licorice is present throughout. After two hours in the decanter, the muscle relaxes considerably giving nice support to smooth tannins. It's a bold pleasure of silky fruit and earth.

Price: $15 -- a good deal if decanted

Cantine Colosi Nero D'Avola 2007

• Area: Italy, Sicily
• Grape: Nero D'Avola
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90 Nwjr 87

Description: The nose has aromas of cherry, moss, damp earth and a hint of menthol. The attack is smooth and jammy. In the mouth it's full bodied with flavors of bright fruits, cocoa dusted pistachio nuts, dark cherries and a nice floral lift. The finish is lingering and bone dry. A touch of raw potato right at the end gives this wine a unique twist. We enjoyed it immensely but only after it decanted for an hour and a half. The longer it sits, the fruitier it gets. When first opened, it is tight fisted. Let it relax and it will deliver.

Price: $13

Note: Red sauce dishes accentuate this wine's darker tones.

Colosi on the web

Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2005

• Area: Italy, Veronese
• Grape: 70% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 92 Dilettante 92

Description: Aromas of raisin, spice box, autumn leaves and wild berry flowers waft out of the glass. The attack is sweet and fruit forward. In the mouth it's round, elegant and well structured with flavors of dried dark fruits and black currents. The finish is chewy and complex with a hint of oranges. The winery recommends decanting this for 1 hour. We really liked this one. It satisfied my Amarone craving for a fraction of the price.

Price: $20
Food: Good with marinara sauce.

Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005

• Area: Italy, Tuscany
• Grape: 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 5% Mammolo
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 91, Dilettante 92

Description: Elements of smoke, fig, and florals start on the nose and follow through on the attack. Elegant and dry in the mouth, this is serious red wine. Flavors of smoke, earth, fig are wrapped around a ripe mulberry core. The finish is dry and lingering punctuated by black currents. The Avignonesi is as uncompromising as an Amarone only in a completely different way. Complex, elegant and well balanced we consider this the Enrico Caruso of Italian wine. Decant 30 minutes to bring out its subtle complexities.

Price: $27

Borgo Conventi Pinot Grigio 2002

• Area: Italy, Collio
• Grape: Pinot Grigio
• Rating: Black 88, Dilettante 89, Nwjr 91

Description: Golden straw in color. This wine is quite dry with a nice glycerin mouth feel. Flavors of citrus, honey and an little herb are accented with a nice tang. The lingering finish tastes of apricots.

Price: $13

Feudo Arancio Pinot Noir 2006

• Area: Italy, Sicilia
• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 89, Dilettante 89

Description: This wine has a nose of smoldering flowers, plums and a hint of strawberry. In the mouth it's smooth and clingy with the same flavors as on the nose. It has a strong Italian teroir with a bright New World style lift and a dry, road tar finish. We found this wine very unique. Despite our inability to fully describe this gem, we really liked it.

The Arancio is better fresh out of the bottle. As it sits, it loses its zing yet gains in smoothness.

Price: $9 An excellent value.