Gulfi, Sicilia IGT, 'Carjcanti, 2004
Pale light gold colored with a very slight bronze tone. Toasted pine nut, lemon skin, and muted herbal aromas. lemon zest, peanut shell, taragon, soft wood, and oxidized notes on the end. Nose becomes less aromatic, but has a nice mouthfeel. 12% Decent, but was expecting a bit more. B/B+
Mastroberardino, Laryma Christi del Vesuvio, 2005
This be the RED Lacryma. Piedrosso grapes. Those of you who love acidic Loires should fall all over this one. Very sharp and very red fruit. Not alot within the wine, but perhaps it needs some time to settle down and lose some of the pricklyness? B
Argiolas, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, 'Turriga, 1998
Ah, now we're talkin. Back to some real wine, and a stunner to boot. Color is deep cherry red with glycerin trails. Perfumed aromas of bittersweet chocolate, fennel, Italian plums ripening on the tree that transport you. In the mouth, there is a sweet medley of dark chocolate covered cherries (the expensive kind), bittersweet chocolate dust, fennel seed, and the ripest-purest cherries you've ever eaten. Seamless and delicioso. Seems nowhere near 10-years old and tastes far removed from any grenache-based wine that I've had. Finishes with a Campari note on the end. One of the most memorable wines had in awhile, and uniquely of it's place. 14% (big, but comes across as balanced) A
Feudo Montoni, Sicilia IGT, Nero d'Avola, 'Vrucara', 2004
Although this is probably the finest Nero d'Avola I've tasted, it doesn't change my opinion that perhaps the best uses for this grape variety is for blending purposes, or for making simpler wines. Let's review: a cloudyish light-medium red color, dull and watery looking. Smoke-filled red plum and hazlenut biscoti on the nose. Old mulberry, library book dust, and a dirty, old-wood feel. Good acidity frames this high altitude Sicilian wine, without which this would feel plodding. A simple wine for $30. 13% B/B+
Pale light gold colored with a very slight bronze tone. Toasted pine nut, lemon skin, and muted herbal aromas. lemon zest, peanut shell, taragon, soft wood, and oxidized notes on the end. Nose becomes less aromatic, but has a nice mouthfeel. 12% Decent, but was expecting a bit more. B/B+
Mastroberardino, Laryma Christi del Vesuvio, 2005
This be the RED Lacryma. Piedrosso grapes. Those of you who love acidic Loires should fall all over this one. Very sharp and very red fruit. Not alot within the wine, but perhaps it needs some time to settle down and lose some of the pricklyness? B
Argiolas, Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, 'Turriga, 1998
Ah, now we're talkin. Back to some real wine, and a stunner to boot. Color is deep cherry red with glycerin trails. Perfumed aromas of bittersweet chocolate, fennel, Italian plums ripening on the tree that transport you. In the mouth, there is a sweet medley of dark chocolate covered cherries (the expensive kind), bittersweet chocolate dust, fennel seed, and the ripest-purest cherries you've ever eaten. Seamless and delicioso. Seems nowhere near 10-years old and tastes far removed from any grenache-based wine that I've had. Finishes with a Campari note on the end. One of the most memorable wines had in awhile, and uniquely of it's place. 14% (big, but comes across as balanced) A
Feudo Montoni, Sicilia IGT, Nero d'Avola, 'Vrucara', 2004
Although this is probably the finest Nero d'Avola I've tasted, it doesn't change my opinion that perhaps the best uses for this grape variety is for blending purposes, or for making simpler wines. Let's review: a cloudyish light-medium red color, dull and watery looking. Smoke-filled red plum and hazlenut biscoti on the nose. Old mulberry, library book dust, and a dirty, old-wood feel. Good acidity frames this high altitude Sicilian wine, without which this would feel plodding. A simple wine for $30. 13% B/B+
