2008 Luigi Cecchi & Figli Bonizio Sangiovese di Maremma Maremma Toscana IGT

On February 23, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Bonizio Sangiovese di Maremma from the Tuscanyicon region of Italy. This wine by Luigi Cecchi is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% other red grapes. It was purchased for under $8. I haven’t been able to find any evidence of aging in oak, nor do I know what the other 10% red grape varieties are. Do you know?

Color

In the glass this wine is surprisingly dark purple.

Aroma

There are notes of blackberry and red currant on the nose. It also exhibits aromas of cedar and a hint of oregano. Overall it is pretty tight.

Flavor

On the attack there is a flavor of raspberry which is quickly replace by cherry and then sour cherries on the mid-palate. It finishes a tiny too hot from the alcohol, but also has some mild tannins. The finish is actually quite short. The flavors are basic and are found in many Chianti wines from Italy. This will pair well with pastas and pizzas.

Rating

I found this wine to be a bit dull. For my palate it doesn’t bring a pure fruit flavor of a new world wine, nor the green rustic flavors of the old world. It instead tends to be a combination where each is watered down. But for the price it is not offensive or flawed either so it might match your palate. I rate it 82 points.

Have you tried this wine?

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2007 L’Ardì Dolcetto d’Acqui

On January 18, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 L’Ardi Dolcetto d’Acqui by Vigne Regali from the Piedmont region of Italy. This 100% Dolcetto wine was found for under $11. Let’s see what the “Gift Vineyards” of the Banfi company have to offer.

Color

In the glass it is ruby red and appears light as you can see your fingers through it.

Aroma

There is some interesting notes on the nose. It has dark plum and black cherry components mixed with a earthy wood note.

Flavor

This is a really fruit driven wine with loads of cherry throughout. It is good fruit though and not artificial fruit flavored. There are some tannins on the finish but they are quite pleasant and mild. There is also a hint of chives on the finish. This is a very easy to drink red wine. Consider offering it slightly chilled to your friends that prefer white wine. It will pair well with pasta and savory chicken dishes.

Rating

I like this wine. It isn’t complex, but there is nothing offensive about it. I’d like to see it under $10 but think it is worth trying. I rate it 87 points.

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2006 Saladini Pilastri Rosso Piceno Superiore

On December 16, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Saladini Pilastri Rosso Piceno Superiore from Italy. This blend of the Sangiovese and Montepulciano grape varietals was available for under $10. It is aged for 18 months in “ancient” oak barrels according to the Saladini Pilastri site.

Color

In the glass this wine is an attractive dark purple.

Aroma

The aromatics of this wine are almost worth the price alone. It has a huge bouquet of violets, black cherries and blackberries. There is also some oak, but the fruit is dominate and very pleasant. There is also a great red licorice component. I am almost afraid to taste this wine because the nose has setup such high expectations. Complex and intriguing.

Flavor

Huge oak on the attack all the way through the finish. I am not sure I have ever had a wine with more oak on the palate. There is some cherry and licorice showing. The tannins are very dry which is not bad. Overall it is hard to get any flavor other than the oak. Not sure what the winemaker was trying for, but this will be hard to pair. I’m definitely disappointed.

Rating

This wine is not a good match for my palate. I rate it 65 points.

Have you tried this wine? Did I just get a bad bottle?

My Wines Direct 6 Wines for $79, 468x60

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2007 S. Orsola Piemonte Barbera

On December 10, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Piemonte Barbera by S. Orsola from Italy. This 100% Barbera grape varietal wine was found for under $6. Barbera wines are known for their acid and fruitiness. It will be interesting to taste this one. I’ve decided to make this a multi-day review to see how this wine changes.

Day One

I’ve just opened the bottle.

Color

The color of this wine in the glass is deep garnet red.

Aroma

This wine has a good nose. There is some good dark chocolate and raspberry with just a hint of cedar. There is also just a hint of earthy tones. Sort of like wet soil.

Flavor

This is a pretty light wine. It is quite light bodied. On the attack there is some cherry and red currant. The mid-palate shows more cherry and soft tannins. The finish falls off quickly with sour cherry. For a Barbera this is not very acidic at all. It should pair well with pasta and pizza.

Rating

Although it is hard to complain about a wine this cheap, it was still a bit light and simple for me. I don’t recommend it, but always stick to your own palate. It may match it. As for me, I rate it 82 points.

Day Two

The wine has now been opened for about 24 hours. It has been re-corked but not vacuum sealed.

Aroma

Blackberry is coming across quite strongly on the nose along with a little oak. I am still getting a dark chocolate component. There is also some black currant now too. Similar to the previous day this wine’s aroma is very good.

Flavor

The attack is quite sweet and fruity today. It has cherry, strawberry and red currant components. The mid-palate switches to a nice sour cherry note. The finish is still quick and continues the sour cherries with a little dry tannins in the mix. As with Day One, it is a light wine and the acidity is still low. Overall the flavor profile has improved significantly after 24 hours. It will pair well with pizza and pasta dishes.

Rating

Due to the improvement in the flavor profile, this wine is now much more interesting. I rate it 85 points.

Day Three

The bottle has now been open for over 48 hours.

Aroma

In the glass the wine is still full of oak and black cherry components. There is blackberry mixed in there too. It does seem less intense than in previous days.

Flavor

Today it seems to be a light, thin wine again. The attack has some cherry and strawberry. Sour cherry and mild tannins then continue on through the mid-palate to the finish. It leaves quickly. It will still pair with pizza.

Rating

Today it is not to my liking. It is just too thin and simple. I rate it 81 points.

Summary

Overall I found this wine to be lacking in interesting flavors and a bit too light for my palate. However, it may fit your palate and if so, it is priced attractively.

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2007 Falesco Vitiano

On November 10, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the Falesco 2007 Vitiano Rosso from the Umbria region of Italy. I found this equal parts Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wine for under $10. I have tried it in the past and sometimes found it to be a bit too tannic and disjointed. Hopefully this vintage is better. I’ve let it breathe for around 3 hours.

Color

In the glass this is a very dark ruby color. It is just gorgeous really.

Aroma

The nose on this wine isn’t pretty. What I mean by that is that it isn’t floral or over the top fruity. I like it a lot. It has dark fruit such as black currant and blackberries, but it shows more herb and bell peppers. It seems like a new world/old world combo on the nose.

Flavor

The attack has very nice dark fruit. I get black currant, black plum and cherry. During the mid-palate there is some vanilla and spice. It gets a bit hot at the end. Overall this is a nice wine and should pair well with food. It isn’t a fruit bomb and has more subtle vegetable flavors. If you are looking for something different then this is a good wine to taste.

Rating

I recommend this with and without food. Have you tried it? I rate it 89 points.

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2007 S. Orsola Dolcetto d’Alba

On October 27, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 S. Orsola Dolcetto d’Alba from the Piedmont region of Italy. I acquired this bottle made of the Dolcetto grape varietal for under $9. Wine made from Dolcetto is light-bodied and generally is not as well know as Chianti, but can serve a similar role. It will be interesting to try this one.

Color

Light in the glass with a similar ruby red to a Pinot Noir.

Aroma

This wine takes over the room. It is very aromatic with strawberry, bell pepper, and lilac. There is also just a hint of barnyard.

Flavor

On the attack there is some strawberry. The mid-palate shows some cherries and the finish is quick with a little lingering sour cherries and dry tannins. This is a surprisingly bland wine. It will pair with pizza or pasta and tomato sauce.

Rating

I was disappointed with this wine. I had hoped to get some more interesting flavors from it. I rate it 82 points. Perhaps this is as good as they get at this price point.

Have you tried a good Dolcetto?

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