5/2009 JASON WILSON ON GRAPPA
Jason Wilson has published a nice column on grappa in the May 25, 2009 copy of the Washington Post.

We confess to being real fans of grappa, especially after a large meal. Unlike any other spirit (save Fernet Branca), or alcoholic beverage for that matter, a small glass of grappa really soothes the stomach. We would like to see more bars and restaurants in the United States carry good grappa.

Labels: External Articles, Grappa, Italy

 

4/2009 DUMANTE VERDENOCE ITALIAN PISTACHIO LIQUEUR
Our eyebrows did a little dance when we heard about this product. A pistachio liqueur? Hmmm, when was the last time we saw one of those. Perhaps this is an ancient brand that some mega-corp has decided to revive...

Wrong on both counts. DUMANTE is a brand new product. It was conceived by Howard Sturm, an attorney and entrepreneur who lives smack dab in American Bourbon country. "Created in Louisville and Produced in Italy," Sturm has said. Well, bless his creative heart.

We tasted this liqueur neat and unchilled, and it was good. It begin a little sweet and then a mild pistachio flavor comes forth. Very pleasant, and just the sort of thing one would want to sip while sitting at an outdoor cafe on a temperate day. (Rating ****)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle of DUMANTE, click here. Otherwise, surf to http://www.Dumante.com/ or call 502-589-9254.

Labels: Dumante, Italy, Liqueur

 

4/2009 MACHIO DEI CAVALIERI PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE
Try saying this wine's name five times quickly. Oy, vey!

We reviewed this wine back in summer of 2007. We liked it then, and we like it now.

This bubbly retails for about $20, and we quite liked it. Lots of tiny, tight bubbles, very creamy in the mouth, and it showed biscuit and cantaloupe notes. Very pleasant and uplifting, just as a Prosecco should be. Serve it about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. (Rating ****)

For further information, check with the folks at Banfi Vintners.

Labels: Italy, Maschio, Prosecco, Sparkling Wine

 

2/2008 GRAN GALA LIQUEUR
GRAN GALA is marketed as "Italy's answer to Grand Marnier." It is a good answer. We really enjoyed this orange brandy liqueur. The burnt orange flavor, the silky mouthfeel... It's quite nice as an after dinner drink. (Rating ****1/2)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle, click here. Otherwise, check with the folks at http://www.GranGala.com/.

Labels: Gran Gala, Italy, Liqueur

 

2/2008 CANALETTO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO DOC
This Italian red cost less than $10 and was perfectly pleasant with pasta. (How's that for alliteration?) It's a simple old world wine with a mild black cherry note and a bit of cedar. It's a food wine, for sure. (Rating ***1/4)

To see if our retailer can sell you a bottle, click here and search for "CANALETTO." Otherwise, contact Casa Girelli at http://www.canalettob2b.com/.

Labels: Canaletto, Italy, Montepulciano

 

11/2007 ZONIN PROSECCO SPUMANTE (SPECIAL CUVEE) BRUT
This sparkling wine is quite dry and slightly bitter when cold. Let it warm and it softens a bit. We searched for fruit and floral notes and found a peach note, but nothing more. Passable bubbly, but we can't see ourselves running out and buying more of it. (Rating **3/4)

Labels: Italy, Sparkling Wine, Zonin

 

10/2007 CASTELLO BANFI CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2005
We shared this red wine with a few friends and everyone loved it. It showed plums and leather and struck us as well worth the retail price of $15 a bottle. (Rating ****1/4)

To see if our retailer carries BANFI CHIANTI, click SHOP FOR WINES and type "BANFI CHIANTI" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Alternatively, you may surf to http://www.CastelloBanfi.com/.

Labels: Castello Banfi, Chianti, Italy

 

10/2007 PRIMATERRA PINOT GRIGIO DELLE VENEZIE 2005
This bargain white wine is made in Italy. For the price ($7 a bottle), it is tough to beat. If you are looking for the usual pinot grigio characteristics (mineral notes, crispness), you might be a bit disappointed, as this wine is slightly fruity and lacks snap. Still, let's not miss the point- it's a very good buy. (Rating ***1/4)

To see if our retailer carries PRIMATERRA, click SHOP FOR WINES and type "PRIMATERRA" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, chase down the folks at http://www.PrimaTerraWine.com.

Labels: Italy, Pinot Grigio, Primaterra

 

10/2007 CAVIT COLLECTION TEROLDEGO VIGNETI DELLE DOLOMITI 2004
Blech. This might have been good during its youth but now it doesn't even qualify as passable plonk. (Rating *1/4)

Labels: Cavit, Italy, Red Wine

 

8/2007 GRUET BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT AND MASCHIO DEI CAVALIERI PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE
Weeeeeee- two bottles of bubbly to taste in the balmy late summer. GRUET BLANC is a pleasant sparkling wine made in -- get this -- New Mexico! It's $14 a bottle and enjoyable. It lacks nuance, but you can bring it to a party and you won't embarrass yourself. (Rating ***1/4) For more info, surf to the website of GRUET WINERY.

Meanwhile, this Italian Prosecco is a real treat. It was fruity, floral, and it tickled the tongue. Yum- it's well worth the $19 retail. (Rating ****) For further info, contact the folks at "Banfi Vintners.

Labels: Gruet Blanc, Italy, Maschio, New Mexico, Sparkling Wine

 

4/2007 CAVIT COLLECTION PINOT GRIGIO 2005
We've served this at more than a few whoop-ups and folks seem to really like it. Is it fine wine? No, it's $10 per 1.5 liter white wine, but, it's a good, solid house white. This Italian wine offers apple and mineral notes. Pour, sip, enjoy. (Rating ***1/4)

To see if our retailer carries AMADOR, click SHOP FOR WINES and type "CAVIT" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, contact the producer's webpage at http://www.CavitCollection.com/

Labels: Cavit, Italy, Pinot Grigio

 

2/2007 POGGIO LE VOLPI FRASCATI SUPERIORE 2005
This bottle came to us through friends -- GOOOOOD friends. Kudos to Siema LLC of Springfield, Virginia for bringing this wine to the U.S. It is a big white wine, oozing tropical flavors. It is made from Malvasia Bianco Candia (35%), Malvasio Del Lazio (35%), and Bombino (30%). It's a real mouthful, and it stood up well to a salad with walnuts and dried cranberries. (Rating ****1/4)

To see if our retailer carries FRASCATI SUPERIORE, click SHOP FOR WINES and type "FRASCATI" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, contact the importer's webpage at http://www.siemawines.com/.

Labels: Italy, Poggio Le Volpi, Red Wine

 

2/2007 ANTINORI VINO SANTO
This delicious vino liquoroso was brought back from Italy by dear friends. It is 16% alcohol and drinks like a tawny port. It is a copper-red in color and offers notes of raisins and toasted pears. So far as we know, it's not available in the United States. Too bad; it's a tasty after dinner drink. (Rating ****)

Labels: Antinori, Fortified Wine, Italy

 

2/2007 PALLINI LIMONCELLO LIQUEUR
This is a solid lemoncello; keep it in the fridge, serve it straight up, and take your small pours in a few gulps. Its sweet and lemony but not, unlike some lemoncellos, overwhelming. Dare we call it pleasant? Yes. (Rating***3/4)

To see if our retailer can send you PALLINI, click SHOP and type "PALLINI" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, check with the importer http://www.CastleBrandsInc.com/ or the folks at http://www.Pallini.us/.

Labels: Italy, Liqueur, Pallini

 

1/2007 TENUTA DI ARCENO PRIMA VOCE 2003
This is an interesting amalgam of Merlot (57%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%), Sangiovese (13%), and Syrah (8%). This Italian wine retails for $20 or so and dishes notes of black cherry, a wee bit of leather, and a touch of cream. Nice. (Rating ***3/4)

To see if our retailer carries TENUTO DI ARCANO, click SHOP FOR WINES and type "Tenuto" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, surf to http://www.TenutaDiArcano.com/.

Labels: Italy, Red Wine, Tenuta Di Arceno

 

11/2006 COLLEPINO RED WINE 2005
This blend of sangiovese and merlot retails for $9 and provides great bang for the buck. One might conceptualize Collepino as a house wine- it's low-priced, light, a little fruity, and can be slurped down without much thought. Yet, that's not the whole of it. Collepino is not mere plonk; it has depth. It begins light and innocuous, then, after the swallow, you notice a tannic grab and lingering blackberry and earthy flavors. Mmmmmm- nice. (Rating ***1/2)

To see if our retailer carries COLLEPINO, click SHOP FOR WINES and type "COLLEPINO" in the search engine and click the magnifying glass. Otherwise, contact Banfi Vintners at http://www.Banfi.com/.

Labels: Collepino, Italy, Merlot, Red Wine, Sangiovese