let’s taste some Italian reds from the cellar on June 7th

Description

1-Luciano Sandrone 2015 Barbera d’Alba
Wine Advocate 93 Rating
The 2015 Barbera d’Alba will be released later this year in September. This is a darkly extracted expression from a warm vintage. Barbera loves the extra heat and the fruit within this wine expresses itself with cheerful abundance and intensity. One of the best characteristics of Barbera is that its acidity remains intact even in the warm years. That inherent freshness defines this wine, adding vigor and stamina to those long and luscious fruit flavors. This an extrovert wine with plump richness and succulence.

2-La Giaretta 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Cantina La Giaretta’s Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016 is a classic example of this Venetian wine. Made from grapes which are dried outdoors to concentrate the flavor, this has intense cherry notes and will match well with beef and mature cheese.

3-Poggio Antico 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy
Wine Advocate 95 Rating
Poggio Antico brings us a classic expression of Sangiovese in its 2015 Brunello di Montalcino. The warm vintage has shaped more density and volume in the fruit, but fundamentally this wine holds tight to the bright and fresh taste profile that is characteristic of Brunello. The key is the acidity that remains an integral and important element in the fundamental architecture of this wine. That natural crispness serves to underline lively fruit flavors of wild cherry and pressed violets. Background tones of earth and black licorice also appear. The team at Poggio Antico, located at one of the highest altitudes in the appellation (from 500 to 550 meters above sea level), has worked well to preserve the cool climate characteristics in this very warm and sunny vintage.

4-Tenuta Argentiera 2015 Bolgheri Superiore Tuscany Italy
James Suckling 99 Rating
A delightful nose of creme de cassis, hot stones and crushed violets and spices. Full body, chewy and super polished tannins and a long finish, which really takes off thanks to electric acidity. An essay in balance and depth. Best ever. Puts Argentiera with the best of the best in Tuscany. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc.

5-Giovanni Rosso 2015 Barolo Piedmont Italy
Wine Advocate 93 Rating
This classic wine, the 2015 Barolo, provides a good introduction to the distinct taste profile shared by the two single-vineyard wines, Cerretta and Serra, also reviewed here. However, this wine hails from the warm and sunny 2015 vintage and supplies a greater kick of soft cherry fruit and rich concentration when compared to the more streamlined, long-term 2016 vintage. Those dark primary fruit aromas, the acidity and the tannic imprint are all beautifully measured to the enhanced intensity of this pretty and well-priced 2015 Barolo.

6-Poggio Scalette 2017 Alta Valle della Greve Il Carbonaione Tuscany Italy
Wine Spectator 95 Rating
An alluring array of blackberry, black cherry and violet aromas introduces this supple, elegant red. Spice, mineral and tobacco elements emerge, along with firm, refined tannins, but this is all about the pure fruit. Shows terrific harmony and length. Sangiovese. Best from 2022 through 2040.

7-Caparzo 2014 Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy
Wine Spectator 92 Rating
Bright, with cherry and raspberry fruit, this Brunello is elegant and charming. Accents of mineral and peppery greens—arugula, mizuna—develop on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2021 through 2032.

8-Adriano Marco e Vittorio 2017 Sanadaive Barbaresco Piedmont Italy
Wine Enthusiast 94 Rating
Inviting aromas of ripe black skinned fruit, new leather and blue flowers with a whiff of menthol shape the nose. Chewy and savory, the palate doles out succulent Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2022–2029.