4 December 2023 2013 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo Tasting Notes

2013 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo Tasting Notes

December 4, 2023 By

Had this lovely Barolo at a dinner party I hosted at my home and boy did it deliver. Paired great with the beef I served, but also held up to the secondary meat, pork belly. Pretty traditional, classic version of Barolo.

In the glass: Dark ruby red

Aromas (nose): Leather, mocha aromas with some earthy notes

Flavors (palate): Chocolate-coated cherries flavor with some dried fruit notes

Texture/finish: Medium body, velvety medium finish

Pairing: Grilled or roasted meats (beef, lamb, duck), charcuterie

Wine type: Red wine

Grape: Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmont, Italy

Cost: $75 – $90

Adding the 2013 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo to my repertoire.

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: Italy, Nebbiolo, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
25 July 2023 2021 Il Pino Pinot Grigio Tasting Notes

2021 Il Pino Pinot Grigio Tasting Notes

July 25, 2023 By

I don’t typically go in this direction for white wine, but on a hot summer day, this 2021 Il Pino Pinot Grigio at a $15 price point did the trick.

Classic Pinot Grigio – light, clean, crisp with refreshing citrus notes.

👃Light, faint lemony aromas
👄 Citrusy/grassy palate
👅 Dry, crisp with nice acidity

Nice Summer porch sipper.

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: Italy, Pinot Grigio, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
18 May 2023 2020 Tenuta di Biserno Campo di Sasso Insoglio del Cinghiale

2020 Tenuta di Biserno Campo di Sasso Insoglio del Cinghiale

May 18, 2023 By

We ordered this Tuscan wine at a dinner where our party was divided foodwise and it worked well with all our dishes. This Italian wine was smooth and rounder than I thought it would be, which was great to pair with our various meals.

This Tuscan blend is a great value!

Look/in the glass: Medium purplish red

Nose/aroma: Floral aromas with a note of tobacco/leather

Palate/taste: Juicy cherry and dark berries with a touch of spice

Texture/finish: Medium body, fresh, crisp, great acidity, medium finish

Pairing: Pasta with red sauce, meats, charcuterie, even grilled salmon would work

Wine type: Red wine

Grape: 33% Syrah, 33% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot

Origin: Tuscany, Italy

Price: $37

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Italy, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah / Shiraz, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
15 May 2019 Barbolini Lancillotto Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro NV

Barbolini Lancillotto Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro NV

May 15, 2019 By

Barbolini was an early pioneer of high quality Lambrusco in Emilia-Romagna. I was glad to find this wine at a local Italian restaurant to remind myself to go get a case for summer outdoor parties. For those not familiar with Lambrusco, it’s a red sparkling wine from Italy. It’s refreshing, super food-friendly and a perfect sipper on a warm summer day. And, this bottling is $14 – a complete bargain.

Looks: Foamy and purple in the glass

Smell: Black cherry, black raspberry with some earthy notes

Taste: Big mouthful of dark cherry

Texture and Finish: Bone dry, medium-bodied but light and fresh with great acidity and light tannins. Short finish

Pairings: Charcuterie plate, pizza, red sauced pasta

Style: Red Sparkling Wine

Grape Type(s): Grasparossa Lambrusco

Region: Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Price: $14

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Italy, Lambrusco, Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
1 May 2019 Discovering the San Marzano Wines of Puglia

Discovering the San Marzano Wines of Puglia

May 1, 2019 By

In the past, when I thought of San Marzano, I thought of ripe, juicy, flavor-packed tomatoes. Now, San Marzano Wines (http://www.sanmarzanowines.com/en) also come to mind.

No photo description available.
Photo by San Marzano Wines

San Marzano Wines is a prominent Puglian producer, creating wines with true to their regional characteristics. Situated in the Primitivo di Manduria DOP, San Marzano is a wine cooperative (cantine) that was established in 1962, when 19 vine growers from San Marzano di San Giuseppe— whose families had farmed the land for generations—joined forces to maximize their efforts. Today, San Marzano continues a philosophy of balancing longstanding traditions with modern techniques and has over 1,200 vine growers across more than 3,500 acres of vineyards.

San Marzano Wines are focused on highlighting the region’s traditional varieties, primarily Primitivo, Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera (plus some others). The cantine weaves tradition, passion and modern techniques to produce a range that highlights the character of each grape and the terroir.

2015 Anniversario 62 Primitivo di Manduria

The Anniversario 62 Primitivo di Manduria is 100% Primitivo, and its name celebrates the year that San Marzano was launched. This is a big boy and while nice now with some decanting, it shows the aging potential of this wine.

Looks: Intense ruby in the glass

Smell: Stone fruit, jammy cherries with notes of mocha

Taste: Black cherry jam, with notes of licorice and coffee

Texture and Finish: Full-bodied, rich tannins, dry long finish

Pairings: Beef/lamb/game (think Pappardelle with pork ragu)

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Primitivo

Region: Puglia, Italy

Price: $33.99

2015 Il Pumo Negroamaro Salento IGP

Il Pumo Negroamaro Salento IGP is named after pumo clay pottery very popular in the region and the clay soils the wines in the Salento peninsula are grown in. This budget-friendly wine is great during the week, with takeout pizza or on its own.

Looks: Purple/red in the glass

Smell: Bright red berries with floral notes

Taste: Ripe red berries/fruit with some plum and a little spice on the finish

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, velvety texture, great acidity, medium finish

Pairings: Grilled red meat, pizza, antipasto, cheese plate

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Negroamaro

Region: Puglia, Italy

Price: $8.99

Cheers,

Veronique

These wines were provided to me for sampling and I am adding them to my repertoire as they’re truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Italy, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
5 July 2017 Tasting Notes – Scarpetta Frico Frizzante

Tasting Notes – Scarpetta Frico Frizzante

July 5, 2017 By

I was in Providence, RI for the holiday weekend and was served this fun bubbly at Slow Rhode. I admit I’m always a bit suspicious of wine served in vessels other than bottles, but this was nice. No metallic after taste, good bubbles, light, and refreshing. Think Prosecco but a little lighter on the amount of bubbles.

Looks: Palest of yellow in the glass with tiny bubbles.

Smell: Apple aromas with faint floral notes.

Taste: Apple flavors with a dry, crisp finish.

Texture and Finish: Crazy nice minerality and acidity with a medium finish.

I had this bubbly from Italy as an aperitif but enjoyed it so much that I paired a second can with roasted sunchokes and pan seared squid. I just ordered four, six-packs to take to the beach with us!

Pairings: Fried chicken, grilled fish, seafood.

Style: Sparkling Wine

Grape Type(s): Trebbiano, Glera, Chardonnay

Region: Mendocino, Monterrey, and El Dorado Counties, California, USA

Price: $3.99 for a 187 ml (6-ounce) can

Filed Under: Chardonnay, Italy, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

5 Affordable Wines for 4th of July Parties

July 1, 2015 By

Wine in ParcSummer’s here and so are warm days and humidity. What summer also means is fun-filled gatherings, including 4th of July get-togethers.

Here is a list of five wines to pour during your 4th of July celebrations that are affordable and certain to please your guests:

Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé Cremant D’Alsace ($22): This lovely bubbly is coral/pink in color with the tiniest of bubbles. Light strawberry aromas with juicy, slightly sweet strawberry flavors that’s balanced by bright acidity. Serve this bubbly as your guests arrive to create a festive atmosphere.

2014 Two Lands Pinot Grigio ($14): Light and crisp with Meyer lemon flavors that finish on a zesty note. Nice summer sipper and great as an aperitif and with crudités.

2013 Esporao Vinha da Defesa Rosé ($15): This festive, bright pink wine is super food-friendly. Intense red berry and cherry aromas with bright fruity flavors. Perfect for a seafood boil and the cornucopia of flavors at a BBQ.

2013 Egger Ramer Schiava Gentile ($15): Fragrant with red berry aromas with ripe strawberry and cherry flavors. Great acidity making this wine very versatile with summer foods. Pair with charcuterie platter or even hot dogs.

Montes 2012 Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon ($15): Deep ruby in the glass, this wine offers blackberry aromas with notes of mocha and leather. It’s full-bodied and big on dark fruit and ripe raspberries with a nice touch of oak. This is your steaks/ribs/burgers wine.

Enjoy these summer wines and let me know if you try any of them!

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Italy, Pinot Grigio, Portugal, Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
7 January 2015 2010 Giuseppe Mascarello Barbera D’Alba

2010 Giuseppe Mascarello Barbera D’Alba

January 7, 2015 By

2010 Mascarello Barbera D'AlbaRound, rich, full-bodied Barbera that’s inky in the glass. Floral nose with a hint of smokiness. Lots of juicy fruit flavors with mocha and licorice notes on the palate with nice acidy.

Decanted half the bottle for an hour and it improved an already super wine.

Pairings: Game, pasta with tomato sauce, grilled meat.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Barbera

Region: Piedmont, Italy

Price: $35

Filed Under: Barbera, By Country, Italy, Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
21 November 2014 2008 Marco Marengo Barolo Brunate Annata

2008 Marco Marengo Barolo Brunate Annata

November 21, 2014 By

2008 M. Marengo BaroloKnew as soon as I sniffed this wine that it’d be right up my alley. Garnet in the glass, the earthy aromas were sweetened with dark fruit. In the mouth, it’s round and velvety with plummy, dark cherry flavors with mocha notes.

Pairings: Pasta with meaty sauce, duck, roasted mushrooms

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmont, Barolo, Italy

Price: $60

Filed Under: Italy, Nebbiolo, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
8 September 2014 2013 Villa Puccini Pinot Grigio

2013 Villa Puccini Pinot Grigio

September 8, 2014 By

Villa PucciniPalest yellow in the glass, this easy-drinking wine is both affordable and food friendly. Both the aromas and flavors are light with floral and tropical notes that would make it ideal for a sipper before a meal or for pairing with light dishes. The finish is dry and clean.

Pairings: Aperitif, light fish and seafood dishes.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto, Italy

Price: $10

Filed Under: Italy, Pinot Grigio Tagged With: , ,
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