Welcome to my second Top Ten Wine List. Yesterday, I posted my Top Ten Wines Under $15 and now it is time for my Top Ten Wines Over $15. Like the prior list, it includes wines that during the past year I have both enjoyed very much and which I found to be particularly compelling for various reasons. They might be more unique wines or just excellent values for the price. They stand out for some particular reason above the other wines I tasted this past year. Each wine on this list is linked to my more detailed prior review.
The wines are not listed in any particular order and all are definitely worth your consideration. Though I have tasted some exceptional wines during the past year that cost over $50, I did not want to include them on this list. I wanted this list to be more user friendly, to provide some less expensive options that would appeal to a greater audience. Please note that the actual price of the wine may vary in your area.
1. 2006 Terlato Family Vineyards Pinot Grigio, California ($20)
2. 2006 Eclipse Merlot, California ($20)
3. 2006 Twisted Oak River of Skulls, California ($35)
4. 2005 Denuño Petit Verdot, Spain ($17)
5. 1997 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Rosado Crianza, Spain ($25)
6. 2007 Txacoli Gurrutxaga Rosado, Spain ($20)
7. 2005 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico, Italy ($22)
8. 2005 Castel Noarna Nosiola, Italy ($18)
9. 2007 G.D. Vajra Moscato D'Asti, Italy ($20)
10. 2006 Quinta do Coa Reserva, Portugal ($25)
California, Spain and Italy dominate this list. And that echoes the basic make-up of my wine cellar, that I possess more wines from those three countries than anywhere else. I certainly drink wine from many other countries, but I drink the most amount of wine from those three regions. So, it is easy to understood the make-up of my list. There is a greater chance of finding exceptional wines when you drink a bunch more wines from one region.
You can also see the variety in the list, from whites to reds, from roses to dessert wine. There is also a wide variety of grape types. It is also compelling that all three of the Italian wines I selected are from a single importer, Adonna Imports, which is certainly one of my favorite Italian wine importers.
I have plenty of other recommendations for wines on my blog. There are excellent wines from countries all over the world, made from an incredibly diverse selection of grapes. Seek out wines outside of your comfort zone. Seek out the unusual. Explore the multitude of diversity in the wonderful world of wine. I am sure your search will lead to new favorites.
Showing posts sorted by date for query nosiola. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query nosiola. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Italian Summer Wines
As I mentioned previously, this past Thursday I visited Wine••Sense in Andover for a tasting of some Italian summer wines. Eileen Wright of Adonna Imports presented four different Italian wines, including two whites, a rose and a red. As usual, these wines from her portfolio were excellent choices.
First up was the 2005 Castel Noarna Nosiola ($18). I have had this before recently and it is an exceptional white wine. The Castel Noarna winery is located in the Trentino region of Italy. This wine is made from 100% Nosiola, an indigenous Italian grape that is the only native white grape remaining in Trentino. It is starting to see a slight resurgence as some good wines have been produced from it. And this wine showed that potential. This wine was fermented in stainless steel and then aged for nine months in neutral oak barrels. It has an alcohol content of 12%. It had a pale yellow color with an intriguing nose of spice and minerals. On the palate, it was crisp with a nice melange of flavors including grapefruit, mineral notes, and spice. It gave off an exotic feel and definitely tantalized my taste buds. This is a wine I would highly recommend.
Next was the 2006 Valle d'Aosta Petite Arvine, Institut Agricole Régional ($24). This wine is produced by a winery that is also a research institute. Petite Arvine is a white grape that grows primarily in Switzerland and the Valle d'Aosta region of Italy. Interestingly, the picture on the label is a small section from a much larger painting. All of their wines uses different sections of the painting, Eileen told us that it took them almost three years to get their label approved by the FDA because of the woman's breasts. Certainly seems rather silly when you consider some of the other labels out there, plus that this label is from a more famous painting. I enjoyed this wine. It had a nice citrus smell and those citrus flavors blossomed on my palate. A bit of grapefruit, lemon and orange peel. It was very crisp with touches of minerality as well. It had a long finish and definitely makes a nice summer wine. Another wine I would recommend.
We then moved in to the 2006 Massa Vecchia Rosato ($46). Fabrizio Niccolaini runs Massa Vecchia, a very small winery which is just 8.6 acres. It is planted with at least a dozen indigenous Italian grapes, both red and white. All vines are also at least 35 years old. In addition, they practice biodynamic agriculture. This Rosato is certainly very different. First, the color is a deeper red and not the usual pink that you would expect. By looking at it, you would not consider it a Rosato. The wine is made from 60% Merlot and 40% Malvasia Nera. It is also aged in chestnut barrels rather than oak, giving it a different taste. This is a wine you should let and breathe for a bit as it has a rather funky nose initially that mellows out over time. Initially on the palate, it is also a more brash wine, almost a discordant mix of tastes. Yet with some time, it smooths right out, presenting an appealing melange of dark fruit flavors, some earthiness and a touch of minerality. This is not a typical Rosato. It is pricey so it is more a special occasion wine.
Finally, we had the 2005 Mandino Cane, Dolceacqua Superiore "Arcagna," ($27). This wine comes from the Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC in Liguria. The winemaker, Mandino Cane, is elderly and he recently sold off this vineyard for this wine so this will be the last vintage. The wine is all organic and is made from the Rossese grape which generally makes savory, woodsy red wines. This is a light colored red wine with a fruity nose and packed with plenty of complex flavors. It has a delicious lingering finish and is light enought for a summer BBQ. It should pair well with many different foods. Another fine choice.
First up was the 2005 Castel Noarna Nosiola ($18). I have had this before recently and it is an exceptional white wine. The Castel Noarna winery is located in the Trentino region of Italy. This wine is made from 100% Nosiola, an indigenous Italian grape that is the only native white grape remaining in Trentino. It is starting to see a slight resurgence as some good wines have been produced from it. And this wine showed that potential. This wine was fermented in stainless steel and then aged for nine months in neutral oak barrels. It has an alcohol content of 12%. It had a pale yellow color with an intriguing nose of spice and minerals. On the palate, it was crisp with a nice melange of flavors including grapefruit, mineral notes, and spice. It gave off an exotic feel and definitely tantalized my taste buds. This is a wine I would highly recommend.
Next was the 2006 Valle d'Aosta Petite Arvine, Institut Agricole Régional ($24). This wine is produced by a winery that is also a research institute. Petite Arvine is a white grape that grows primarily in Switzerland and the Valle d'Aosta region of Italy. Interestingly, the picture on the label is a small section from a much larger painting. All of their wines uses different sections of the painting, Eileen told us that it took them almost three years to get their label approved by the FDA because of the woman's breasts. Certainly seems rather silly when you consider some of the other labels out there, plus that this label is from a more famous painting. I enjoyed this wine. It had a nice citrus smell and those citrus flavors blossomed on my palate. A bit of grapefruit, lemon and orange peel. It was very crisp with touches of minerality as well. It had a long finish and definitely makes a nice summer wine. Another wine I would recommend.We then moved in to the 2006 Massa Vecchia Rosato ($46). Fabrizio Niccolaini runs Massa Vecchia, a very small winery which is just 8.6 acres. It is planted with at least a dozen indigenous Italian grapes, both red and white. All vines are also at least 35 years old. In addition, they practice biodynamic agriculture. This Rosato is certainly very different. First, the color is a deeper red and not the usual pink that you would expect. By looking at it, you would not consider it a Rosato. The wine is made from 60% Merlot and 40% Malvasia Nera. It is also aged in chestnut barrels rather than oak, giving it a different taste. This is a wine you should let and breathe for a bit as it has a rather funky nose initially that mellows out over time. Initially on the palate, it is also a more brash wine, almost a discordant mix of tastes. Yet with some time, it smooths right out, presenting an appealing melange of dark fruit flavors, some earthiness and a touch of minerality. This is not a typical Rosato. It is pricey so it is more a special occasion wine.
Finally, we had the 2005 Mandino Cane, Dolceacqua Superiore "Arcagna," ($27). This wine comes from the Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC in Liguria. The winemaker, Mandino Cane, is elderly and he recently sold off this vineyard for this wine so this will be the last vintage. The wine is all organic and is made from the Rossese grape which generally makes savory, woodsy red wines. This is a light colored red wine with a fruity nose and packed with plenty of complex flavors. It has a delicious lingering finish and is light enought for a summer BBQ. It should pair well with many different foods. Another fine choice.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
OurGlass Wine Co. Grand Tasting
This past Saturday, after attending the Spring Grand Wine Tasting at Grapevine Travelers, I led other members of the North Shore Winers to another Grand Tasting at OurGlass Wine Co. in Saugus.This Grand Tasting had 12 different vendors (11 wine vendors and 1 beer vendor) and there were over 70 wines available for tasting. After having already been at one major tasting, I could not taste all of the wines at this tasting. But I will tell you about my favorites of those I did taste.
I am sure that I missed some other very good wines. I have attended several of these Grand Tastings at OurGlass, enjoyed them all, and they are also very popular with my wine group. There was certainly a diverse selection of wines available, many geared specifically for summer. Besides all the wine, there was cheese, salami and more snacks to nibble on between sips of wine.
I will list my favorites by the distributor so that if you cannot get to OurGlass Wine Co., you might be able to find these wines elsewhere.
Adonna Imports:
Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am a major fan of Adonna Imports. They have an excellent portfolio of almost all Italian wines. It is always a pleasure to see what new wines they have brought.
2005 Castel Noarna Nosiola ($16.99): I recently reviewed this at another tasting.
2003 I Clivi Galea ($23.99): I recently reviewed this at another tasting.
2004 Bianco Aldo Vendemmia, Barbaresco ($39.99): A light colored red wine with great fruit flavors and a complex melange of tastes. Very Old World style and a pure delight. Lingering finish and a perfect wine with food.
Vineyard Road:
2006 Zabu Insolia ($10.99): This Sicilian white wine is made from the Insolia grape. Nice citrus flavors, a touch of minerality and plenty of acidity. A good value wine.
2006 Zabu Nero d'Avola ($10.99): Another Sicilian wine, this time a red, that is light and fruity, a nice summer quaff.
Ruby Wines:
2006 Ipsum Rueda ($9.99): A value wine from Spain. A crisp, fruity white wine with a bit of minerality. Plenty of character for the price.
2006 Vinos sin Ley "G-5 Puerta Bonita" Garnacha ($14.99): A Spanish red wine from Madrid that is 100% Garnacha. Nice dark berry flavors with a touch of earthiness. Smooth and has a decently long finish. Good BBQ wine.
Oz Pacific:
2007 Arabako Txakolina Xarmant ($14.99): I love Txakoli wines from the Basque region of Spain. They are light, fruity and have just a touch of effervescence. A refreshing drink that goes well with many different foods. If you have never tasted a Txakoli, then definitely check it out.
2005 Joan d'Anguera "La Planella" ($21.99): Another excellent Spanish wine that is a blend of 40% Mazuelo, 20% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Garnacha. An interesting wine with plenty of fruit and spice flavors. Not too tannic or heavy.
Martignetti Wine and Spirits:
2006 Nasiakos Moscrafilero ($14.99): This is a Greek version of Sauvignon Blanc but without the grapefruit flavors. Nice citrus flavors in a crisp, refreshing wine.
2006 Palicou St. George Red ($14.99): Another good Greek wine, a red with good cherry and strawberry flavors and a touch of minerality. An easy-drinking wine sure to please.
Terlato Wines:
2004 Engelbrecht Ells Red Blend ($39.99): This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Shiraz, 12% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec. A little bit of everything. This is a powerful, spicy wine with dark berry, ripe plum and chocolate flavors. A lingering finish that satisfies makes this quite a delicious wine.
Boston Wine Company:
2004 Spier Vintage Selection Shiraz ($11.99): Bacon! A bold, muscular Shiraz from South Africa with plenty of spicy and bacon flavors. A wine not for the meek.
2004 Spier Private Collection Pinotage ($24.99): Another South African wine that is a milder style of Pinotage, not the earthier type. It has more subtle spice and dark fruit flavors. A mellower wine that was smooth and enjoyable.
2005 Atteca Armas ($49.99): This is the single estate version of the Atteca. And it is everything that the Atteca is, but elevated several degrees. An intriguing, complex wine with a long finish. If you like the Atteca, why not splurge on this.
OurGlass Wine Co.
124A Broadway (RT1 North)
Saugus, MA
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Salem Wine Imports: Tragedy & A Tasting
I stopped by Salem Wine Imports this past Tuesday for their weekly tasting. The atmosphere at the store was a bit down though as the proprietor, Eric, had a recent tragedy. During the weekend before the past one, the thermostat severely malfunctioned and the heater kicked on. The heat destroyed basically all of his wines. Though he tried around 75 wines, he found they all were significantly degraded, many lifeless bottles. So, he has had to restock the entire store and he still is working at cleaning up the old, ruined bottles.
Yet Eric has persevered and won't let this disaster destroy his dream. He is bringing in plenty of new wines now so why not stop by and see what he has available.
The tasting this week then was just a mixture of some of the new bottles that he has brought into the store. So let me tell you about some of the wines I most enjoyed at the tasting.
The first wine I tasted certainly started off matters well. The 2005 Castel Noarna Nosiola is another top notch wine from Adonna Imports. Castel Noarna winery is located in the Trentino region of Italy. It is made from 100% Nosiola, an indigenous Italian grape that is the only native white grape remaining in Trentino. It is starting to see a slight resurgence as some good wines have been produced from it. And this wine showed that potential.
This wine was fermented in stainless steel and then aged for nine months in neutral oak barrels. It has an alcohol content of 12%. It had a pale yellow color with an intriguing nose of spice and minerals. On the palate, it was crisp with a nice melange of flavors including grapefruit, mineral notes, and spice. It gave off an exotic feel and definitely tantalized my taste buds. This is a wine I would highly recommend and Eric should have some available for sale next week.
The 2007 Cristina Ascheri Gavi di Gavi ($15.99) is another nice white wine from the Piedmont region of Italy. It is made from 100% Cortese and sees no oak at all. It is another crisp wine with plenty of mineral and citrus notes. A lively wine that would be perfect on a summer day. Also would make a great pairing with seafood.
Continuing on with great summer wines, there was the 2007 Les Lauzeraies Tavel Rose ($12.99). This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. It has a bright pink color and a lush nose with a predominant strawberry aroma. It is a dry Rose, with vibrant strawberry and raspberry flavors as well as a touch of minerality. There is a lot of character for this price point. An excellent value that I highly recommend.
The 2006 Almira Los Dos ($7.99) is from the Campo de Borja D.O. of Spain. It is a blend of 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah. This wine sees no oak. This dark purple wine has a fruity nose and that fruit also comes out on the palate. Dark berries and a bit of plum with a touch of spice. A simple and smooth, easy drinking wine. A good value wine.
Finally, the Southern Right Pinotage (I missed writing down the vintage and price but it is around $15 or so) was another big winner. I have had this wine before and always enjoyed it. It is made of 100% Pinotage, a grape that was created in South Africa from a mix of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The Southern Right Pinotage is not for the faint of heart. It is a big, bold wine with a smoky, bacon flavor and a moderate earthy taste. It has a decently long finish and a fair amount of complexity. But it is not a wine that will please everyone. The earthiness may turn off some people. But I very much love this wine, as I do many Pinotages.
Salem Wine Imports
32 Church St.
Salem, MA
Phone: 978-741-9463
Yet Eric has persevered and won't let this disaster destroy his dream. He is bringing in plenty of new wines now so why not stop by and see what he has available.
The tasting this week then was just a mixture of some of the new bottles that he has brought into the store. So let me tell you about some of the wines I most enjoyed at the tasting.
The first wine I tasted certainly started off matters well. The 2005 Castel Noarna Nosiola is another top notch wine from Adonna Imports. Castel Noarna winery is located in the Trentino region of Italy. It is made from 100% Nosiola, an indigenous Italian grape that is the only native white grape remaining in Trentino. It is starting to see a slight resurgence as some good wines have been produced from it. And this wine showed that potential.
This wine was fermented in stainless steel and then aged for nine months in neutral oak barrels. It has an alcohol content of 12%. It had a pale yellow color with an intriguing nose of spice and minerals. On the palate, it was crisp with a nice melange of flavors including grapefruit, mineral notes, and spice. It gave off an exotic feel and definitely tantalized my taste buds. This is a wine I would highly recommend and Eric should have some available for sale next week.
The 2007 Cristina Ascheri Gavi di Gavi ($15.99) is another nice white wine from the Piedmont region of Italy. It is made from 100% Cortese and sees no oak at all. It is another crisp wine with plenty of mineral and citrus notes. A lively wine that would be perfect on a summer day. Also would make a great pairing with seafood.
Continuing on with great summer wines, there was the 2007 Les Lauzeraies Tavel Rose ($12.99). This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. It has a bright pink color and a lush nose with a predominant strawberry aroma. It is a dry Rose, with vibrant strawberry and raspberry flavors as well as a touch of minerality. There is a lot of character for this price point. An excellent value that I highly recommend.
The 2006 Almira Los Dos ($7.99) is from the Campo de Borja D.O. of Spain. It is a blend of 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah. This wine sees no oak. This dark purple wine has a fruity nose and that fruit also comes out on the palate. Dark berries and a bit of plum with a touch of spice. A simple and smooth, easy drinking wine. A good value wine.
Finally, the Southern Right Pinotage (I missed writing down the vintage and price but it is around $15 or so) was another big winner. I have had this wine before and always enjoyed it. It is made of 100% Pinotage, a grape that was created in South Africa from a mix of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The Southern Right Pinotage is not for the faint of heart. It is a big, bold wine with a smoky, bacon flavor and a moderate earthy taste. It has a decently long finish and a fair amount of complexity. But it is not a wine that will please everyone. The earthiness may turn off some people. But I very much love this wine, as I do many Pinotages.
Salem Wine Imports
32 Church St.
Salem, MA
Phone: 978-741-9463
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