Northern Italian Wines - Tasting 8 17 10

This August we tasted the noble wines of Northern Italy.  We focused on three main areas - the TreVenezia of the northeast, Piedmont in the northwest, and Tuscany in north-central Italy.  These were some amazing wines that possessed quite a bit of finesse.  Enjoy!

Joseph Hofstatter Pinot Grigio 2008 ~ $18

Alto-Adige

Pinot Grigio

Unfortunately, this wine was corked!

Inama Soave Classico 2008 ~ $17

Veneto

Garganega

Everyone liked the light and approachable soave.  This light white is made entirely from the garganega grape.  It has nice aromas of flowers and peaches on the nose.  The palate has more minerality, however it has a citrus-acidity that would go very nicely with seafood and a nice summer night. 

Bastianich Tocai Friulano Colli Orientale 2007 ~ $20

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Tocai Friulano

A heavier white.  This wine was favored by some and hated by others at the tasting.  It had notes of pear on the nose and a nice minerally edge on the palate.  The acidity was balanced by a certain weight to the mouthfeel.  A nice, more substantial white.  

Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba 2007 ~ $25

Piedmont

Dolcetto

I love Bruno Giacosa wines.  They are always well-made, but not ostentatious.  This dolcetto was no different.  The nose was a bit restrained, however, you got light notes of red fruit and maybe violets.  The tannins in this wine were quite light and supple and supported the fruitiness of the palate.  It had a nice spice to the finish as well.  

Selvapiana Chianti Rufina 2008 ~ $18

Tuscany

Sangiovese

I was really excited to do this tasting because I felt I knew so little about sangiovese and that what I did know was not so great.  I really liked this wine from one of the outer regions of Chianti.  It possessed a lot of red-fruit earthiness on the nose.  The palate continued with earth, red fruit and a hint of smoky spice.  A great bargain.  

Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino 2005 ~ $35

Tuscany

Sangiovese

My favorite wine of the tasting.  I thought that this wine was an amazing deal for the price point.  It had a nose of berries, spice, earth and tobacco.  The palate continued with dark berries, earth, herbs, spice and tobacco.  This elegantly tannic wine had a long finish as well.  Yum! 

L’Arco Rosso del Veronese 2004 ~ $18

Veneto

Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara & Croatina

This was the favorite wine of the tasting by far.  It is not a usual wine from the Veneto, but is in between a Valpolicella and an Amarone.  It had an amazing juiciness to it that was balanced with a nice earthy, tannic structure.  There were aromas of red fruit and spice that continued through on the palate.  

Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo delle Langhe 2008 ~ $28

Piedmont

Nebbiolo

I have loved this simple nebbiolo from Langhe for a while now.  It is a great price point and it shows off the varietal very well.  It has a classic nose of red fruit, truffles and earth.  The palate continues lightly with the dark fruit and earthiness and adds a touch of spicy smoke.  Lovely clarity as well.  

Foxen Williamson-Dore Vineyard Sangiovese 2006 ~ $40

Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara

Sangiovese

Because the pinot grigio was corked, we added this last minute.  It is a Californian sangiovese.  The tasters really liked it.  I found it to be a great example and contrast to the old world wins - it was smooth and bursting with fruit and oak.  It had aromas of cherry on the nose.  I think the tasting notes from the winery best describe the palate - "black currant-gummi bear flavors, with a characteristically dry finish."