Wine Tasting: Monchiero Carbone, Mon Birone, Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont, 2010

Tonight's wine is an Italian Barbera I picked up while browsing at the local wine shop.

Tasting Notes:
Beautiful ruby red in color with black cherry and sweet cranberry on the nose.  Abundance of semi-tart raw red fruits up front with tannic pomegranate and liquorice finish.  A punchy acidic early, but with time fades to provide a nice balance.

Final Thoughts:
It's a very nice wine.  Medium complexity with an interesting bold initial flavors that dulls a bit during the finish.  The early acidity provides a bit of pizzazz, though as it fades the body of the wine comes forward.  Enjoyable.

Wine Tasting: 2009 Fossacolle Brunello di Montalcino

Tonight I'm going with a Brunello.   I had two of these, but opened the first one with company and didn't get a chance to take tasting notes.  I saved this one specifically so I could take notes.

2009 Fossacolle Brunello di Montalcino

Tasting Notes:
Fully bodied and dark ruby in color (definitely not brown) with scents of licorices, and bramble fruit. On the palette black cherry with a raw tobacco and volcanic rock. A spirited finish and nice acidic balance.

Final Thoughts:
Good quality and tasty Brunello.  I feel it lacks some of the wow factor I expected from it, but generally a very good wine.

Wine Tasting: 2006 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino

This evening we are going with a nice Brunello who's window is just opening up.  A 2006 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino.

I picked up two of these from a shop (online) in New Jersey.  Occasionally I'm able to grab some great deals from them and this was definitely one of them.

Tasting Notes:
A beautiful translucent black cherry in color.  Scents of prune, apricot, and cloves.  Flavors of red plum,  leather, clay, and tobacco.  Medium bodied, tannic, with a nice balanced acidity.

Final Thoughts:
Very nice! Not too heavy, but carries a bounty of flavors and complexity.

Wine Tasting: 2013 Castello di Neive Barbera d'Alba Messoirano

Tonight it's Italian for dinner with an Italian pair.

Tasting Notes:
Deep dark violet in color while bright luscious berries on the nose. On the palette, audacious flavors of pomegranate, sour cherry, and hints of passion fruit that I would describe more as tart than piquant. A round texture with a late acidic punch.

Final Thoughts:
A bold and interesting wine, but a bit sharp for my tastes.  That's two in a row!

Wine Tasting: 2014 Vigne Regali (Banfi) Gavi Principessa Gavia

Sunday afternoon watching the Olympics deserves a nice cool and crisp Italian white.   So we are going with a 2014 Vigne Regali (Banfi) Gavi Principessa Gavia.

Tasting Notes:
Straw in color, with citrus with a light rubbery scents.  Bright flavors of green apple, lemon lime, and St. Augustine grass.  Decent finish with a late tartness and boasts a sharp acidity.

Final thoughts:
Very nice, though the tart finish is a bit more that I would like.  Overall it does not detract from my enjoyment of this wine on such a warm and humid day.

Wine Tasting: 2010 Terre di Bo Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Tonight is a trip to Italy.  One of my favorite places to visit!  Of course, Italy's best wines can compete on any vino stage.

Amarone is usually a dry wine, but this one is more semi-sweet.

Tasting Notes:
Black cherry in color.  Full bodied with slow legs.  Luscious red fruit and eucalyptus on the nose.  Deep velvety raspberry and black cherry with smoky overtones.

Final Thoughts:
Not overly complex, but enough to be a beautiful bouquet of thick rich fruit and body that grabs your attention.  Needless to say.  I am enjoying this wine.

Wine Tasting: 2011 Fattoria Petrolo Torrione Toscana IGT

Today's vino-visit is to Italy.  Of the countries I've visited, (approximately twelve)  Italy is definitely my favorite thus far.

Torrione is a Tuscan red blend consisting 80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, and finally 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

My tasting notes are as follows:

Cherries, rose petals, and red apple rind on the nose. Strawberry licorice with a woody essence and a spoke in tartness leading in the the finish.  Smooth, but doesn't have the depth to have a silky texture.  For this wine, I think that maybe superfluous as it certainly doesn't detract from it being a great wine and at it's price point. ($23US) It's an absolute steal.

Tasting: 2007 Castello del Terriccio 'Tassinaia' Toscana IGT

Dark garnet in color with medium plus legs. It smells of blueberry, cherry, plum, a touch of vanilla and lavender. Tastes of blueberries, prunes, cherry with a kind of wet wool finish. The body is medium plus and the wine feels very polished. The wine has a fairly low acidity and a medium finish.  Decanting was not required.

I paired this with my homemade spaghetti with Italian sausage.   It paired beautifully, but this wine is great all by itself also.   I definitely would recommend this wine.