2010 Poggiotondo Rosso IGT, Tuscany, Italy
Deep ruby color. A muted nose hints at dark, fleshy fruit. Sweet, supple and rounded in the mouth, showing lightly spiced red fruit. Should pair well with summer picnic fare, or artisanal breads and cheese. MSRP: $11 (May 2012) Wine Lines rating:… Read more
2009 Poggiotondo Chianti Cerro del Masso DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
Primarily Sangiovese, with dollops of Merlot, Syrah and Colorino. Translucent red plum color. A sharp nose of crushed dark berries and tar gives way to more rounded berry fruit with cherries in the mouth. Clean, with a solid acid underpinning, it… Read more
2011 Poggiotondo Vermentino IGT, Tuscany, Italy
Clear, light straw color. Honey-kissed aromas of white flowers and moderate stone fruits lead to ripe apple fruit in the mouth, picking up some salted cashew notes along the way. Delicate and nuanced, this is an understated, pretty wine that keeps… Read more
NV Voga ‘Premium Sparkling Wine,’ Italy
In its svelte, curvy baby bottle, Voga’s single-serving “Premium Sparkling Wine” is eye-catching. With a name like “Premium Sparkling Wine,” it’s also a bound to elicit eye-rolls from self-proclaimed wine snobs and the drinking elite…. Read more
2005 Isole e Olena Cepparello, Tuscany, Italy
At first subdued, slightly underwhelming and relatively young in its common synthesis of greenish cherry fruit, menthol notes and mouth-coating chocolate sauciness. After 30 minutes, though, something entirely different appears: A voluptuous, wild… Read more
2010 Semplicemente Bellotti Vino Rosso, Piemonte, Italy
This “vino da tavola” biodynamic blend of mostly Barbera and Dolcetto grapes, hand harvested from the Cascina Degli Ulivi farm and fermented in large oak “botti” and bottles with minimal sulfur, would be a welcome addition to any summer BBQ. Served… Read more
2008 Masseria Fatalone “Teres” Primitivo, Puglia, Italy
Fatalone translates as “lady killer,” and though we cannot vouch for its effectiveness in that regard, this Primitivo — with its relatively low alcohol content — is certainly quite quaffable. Appearances are often deceiving, but here, there is… Read more
2011 Palamà ‘Arcangelo’ Negroamaro I.G.T., Puglia, Italy
100 percent Negroamaro wine is hardly ever available this young, but this mono-varietal release from Nini Palama is a vibrant, expressive bargain that pumps out lush, glycerine flavors. Indeed, one might say it’s a pity only 3500 cases were… Read more
2009 Frank Cornelissen ‘Contadino 8’ Rosso, Mt. Etna, Italy
Frank Cornelissen’s wines don’t just have “a bit” of a cult following – they are more like the definition of “love-hate.” Count me in the first camp, as I find Cornelissen’s unfiltered, no-sulfur added bottlings delightfully peculiar… Read more
2008 Nicolis Angelo e figli Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso Seccal, Veneto, Italy
Blend of seldom seen grapes Corvina (40-70 percent), Rondinella (20-40 percent) and Molinara (5-25 percent) produces a condensed, fruity and dark wine with enough acidity and structure to hold up to even the heartiest Italian fare. Blueberries,… Read more
