2005 Fattoria Le Pupille, Tuscany, Italy
Opaque dark crimson color. Oodles of smoke, earth, and nuts, which gives way to show dark chocolate, cherry liqueur, citrus, and anise. The tannins at the end are chewy. Cellar for a few more years. Retail Wine Price: $50 Wine Lines rating:… Read more
2010 Field Stone Sangiovese, Lucio’s Block, Alexander Valley
Translucent dark garnet color. The pleasant nose delivers fresh, sharp, briary raspberry preserves, along with green-edged peppercorn notes. The mouth shows juicy, tart berry fruit with drying tannins at the end. This is a wine that demands food… Read more
2011 Campi di Fonterenza ‘Pettirosso,’ Montalcino, Italy
100 percent carbonically macerated Sangiovese, from an up-and-coming estate founded by two sisters. Funky mushrooms and wet dirt in the nose, with a lingering spice note. Despite that dark, brooding opening, the wine is delicate, with notes of… 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
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
2011 Valley of the Moon Rosato di Sangiovese, Sonoma Valley
Light neon pink color. The sweet nose begins with a perfume that evokes banana marshmallow, which is followed by whiffs of cherry, raspberry and a sharp note of pomegranate. Light on the palate, the wine finishes with sweet-tart red fruits. This is… Read more
2009 Valley of the Moon Sangiovese, Sonoma County
Imagine if you could cross a buttery Chardonnay with a Chianti Classico Riserva. This wine, nearly transparent light plum in hue, comes close. Pretty New World aromas of vanilla, cinnamon and clove spices wrap around the sweet red cherry and… Read more
2010 Santa Cristina, Tuscany IGT, Italy
This easy-drinking red — which we presume is a Sangiovese-based blend — is translucent ruby in hue, with a nose that shows dark flowers, menthol, pepper, sweet red fruits and polished leather. Some drying, chocolaty tannins in the mouth frame… Read more
2008 Terra d’Oro Sangiovese, Amador County
Light ruby in color and nearly transparent. The captivating nose displays dried cherry and an abundance of dried field herbs, with notes of polished leather. Ample acidity keeps the wine juicy in the mouth, picking up chocolate and earth notes at… Read more
2008 Tenuta Carlina ‘Carillon’ Rosso di Montalcino, Italy
Burgundy-brown in the glass, this wine reveals itself early on as an ample foil to simply prepared steaks and grilled burgers. Meaty fruit and notes of blended spice stand up to equally forward flavors, while a Merlot-esque drinkability frames the… Read more
