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Castello Banfi Brachetto d’Acqui Rosa Regale 2016

Castello Banfi Brachetto d'Acqui Rosa Regale 2016

I wager that Banfi sent me this coquettish Brachetto d’Acqui in the hopes that I’d review it in time for Valentines day. Vivid magenta with a translucent rim, a fine mousse—which I appreciate—and considerable olfactive charm. Ripe, ripe black cherries, crushed raspberries, pungent decaying rose petals, earth, and an alluring pinch of spice. There is […]

Poggio Al Tesoro Vermentino Bolgheri Solosole 2015

Poggio Al Tesoro Vermentino Bolgheri Solosole 2015

Refreshing as Vermentino often is, the 2015 Poggio Al Tesoro Solosole is brimming with canned pear, star fruit, white flowers, cucumber, and granulated honey notes. The palate is lean, chalky, and linear with an arc of nervy acidity that hits first, a tidal burst that gives way to sea foam, lime stone, kaolin clay, and […]

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT 2013

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT 2013

A perennial favorite, the 2013 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre is nicely concentrated and magenta-hued, due in part to a small fraction of grapes dried ripasso-style blended in post-fermentation—an addition that lends both satiny texture and richness. Layered aromas of plums and cherry skins, leather, earth, tobacco, mint and dark chocolate shavings lead in to a […]

Comm. G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga 2014

Comm. G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga 2014

Pelaverga is a rare, indigenous variety, found in the village of Verduno in Italy’s Piedmont. As it opens, a sort of mounting energy in the glass, a melange of white pepper and flowers along with brambly fruit, but in this case it’s the spice and floral character that dominates. The nose is, however, far different […]

Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Feudo Arancio Cabernet Sauvignon Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Aged in neutral French barriques, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is softly textured, fresh, and endowed with fine tannins that gather at the fore-palate. Laden with plums, blackberries, incense and Chinese five spice, this is an easy and approachable Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine for a casual gathering. 13.5% ABV | Sample Feudo Arancio Stemmari 8.7 […]

Feudo Arancio Chardonnay Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Feudo Arancio Chardonnay Sicilia Stemmari 2013

Stemarri’s charming Chardonnay Sicilia 2013 presents billowy notes of golden delicious apples, pineapple, blanched almond and banana custard. While the aromatics lean toward tropical, it isn’t heavy. This is a lighter expression of the grape, with moderate acidity—15% of which is aged in French barrique. The toast is very discreet, one might not even notice […]

Feudo Arancio Moscato Terre Siciliane Stemmari 2015

Feudo Arancio Moscato Terre Siciliane Stemmari 2015

Continuing on with the Stemmari line, their 2015 Moscato Terre Siciliane sports a classic Moscato nose. Brimming over with honey, chamomile, white flowers, and mandarin orange. It’s not as heavy or as cloying as some d’Asti, the palate is soft, I’d like a touch more acidity to offset the residual sugar. here. Apricots and stone […]

Feudo Arancio Pinot Grigio Sicilia Stemmari 2014

Feudo Arancio Pinot Grigio Sicilia Stemmari 2014

Last week I had a lengthy and engaging interview with Stemmari winemaker, Lucio Matricardi. His wines, clean and fresh, nicely showcase Sicilian terroir. In the case of this Pinot Grigio, there is ample minerality on the back palate—a flourish of calcareous soils that meander towards a saline edge enlivened by zesty acidity. The fruit profile […]

Feudo Arancio Grillo Sicilia Stemmari 2015

Feudo Arancio Grillo Sicilia Stemmari 2015

Grillo is an amazing variety; it’s a white grape with a black dress. Why? It has this incredible ability to withstand the heat, it’s really yellow, almost amber-hued with lots of tannins,” says winemaker Lucio Matricardi. The grapes must be pressed very gently, and interestingly only the free run is used in crafting this demure […]

Feudo Arancio Nero d’Avola Sicilia Stemmari 2014

Feudo Arancio Nero d'Avola Sicilia Stemmari 2014

After being open for a couple of hours, the Feudo Arancio Nero D’Avola Sicilia Stemmari 2014 reveals soft, supple undercurrent of plums, prunes, cocoa powder, sweet tobacco and spearmint. The mint note is especially prominent. It’s easy going, round, with moderate acidity, I found myself reaching the bottom of my glass much faster than intended—for […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com