Incredible Italian Wines Beyond Pinot Grigio!

Posted on by
High-quality Italian wines go far beyond the ever-popular Pinot Grigio…
Want to try something new? Check out some of our favorites below!

2013 Catapanus Bombino Bianco – $15.99

An accurate pruning at the early ripening stage and late harvesting give this wine a rich and noble structure which holds its sensory qualities. Straw yellow in color, with anise and tropical fruits dominating its fragrance. Dry; ideal for fish, crustaceans, as an aperitif or for the whole meal.

2012 Azienda Agricola Obiz Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso – $14.99

Ruby-red colour with hints of purple, it takes on garnet shades with time; the bouquet presents hints of blackberry, underwood, and light elegant spices; a dry, warm and full-bodied wine, with soft tannins and a long-lasting, pleasantly bitterish aftertaste. Ideal for hearty meat dishes, poultry, stews and game.
Campo al Mare Bolgheri Rosso 2011
R. Parker’s Wine Advocate rated 90 points!
Regularly $32.99 | Sale Price $19.99 The 2011 Bolgheri Rosso is a blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. This is a high-voltage red wine with amazing purity and intensity. This plush and opulent expression shows loads of dark mocha, softly roasted espresso, cherry and ripe blackberry fruit. The wine is what an Italian would call an “international red” with extremely soft chocolate on the close. It’s ready to drink now. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2019.

 

2011 Angelo Gaja Sori Tildin
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate rated 95 ptsThe exciting 2011 Sori San Lorenzo is a wine of enormous beauty and grace. Gaia GajaThe 2011 Sori Tildin is always a wine of great aromatic potential and the 2011 vintage is no exception. This Barbaresco-inspired red bursts from the glass with enormous verve and personality. Mineral notes of pencil shaving and brimstone come on the heels of red fruit and red currant. Drink: 2018-2035.

6-bottle wood case: $1,799.94 per case (net: $299.99/bottle)
2011 Angelo Gaja Sori San Lorenzo
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate rated 96 ptsThe exciting 2011 Sori San Lorenzo is a wine of enormous beauty and grace. Gaia Gaja classifies her three single vineyard Langhe Nebbiolo wines as follows: Costa Russi is “flowers;” Sori Tildin is “fruit;” and San Lorenzo is “plant” (with more structure and a more compact feel). San Lorenzo does indeed boast a strong mineral component of pencil shavings and crushed granite, followed by red cherry and soft spice. The wine’s tannins start off harder than the other wines, but soften with time. Drink: 2018-2040.

6-bottle wood case: $1,799.94 per case (net: $299.99/bottle)
2010 Angelo Gaja Barolo Sperss
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate rated 96 ptsThe 2010 Sperss delivers a broad approach to the bouquet with bold flavors of red fruit, spice and milk chocolate that caress the palate. The wine sports a broad frame with beautiful fruit filling at its core. The tannins in Sperss are very firm and structured and this wine won’t be ready for five to ten more years. Drink: 2018-2040.

6-bottle wood case: $989.94 per case (net: $164.99/bottle)
Regularly $249.99 per bottle!
2009 Angelo Gaja Costa Russi
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate rated 94 ptsThe exciting 2011 Sori San Lorenzo is a wine of enormous beauty and grace. The overt fruit and depth typical of Costa Russi comes through in spades in the 2009. Plums, black cherries, chocolate and new leather form the core of this round, expressive Costa Russi. As beautiful as this is, the 2009 remains deeply marked by the vintage. There is plenty of beauty and richness in the glass, but not quite the sheer visceral thrill of the very best Costa Russis. Although I wouldn’t open any of the 2009 single-vineyard wines in the near-term, the Costa Russi is the most expressive of the three. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.

6-bottle wood case: $1,799.94 per case (net: $299.99/bottle)
2009 Angelo Gaja Sori San Lorenzo
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate rated 96 ptsGaja’s 2009 Sori San Lorenzo is very typical in its expression. Layers of juicy dark cherries, menthol, spices, tar, licorice and graphite flow across the palate as this powerful, masculine wine opens up in the glass. Balsamic infused aromas and flavors develop in the glass, adding considerable complexity and the signature of this great terroir, indisputably one of Piemonte’s very finest. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.

6-bottle wood case: $1,799.94 per case (net: $299.99/bottle)

Last but not least, try these méthode champenoise wines from Italy! We loved these throughout the holiday season and at these price points, why not keep pouring?

 Franciacorta DOCG Pas Dosé | $29.99
The Franciacorta Pas Dosé Millesimato is 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot noir, and spends at least 24 months on the yeasts refinement. With intense yellow with golden reflections, fine and persistent perlage and ample scents of flowers and honey, its flavor embraces the palate and is a great compliment for appetizers and fish dishes, particularly shellfish.

Franciacorta DOCG Rosé | $39.99
The Franciacorta Rosé is 30% Chardonnay and 70% Pinot Noir, and it spends twenty-four months on the yeasts refinement. In color it is clear, subtly pink, with fine and persistent perlage. Ample, elegant aromas of strawberry, peach, and mixed berries with a fine, full flavor. Perfect for pairing with white and red meats, and particularly with larger meals.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *