~ The late Franco Biondi Santi ~ It would be wrong to think of Brunello without thinking of Franco Biondi Santi. While his wines may surely spark some controversy, whether they are to your stylistic preference or not, I think…
Continue readingNot matter how hard *it* seemingly tries, Montepulciano and it’s Noble wine seems to run second to it’s Westerly cousin, Brunello. In a sense, that’s a shame. But really, it’s not. For the cognoscenti realize that not everything can be…
Continue reading~ Sunset over Castello di Ama ~ Haiku. Three Varietals Castello di Ama joined Bottled Poetry In 1997, after careful soil and climatic analysis, the team at Castello di Ama were convinced that Cabernet Franc, never before planted on the…
Continue readingWhy do I have a wine cellar? People ask me this all the time. It has come up more times than I can recollect and yet I never get weary of answering the question. Wine lovers, wine geeks, wine aficionados,…
Continue readingLate summer and the Orto is winding down. Depending upon where you live, you might have some additional time left to enjoy your bounty. This time of year always sees produce of the home garden that went hidden; that mutant…
Continue readingThe Cecchi’s are on a roll. There’s no clearer way to say it and there’s no denying it. Whether it’s Cecchi Coevo, Villa Cerna Chianti Classico Riserva, or Cecchi Famiglia Riserva, the wines are garnering consistent Tre Bicchieri awards and…
Continue reading~ The Poggio Valente Vineyard ~ It wouldn’t be odd or even surprising if the first thing you associated with Fattoria Le Pupille was its Super Tuscan Saffredi. However, if you focused solely on that single vineyard wine, you’d only…
Continue reading~ Giuseppe Mascarello ~ Monprivato. To lovers of Italian wine, there is nothing more to say once you’ve uttered the word. It means so many things. Pride, devotion, tradition, heritage and the utmost pinnacle of quality. Since the late 1800’s…
Continue reading~ Villa Montemaggio – Radda in Chianti ~ The Monte Maggio Estate is located in the Commune of Radda in Chianti in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. It is situated where a 14th century tower once stood above…
Continue readingBucerchiale. It’s a phrase that every lover of Italian wine should know. Say it with me: Bu-chair-key-ah-lay. I am convinced, were this wine from one of the better known areas of Chianti Classico, it would likely be near to $100…
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