Damilano Barbera d’Asti (2008) Piemonte

A terrific Barbera from Damilano, a small producer whose family holdings include pieces of the Liste and Cannubi vineyards that is known mainly for their ready-to-consume Barolo’s. The wine is from a recently acquired vineyard in Asti. Their Barbera d’Asti replaces the Barbera d’Alba, which was made from rented vineyards, and which will no longer be produced. With it’s high acidity, Barbera is a great food wine, especially anything made with tomatoes. Deep ruby/purple color. Dark cherry on the nose. Excellent balance and length. 100% Barbera. 20% is aged in new French barriques, 40% is aged in used barriques (2nd passage) and the remaining 40% aged in Tonneaux, all for 6 to 8 months. Albeisa bottle.

Trullari Primitivo Del Tarantino (2007) Puglia

A very bad wine from I’m not really sure who. I did an internet search for the producer and importer and was led in circles; it seems no one wants to take credit (or blame) for this wine. Named for the mortar-less, conical-roofed houses of Puglia, the 2007 Trullari Primitivo is a thin, watery effort; not at all like the bold, spicy way Primitivo and its genetically identical cousin, the Zinfandel grape, is supposed to taste. It’s as if it was made in the same manner as Curly of The Three Stooges cooks chicken soup; by pouring hot water over a chicken and serving the run-off. ("How was your meal, sir?" "The soup was watery, the meat was tough, and the coffee tasted like mud." "I’m glad you enjoyed it, be sure to tell your friends.") Made from 90% Primitivo and 10 % Montepulciano. Aged in stainless steel - and tasted like it; literally.

Andrea Oberto Langhe Nebbiolo (2006) Piemonte

A solid, affordable Langhe Nebbiolo from Andrea Oberto, a small (40 acre) family winery that produces about 100,000 bottles of Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto a year from some prime vineyards located in the communes of La Morra, Barolo, Alba, and Cherasco. The 2006 Langhe Nebbiolo is 100% Nebbiolo grown on 15-18 year old La Morra-ese vines. Meant to be drunk young, the wine is aged for six months partly in wood casks and partly in stainless steel vats and for two months in the bottle. Almost brown in color. (with my bad eyes in poor light) Nice fruit nose. Long, smooth finish. Enjoyed with cherry and port glazed Cornish hens. (something we just threw together) Albeisa bottle.

Sammy Sosa; Former Black Slugger, Italian Wine Lover, Idiot

Newly white Sammy Sosa recently sat down with the Italian Cellar for a brief chat about his life since retiring from the Major Leagues.

The Italian Cellar: Sammy, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us.

Sammy Sosa: It’s a pleasure to be white, I mean here.

TIC: Since retiring have you been watching a lot of baseball?

SS: Not too much; I’ve been busy with several projects.

TIC: Such as?

SS: My new candy bar; it’s made with white chocolate, nougat, and blanched almonds. I’m also writing a biography about another baseball great; Whitey Ford.

TIC: Sounds fascinating.

SS: Well it’s not all work for Sammy. I still find time to take strolls on the white sand beaches of my native Dominican Republic; I collect sand dollars and starfish and bleach them out. I've also taken up surfing; we have great whitecaps here.

TIC: We also hear you’re quite the wine aficionado.

SS: Oh yes; especially Italian whites. I love Verdicchio; it's so seafood friendly. I had a Sartarelli with some grilled whitefish last night; it was terrific. I also recently paired a Pio Cesare Cortese di Gavi with some linguni and white clam sauce; Delicious.

TIC: What happened to your face?

SS: No comprendo.

TIC: Sammy, thanks for your time.

SS: It was great speaking with you.

Poggio Argentiera Morellino di Scansano “Bellamarsilia” (2007) Tuscany

A nice Morellino di Scansano from Poggio Argentiera, a fairly new (1998) winery founded by Gianpaolo Paglia and his wife, Brit, Justine Keeling. Together, they own 22 hectares near the coast in the Maremma and produce nearly 250,000 bottles of wine a year. Morellino di Scansano was granted its DOCG status with the 2007 vintage. To be classified as a Morellino di Scansano, the wine must contain at least 85 % Sangiovese (Morellino is the local name for the Sangiovese varietal). The 2007 Bellamarsilia is made from 85% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo, and 5% Alicante grown on newly planted, high-density vines. Dark ruby red/purplish color. Strong cherry/berry nose. Three-quarters of the wine is aged for four months in stainless steel; the remainder in cement vats. Perhaps some oak could add the element that’s missing; or maybe the wine is what it is; affordable, fruity, and fresh.

Le Salette Valpolicella (2006) Veneto

A delicious everyday Valpolicella (if there can be such a thing as an everyday Valpolicella…like being too rich or too thin; or in my case, neither) from Le Salette, a 25 hectare Venetonese (is that a word?) winery owned and operated by husband and wife, Franco and Monica Scamperle. (what an opening sentence!) Made from a blend of 50% Corvina, 40% Rondinella, 5% Molinara, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon for good measure. (followed up by a not so great sentence) Brooding, brick red color. (even worse) Dried fruit and spices on the nose. (why are you still reading?) The finish was soft and smooth. Enjoyed with food and by itself. Aged in stainless steel for 6 months. Synthetic cork. Under $15; a great value. (next time I will start slow and finish big)

Copertino Riserva DOC (2001) Puglia

A delicious, spicy Italian red wine from Copertino, a Puglian cooperative of 1,000 growers that crank out 1.2 million bottles of wine annually. The cooperative, established in 1935, has in recent years been producing higher quality wine from the regions traditional indigenous grapes. The 2001 Riserva, crafted by respected enologist Severino Garofano, is a blend of 95% Negro Amaro and 5% Malvasia Nera. Inky, brick-red color. Blackberry nose. Tannins are softened by two years in oak. Rustic yet refined. Nice finish.

La Bellanotte Armonico (2008) Friuli-Venezia Giulia

A white Italian blend that I didn’t really like from the folks at La Bellanotte, an eight hectare artisan winery located near the border with Slovenia. Under the direction of Paolo Benassi and his business partner Cristina Visintin, La Bellanotte produces a full range of white and red wines, along with a Picolit desert wine. The 2008 Armonico is a blend of 30% Malvasia Istriana and 70 % Friuliana (previously known as Tocai Friulano). Bright straw gold color with green highlights. Nice nose of citrus fruit. Acidic to the point of astringency. The percentages in the blend changes from year to year; i.e. the 2007 was a 50/50 blend…..perhaps this makes a difference. Synthetic cork.

Bastianich Sauvignon “B” (2008) Friuli-Venezia Giulia

A very refreshing Italian white wine from Bastianich, a 70 acre Friulian winery founded in 1997 by superstar TV chef Lidia Bastianich and her newly svelte, but still follically-challenged son Joe. (Joe, you look like you’ve lost significant tonnage; I hope nothing is wrong, bro)

Joe "Before"

Joe "After"

Deliciously crisp, the 2008 Sauvignon "B" is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc that is fermented and aged entirely in stainless. The wine gains some extra complexity because the grapes have been given some extra hang time on the vine. Nice tropical fruit nose, vibrant acidity, and a long finish. Stelvin screw cap.

De Angelis Vesuvio Lacrima Christi Rosso (2007) Campania

WWJD? He sure wouldn't cry (Lacrima Christi translates to "tears of Christ") - this wine is terrific! From De Angelis, a Campanian winery located on Sorrento Bay that has been producing Italian whites, roses, and reds since 1936. The 2007 Rosso is made from 40% Aglianico and 60% Piedirosso, a rustic grape named for its red feet or red roots that is found in a variety of Campanian wines. Ruby-red color. Berry fruit on the nose. Very smooth, soft, mouth feel. Aged for three months in barriques; just long enough to mellow the rustic grapes.