Tenuta Scilio "Phiale" Etna Rosso (Sicily) 2003

A delicious, spicy Italian red from Tenuta Scilio, a 69 acre estate that lies on the northeast slopes of Mount Etna. Tenuta Scilio does not use any artificial fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides and all of their wines are made exclusively from grapes grown on their estate. The 2003 Phiale is a blend of 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio; both dark, brooding natives. Strong nose and taste of black cherries and spice. Full, unctuous mouthfeel. 65% of the wine is aged in small French oak barrels and 35% of the wine is aged in American oak for twelve months. Tiny 600 case production. I purchased the wine at the Wine Cellars of Saugatuck, a nice wineshop that sells unique wines from all over the world and thankfully very little from Michigan.

Marchesi di Gresy Monte Aribaldo Dolcetto D' Alba (2007) Piemonte

A gem from Marchesi di Gresy, an 88 acre winery made up of four estates situated in the Langhe and Monferrto. In the late 1960's, owner Alberto di Gresy decided that he no longer wanted to continue selling his families grapes to other producers, so in 1973, he began producing his own wine. His Dolcetto, is grown on the Monte Aribaldo estate near the legendary Martinenga, Piemonte's only monopole; a vineyard owned exclusively by one proprietor. Brilliant ruby-red in color. Fragrant cherry nose. Velvety. Terrific balance. Un-oaked.

Cavallotto Vigna Scot Dolcetto d' Alba (2008) Piemonte

A terrific everyday Italian red wine from Cavallotto, an unsung winery that produces great value-priced Barolo's in addition to Barbera's and Dolcetto's on their 23 hectares in Piedmont. Cavallotto practices "green" farming methods. They use no fertilizers and use only copper and sulfur-based products for insect and disease control. Cavallotto is one of only a few producers that purchase quarry sulfur from Sicily; which is considered among the best. (I agree and only use Sicilian sulfur in my home garden; I source mine from Balthazar.) Ruby-red/purple in color. Cherry/berry fruit nose. Full bodied; well balanced. Warm, soft mouthfeel. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. Albeisa bottle.

Taurino Notarpanaro (2004) Puglia

A spicy Italian red wine from Taurino, one of the first producers to bottle and sell wines from Puglia in the international marketplace. Before Taurino, wines from the south of Italy were primarily sold in bulk or used in blends to strengthen better known wines from northern Italy and France. The 2004 Notarparnaro is a blend of 85% Negroamaro and 15% Malvasia Nera. Dark, inky red in color. Rich, full nose of fruit and spice. Peppery fininsh. Aged for 36 months (six of which in a blend of Allier, Nevers, and Troncais oak). Bottle aged for an additional three years prior to release.

Stiftskellerei Neustift Abbazia di Novacella Kerner (2008) Alto Adige

A beautiful Italian white wine from Abazzia di Novacella, a winery founded in 1142 (and still run today) by the Augustinian order of monks who toil with 100 lay workers in the Isarco Valley of Alto Adige; located a short distance south of the Brenner Pass and the Austrian border. The winery is Italy's northernmost and specializes in cool-climate whites, many of which are grapes of Germanic origin. The 2008 Kerner is 100% Kerner, a grape originated as a cross between a Trollinger and a Reisling. Sparkling pale gold in color. Citrus fruit nose. Full, silky body. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. Crisp and delicious. Synthetic cork. Hock bottle. For those of you who are wondering, the photo is of former Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, who was the first of three (pretty soon four) Illinois governors to be convicted of Federal criminal charges.

Tenuta Luisa Friulano (2008) Friuli - Venezia Giulia

A resolute Italian white wine from Tenuta Luisa, an 80 year old family winery that farms nearly 200 acres of vineyards in the DOC Friuli Insonzo area of northeastern Italy that borders Slovenia. Their 2008 Friulano is 100% Friulano (called Tocai Friulano in the old days) that is vinified and aged in stainless steel. Deep golden-yellow in color. Apple/herb nose. Crisp acidity. A white wine with some there; there.

Vecchia Cantina Incanto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (2005) Tuscany

A good-enough Tuscan red from the Vecchia Cantina Cooperative, a large producer in the Poliziana region of southern Tuscany. Purchased on the cheap from Trader Joe's, a store that is by no means my "go-to" place for wine, but since we are there several times a week, it's convenient. According to the laws of of the DOCG (if you mix-up the letters it spells God; with a "C" for Christianity!) a wine has to have at least 70% Sangiovese and no more than 20% Canaiolo Nero to be designated as a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. (if you mix up these letters, I'm not sure what the hell you get.) Incanto's incarnation (clever? I thinks so) is a blend of 78% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo Nero, and 2% Mammolo. Haunting dark red color; decent cherry/stone fruit nose. Medium to full body. Nice acidity, but with some rough tannins. Needs food to be enjoyed. Cute image of a hedgehog on the label. Not enough hedgehog imagery in the wine world in my opinion.

Teruzzi & Puthod Terre di tufi (2007) Tuscany

A delicious summer white from Teruzzi & Puthod, a Tuscan winery owned by global branded beverage industry titan Gruppo Campari, whose 40 brands like Wild Turkey, Skyy vodka, Cinzano are distributed in over 190 countries worldwide. Founded in 1974, the winery has over 90 hectares under vine and produces more than a million bottles of wine a year. Their Terre di tufi is a blend of 80% Vernaccia, 7% Chardonnay, 7% Malvasia, and 6% Vermentino. Brilliant straw yellow in color with a fresh nose of apples - pine and otherwise. Synthetic cork.

Caldora Trebbiano D' Abruzzo (2005) Abruzzo

"Caldora, Caldora, what makes you big ass so round?" I picked up this leftover old bottle at Cost Plus World Market and was pleasantly surprised that it had held up so well. Caldora is a partnership between Valentino Sciotti, renowned winemaker Mario Ercolino and one of the largest cooperatives in Abruzzo. The cooperatives total holdings are around 1,200 hectares but only the best 200 or so are selected, vinified, and bottled under the Caldora name. The 2005 Trebbiano is light gold in color with a nice floral/citrus nose (still!) A blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia. Stainless steel. Nice finish.

Masciarelli Trebbiano d' Abruzzo (2008) Abruzzo

A wonderful summer white from Masciarelli; Italy's 2004 "winery of the year". Marsciarelli is the largest organically farmed estate in Italy, with over 1,000 acres scattered across Abruzzo. In addition to Trebbiano, they grow Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Falanghina, and olives for pressing into premium oil. Their Trebbiano d' Abruzzo is fermented and aged in stainless steel. Clean and crisp. Hints of apple, stone fruit, and freshly bathed pug. Refreshingly delicious. An outstanding value at $8.99 a bottle.