Italy Reds
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$62.95 – Fumanelli Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2015, Corvina Blend
What do I think: Might just be the best Amarone I have ever had. Mushroom and pancetta, OK, but this has “where’s the beef” written all over it! Note the 120-day process – thus the cost. Christmas, although different, is coming – splurge a bit if you can. What the...
$41.00 – Masi Costasera Amarone Classico DOC 2013
What the Experts say: Deep purple ruby color; rich, ripe, plummy cherry aromas and flavors with hints of chocolate, spice and earth; full- bodied with a firm, long finish. What do I think: Have a sniff before you drink, enjoy the aroma and prepare for Grape...
$39.95 – Cesari Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico DOC
What the Experts say: Deep ruby colour; dried cherries, plums, herb and tobacco aromas; dry, medium to full bodied; rich flavours plums, dried red berries and spice; long finish. What do I think: If I only had one wine to drink for the rest of my life…it would be...
$45.00 – Masi Costasera Amarone Classico DOC
What the Experts say: Deep purple ruby colour; rich, ripe, plummy cherry aromas and flavours with hints of chocolate, spice and earth; full- bodied with a firm, long finish. What do I think: I repeat… If I only had one wine to drink for the rest of my life…it would...
$55.00 – Cinque Stelle 2011 Amarone della Valpolcella Classico
2011 no longer available but the LCBO has a 2015 available at $53.95. So we up the ante with this one but everyone once in a while we need a little Amarone, especially if you are having a nice steak or prime rib! But this is truly good with almost anything. Full...
$34.95 – Farina Le Pezze Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2013
So this might not be your best choice for a turkey wine. But personally I would drink Amarone with almost anything! Spoiled wino. Sooooooooo good! And we should not assume that everyone has turkey. Lamb or even steak would be a great Christmas meal. A classic...
$15.95 – Leonardo Chianti Fiasco 2018
What do I think: A little deja-vous, remembering the days we all liked to stick candles in the wicker wrapped bottles. A solid Chianti for $16, nice little aroma with a smoother solid finish. Well worth the extra couple of bucks from the Fiorini. What the Experts...
$11.85 – Vinetti de Fiorini Chianti Superiore DOCG 2017
What do I think: It’s a cheapy superior to say the least. A little lighter than I like, on the dry side, lacking a little body but certainly acceptable with a little pizza or pasta. What the Experts say: Twelve months of ageing in large casks gives this Chianti a...
$14.95 – Rocca Delle Macie Chianti Vernaiolo DOCG
What the Experts say: Deep ruby colour; floral, cherry and sweet spice aromas; dry, medium-bodied with tart cherry and spice flavours, well balanced and a dry finish. What do I think: Chianti goes with turkey – right? Chianti goes with pretty much anything! Can’t go...
$17.95 – Sella & Mosca Riserva Cannonau Di Sardegna 2015
This 100% Grenache is possibly the best wine on this entire list. Aged two years in large Slavonian oak barrels with more than six additional months of bottle aging, it’s rich, complex and balanced, with aromas that suggest a blend of black and ripe red berry fruit,...
$17.95 – Srella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Reserva 2015
What the experts say: Cannonau is the Sardinian name for that darling Mediterranean grape, Grenache. This traditional version has complex flavours of plum, wild berries, leather and spice. Enjoy with grilled lamb or beef kebabs, or osso buco. What do I think: This is...
$18.95 – Pietra Pura Mandus Primitivo di Manduria 2017
Puglia, Italy What do I think: Intense in aroma and flavour, a spec buy and pleasantly surprised. What the Experts Say: Expect a complex, layered wine that will feature tobacco, leather, fig, prune, vanilla, earth, red berry and a sexy hint of chocolate. This will be...
$12.95 – Fantini Numero Uno 2017 Primitivo
Chocolate, plum, strawberry, forest floor aromas, a touch of smoke and even a little sweet lemon buried in this densely coloured, full-bodied Zinfandel (Primitivo in Italy). It’s a tad on sweet side, but it’s a characteristic that subsides with decanting. Quite a...
$16.95 – Masseria Altemura Sasseo Primitivo 2016
From the heel of the Italian boot, this deep, opaque ruby red Primitivo (Italy’s Zinfandel) offers a great price-quality ratio. The harmony is just excellent between the elegant tannins, fresh acidity and cranberry/prune/blackcurrant/plum/strawberry compote—all...
$11.30 – Luccarelli 2016 Puglia Primitivo
This deeply coloured Primitivo (Italy’s Zinfandel) is young and not that complex, but decanting still takes the raw edge off and lets the fruit and taste shine through. Medium-bodied with bright acidity, blackberry, strawberry, prune, spice and a little leather. Nice...
$19.95 – Cesari Mara Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2018
What you can Expect: Another old favourite, this iconic Italian wine, made with a second fermentation of Valpolicella on the lees of Amarone. Dry, with complex chocolate, cinnamon, nuts and figs interplay and a velvety feel. It is a solid Italian go to wine!
$18.00 – Farina Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2017
What do I think: Amarone lite you might say – never met a Ripasso that I did not like. What the Experts say: Clear ruby red with purple highlights; chocolate, nutmeg and toast aromas with floral and fig notes; dry, medium to full body; forward fruit flavours,...
$18.35 – Villa Annaberta Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017
What do I think: I’ve said it a million times, I have never met a Ripasso I did not like. For the price certainly a keeper. Medium to full bodied and full of flavor. What the Experts say: Deep ruby; notes of black cherry, raisin and fig on the nose; on the palate it...
$26.95 – Zenato Ripassa Valpoicella Superiore 2015
I have never met a Ripasso that I did not like and that goes for the Ripassa in this case! Might be the female version and similar in style to my favorite red – Amarone! What the Experts say: Ripasso wines are fondly referred to as ‘baby Amarone’ by some. Zenato’s...
$18.95 – Tommasi Il Sestante Valpolicella Ripasso 2014
This is one solid wine from a very reliable Italian wine family! Deep red in colour with captivating aromas. Rich and full bodied on the palate – my kind of wine! A steal at under 20 bucks.
$22.95 – Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore
Adding a little Italian Flare. I always say that I have never met a Ripasso I did not like. I have had many of these over the years and when I open them I always ask myself why I don’t drink this more often. Consistently great! Made from Valpolicella with...
$21.95 – Masi Campofiorin – Ripasso 2014
I have been drinking this Italian red for years. Solid, full bodied, deep ruby red in colour with dominating flavours of cherries and red berry fruit – soft finish. Great with just about any meal so no doubt that it would be just fine with the big bird too!
