Ruffino Il Ducale 2005 - $20

Super Tuscan.

Blend is: 60% sangiovese, 25% merlot and 15% syrah

David: Dark red with slight brownish tint. Nose is sulfury barnyard but over-powering. Some violets. Full bodied with good acidity. Big pomegranate fruit with a chocolatey taste. Powerful but smooth tannins. Decent finish. Enjoyable wine.
Score: 4.0/5

Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2008 - $20

Produced from younger vines and so is sold cheaper as "Nebbiolo" rather than Barbaresco but still from the Barbaresco region.

David: Light, brick red. Nose is subtle. A little cherry. A little roses. Very faint of mint and dusty earth. Nose seems to get even less noticeable with time. Medium bodied, soft, silky mouthfeel. Concentrated cherry fruit with decent acidity and balance. Some tannins and a soft pleasant finish. Not a knockout but a pleasant wine. A tad too light and a little boring and not worth the price.
Score: 3.8/5

Cataldi Madonna Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2008 - $17

David:
Nose is dominated by minerals and iron with some floral notes and herbs, maybe fennel. Full bodied with plenty of weight. Wonderful red fruits, cherry and raspberry, with great acidity, balance, concentration and structure. Mild tannins. Nice finish. Overall, a very nice wine. Good with food.
Score: 4.1/5

Damilano Nebbiolo d'Alba 2008 - $14

David: Light, red brick in color. Nose of roses, cherry and some earthy latex smell. Light to medium bodied. Decent acidity and structure. Cherry fruit with dry liquorish. Light tannins. Good finish. Overall, pretty good, well made but kinda light for me.
Score: 3.8/5

Bisceglia Terra di Vulcano Aglianico del Vulture 2007 - $13

David: Medium to dark purple. Nose of violets, red currant cranberry. Some herbs and maybe a little leather. Not oaked so is mostly fruit and floral scents. Medium bodied with high acidity. Decent tannins. Fruity finish.
Score: 3.8/5

Villa Medoro Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006 - $16

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is made from the Montepulciano grape and from Abruzzo Italy.

David: Dark plum colored. Nose is subtle not huge but shows blueberry, floral notes, maybe lilac, and polished leather. Full bodied, moderate acidity, silky smooth with delicious plum and blueberry fruit and subtle spices. Soft but powerful tannins. Nice finish.
Score: 4.0/5

La Spinetta Langhe Nebbiolo 2007 - $27

David: Nice garnet color is not too dark. A little orange-toned near the edges. Nose is delicate with cherry, leather and roses and other flowers. Medium bodied, moderate acidity, silky texture with delicious cherry fruit. Firm tannins give it sufficient structure. Nice finish.
Score: 4.1/5

A Mano Primitivo 2006 - $8

David: Medium purple red in color. Nose of black cherry, root vegetables, violets and pepper and herbs. Full bodied, medium acidity and smooth texture with good black berry fruit. Moderate tannins. Tasty finish. Overall, quite nice and a good value.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Distinctive tannins; well balanced sweetness with tart and herbal tones. Mild fruit, licorice and lavendar. Very enjoyable.
Score: 4:3/5

Ajello Nero d'Avola 2008 - $11

David: Medium to light brick red in color. Nose of red currant and roses. Medium bodied. Medium to high acidity. Vibrant red fruit is followed by bitter herbs, a bitterness that accelerates into the finish making it less than pleasing.
Score: 3.2/5

Elena Walch Pinot Bianco 2008 - $14

David: Medium gold in color. Intense aroma is rather hard to describe. Maybe lychee or baked apricot tart. Stinky wild flowers with honey? Orchard fruits left out in the sun too long. Medium to full bodied. Moderate acidity. Decent fruit with some grassiness. Good structure. Gets dry and austere toward the end. A little hot. A complex and interesting wine but a little strange.
Score: 3.8/5

Fontezoppa Verdicchio Di Matelica 2009 - $12

David: Medium depth yellow with a little greenish tint. Nose of honeyed apple or pear or perhaps white peach with a tiny hint of citrus. The most distinct aroma is almond which is quite delightful. Also a little minerality. Alcohol is also apparent on the nose which is a little distracting. Medium to full bodied with a bit of zippiness to the mouthfeel. Vibrant acidity. Subdued fruit. Layered. Quite dry with the nutty tastes and a little iodine bitterness balanced well against the acidity. Long finish.
Score:3.8/5

Aia Vecchia Lagone 2007 - $15

A blend of cabernet, merlot and cab franc.

David: Dark crimson. Nose has flowers, maybe violet, cranberry, leather and sweet oak. Medium bodied with strong acidity layered on top of delicious blueberry/raspberry fruit. Silky tannins and the acidity and the copious fruit give it excellent structure and enough complexity. Nice long, fruity finish.
Score 4.1/5

Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 - $20

Got this on sale for $11.

David: Color is medium dark, purplish red. Just like the last two wines, the nose is red currant with a little toasted oak and slight sour cherry. Some violets. A hint of mulchy stinkiness. Lush red fruit on the palate, cherry lollipop. Silky soft mouthfeel with mild tannins. Medium to low acidity. A little boring. Worth the sale price, not the full price.
Score 3.8/5

Falesco Vitiano 2008 - $9

We tried the 2007 before and found it quite good.

David: Light purplish red. The nose is distinctly red currant mixed with sour cherry and some oak characteristics. Medium bodied, decent acidity. Round tannins. Sour cherry fruit comes on quickly. However after that, it goes a little flat. Not enough structure. The finish is a bit dull. A decent wine but becomes a little simplistic, especially on the back end. Definitely inferior to the 2007 that we had.
Score 3.8/5

Feudo Arancio Nero d'Avola 2009 - $7

Nero d'Avola from Sicily. This grape can attain 18% alcohol and has long been used as a blending grape.

David: Crimson in color. Nose is black cherry and not much beyond that. After a while it began to take on more blueberry. Also shows a little earthy tar character. Full bodied, with good acidity. Quite a fruit bomb. Tannins are sweet and mild. Acidity picks up a bit and give its some structure and depth into the long finish. Not overly complex but quite interesting and a good value.
Score: 3.9/5

Cantele Primitivo 2007 - $10

A primitivo from Puglia, Italy.

David: Crimson in color. Nose of blueberries, wet stone, black tea, violets and earth. That typical smell of petite syrah or zin. Medium bodied, medium acidity. A little thinner than other primitivos I have had. Good cherry and berry fruit and good structure. A little liquorish on the back end. An enjoyable wine.
Score 3.9/5

Jessica: I am liking it.
Score 3.9

Bran Caia Tre 2007 - $18

A Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet.

David: Crimson in color. Nose of dark fruit, oak, cocoa. A little bit of stink. Medium to full bodied, smooth texture and medium to low acidity with big black cherry fruit. Round tannins and pretty good balance and layering. A little on the mellow side but overall, quite tasty.
Score: 4.0/5

Monte Antico Toscana 2006 - $12

75 % Sangiovese, 15 % Merlot and 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon. A Super tuscan.

David: Light crimson in color. Typical Sangiovese nose with cherry and strawberry and a little earthiness. Medium bodied with lot of acidity and lots of red fruit. Good grippy tannins give it nice structure. Finishes with a little too much acidity.
Score 3.8/5

Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2006 - $21

David: Monsanto makes some extremely expensive Italian wines. This Chianti Classico is one of their cheapest offerings. 90% Sangioveto (a particular clone of Sangiovese) and 10% Canaiolo and Colorino Decanted for about an hour. Color is a very dark crimson. Nose of ripe black cherry, herbs, tobacco and mint. A little smoke. The nose continues to open up and reveal more nuances. Now some vanilla. Now some wet fur. After a while it reminded me a bit of Amarone. Big black cherry fruit on the palate, with good acidity and good structure. Silky tannins with just a tad of spice. The fruit also changed a bit with aeration and revealed some berry fruit. Nice finish. Overall, quite delicious. Didn't want it to end.
Score 4.4/5

Jessica: Wine with ummph. Dark fruits, strong tannins, smoke and tobacco nose. Dark color. A full-bodied and heavy wine. Would have gone well with the pulled pork if it had been cooked correctly, though pulled pork is probably better with a nice lager. This wine, on the other hand, would pair nicely with a hearty snacking cheese such as a Gouda or Parrano. Liked it. Drank more than I should.
score: 4.4/5

Di Majo Norante Contado Aglianico 2005 - $12

David: 100% Aglianico from Molise Italy. Crimson in color. Nose is a bit subtle. Black current, crushed stone, oak, herbs and pomegranate. Delicious big black current, blackberry fruit on the palate with good acidity, a bit of spice. Juicy. Nicely balanced with good structure. Moderate tannins. Nice finish.
Score: 4.0/5

Jessica: Light nose; medium bodied. Fruity mix of dark and red fruits. Well balanced. Medium tannins. Good length. A very easy-going wine all around, would go well to wash down with pasta.
Score: 4.0/5