Italian Red Wine Varietals, Blind Tasting Results

On February 29^ththe KensWineGuide.com Tasting Panel met to review Italian red wine varietals.  We broke the tasting into 3 distinct groups.  We reviewed 5 Chianti Classicos and recommended 3 of them.  Then we tried 9 Barberas.  From that group we recommended 7 of them.  In a 3^rd mini tasting, we reviewed some Italian reds made from indigenous grapes or blends.  We recommended 3 of those wines.

All 3 of the Chiantis that we recommended received a score of Very Good.  The one that we found most interesting and likable was the 2005 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico “Selezione RS” $17.  This wine was medium bodied, nicely balanced, and very food friendly.  The other good news is that it is only $17 and they made a lot of it.  The panel scored this wine 88.0 (Very Good).  The other two wines that we recommended was the 2003 Colognole Chianti Rufina (87.38) $15 & the 2005 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico (87.0) $23.  Although not in this tasting, we recently tried and reviewed the 2005 Querciabella “Chianti Classico” for $29.  We highly recommend this wine and scored it Very Good+.

In the second half of the tasting we explored one of my favorite Italian grapes, Barbera.  As mentioned above, we tried 9 and recommended 7 of them as Very Good or better.  Two of them qualified as Very Good+.  So which wine won?  The winner was the 2005 Vietti “Scarrone” from Barbera D’Alba $37.  The panel scored this wine 91.75.  This wine was clearly our winner.  It nearly won by 2 whole points.  This wine is well balanced and complex.  It delivers very concentrated and delicious blueberry flavors.  The panel could not say enough good things about it.  They were pairing it with Châteaubriand and Steak Diane.  The runner up was not exactly shabby.  The 2005 Sottimano “Pairolero” Barbera D’Alba $32 scored an even 90.0.  This wine shows concentrated dusty blackberry flavors with hints of dark chocolate and oak.  Again the panel felt passionate about how this wine would pair so nicely with Veal Marsala or a grilled Angus burger with mushrooms and Swiss cheese.

From there we had a little bit of a surprise with that little bird from Renwood flying into 3^rd place with their 2005 “Amador County” Barbera $23.  This wine was very different than those from Italy but showed how diverse the grape can be.  The panel was a bit mesmerized by this wine from the start.  I’m not sure if it was the raspberry bouquet with hints of spearmint, almonds, and toffee or the distinguishly different juicy cherry flavors with notes of spearmint and vanilla.  This is a wine you must try to find and enjoy.  We really liked it and scored it 89.0.

The other recommended Barbaras were as follows:

#4 2006 Villa Guida “Suri” Barbera d’Asti $13 (88.75)

#5 2004 Vietti “Tri Vigne” Barbera d’Alba $21 (88.5)

#6 2005 Boroli “Quattro Fratelli” Barbera d’Alba $16 (87.25)

#7 2005 Marchesi di Gresi Barbera d’Asti $17 (87.0)

In the mini tasting of indigenous Italian red grape wines and other Italian red blends we tried 9 wines and recommended 3 of them as Very Good.  Many of the wines that we did not recommend were Good, but just not Very Good.  All three of the recommended options are good bargains.  My favorite was the 2006 Masi “Bonacosta Valpolicella Classico.” $15.  If you are looking for an enjoyable everyday Italian red this wine offers you a terrific value option.  This wine from Valpolicella is made from 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, & 5% Molinara.  This quaffer displays very tasty black cherry flavors with slight hints of oak.  We would pair this very food friendly wine with lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, and even pizza.  The panel scored this wine (88.5) Very Good.

 The next wine we recommended was the 2006 Cusumano “Benuara” $15. This wine was made with 70% Nero D’Avola & 30% Syrah.  It has good acidity and displays concentrated and lush spicy cherry and fig like flavors with some hints of dark chocolate.  The panel really enjoyed this wine and scored it an (88) Very Good.  Finally, we recommended the 2004 Feudi Di San Marzano “Primitivo” $11 from Puglia.  On the palate, this wine is round, easy to drink, with palate coating black current flavors with hints of black raspberry and oak.  The panel felt this wine was a great deal and would pair nicely with beef stew.  We scored this wine (87.5) Very Good.

As you can see, we found a lot of interesting red wines made from Italian varietals.  Many of them were bargains.  We definitely suggest that you try them and see for yourself.  Finally, if you are into some higher end options, you should try some of the new release 2001 Amarones from Masi that we just reviewed and a 2004 Tuscan blend of Sangiovese and Merlot from Sette Ponti that we enjoyed as well.  We look forward to covering Italian Reds again next year.

Enjoy & Cheers.  Ken