The following post is reprinted and updated from Gracie’s Italian Wine Review.
I am often asked by friends, what I feel makes a great bottle of wine? Although wine taste vary with the user there are certain attributes I do look for when I’m making a wine purchase, be it from Italy (my favorite wines) or anywhere for that matter. Below is a quick list of my top five.
#1 Delivery: I like a wine that delivers on the palate what I experienced on the nose. When I give the glass a swirl and get a strong sense of chocolate, or cherry or coffee I expect to get that on the taste as well. When a wine delivers for me, I’m rarely disappointed.
#2 Act Their Age: I really don’t care what kind of wine it is, I have certain expectations depending upon age as to what I going to get. If a wine has 10 years in the bottle, I want to feel that smoothness and softness and taste a bit of smoke. If a wine is fresh and is expected to drink young, than I am looking for strong tannins that wakes up the senses.
#3 Long Finish: I like the wine to stay with me for a bit and give me a final impression. Wines that have a short finish are disappointing and often lack in other areas as well.
#4 Works Well With Food: There are many occasions where I just pop open a bottle to enjoy a glass or two in the evening – and there are many occasions when I want the wine to stand up or compliment what I’m eating. Most of my wine purchasing however is done with food in mind so I tend to make selections to compliment the foods I enjoy most often.
#5 Harmony: Wine has many components – fruit, acidity, tannins, alcohol; a well-balanced wine possesses the various elements in proper proportion to one another. When one of the components is over bearing it disrupts the balance. Balance also allows a wine to have a distinct flavor.
Here are two wines that totally fit the bill for me. The first is a 2007 Barolo and modestly priced. Click on the name to fine the wine at Wine.com.
Villadoria Barolo 2007 is a bargain at $36.99. Winemaker’s notes: A garnet red color with a delicate, appealing, intense bouquet, reminiscent of violets and dry roses, alcohol-soaked cherries, vanilla, tobacco, truffles and pepper. The taste is full, robust, austere but velvety and harmonious. A great accompaniment with red meats, pot roasts and game birds, as well as ripe cheeses.
Critical acclaim: “Fresh and plump, with juicy flavors of cherry, raspberry, licorice, menthol and oak spice. The oak doesn’t intrude, and this ends with an aftertaste of black cherry, tar and mineral notes. Best from 2014 through 2027. 6,000 cases made.” 92 Points – Wine Spectator
“There’s a succulent, sweet element here that resembles Christmas spice or cinnamon roll. Behind that curtain of spice, concentration and intensity are elegant tones of black licorice, cassis, plum and toasted nut. Try this wine with honey-roasted ham embedded with clove.” 90 Points- Wine Enthusiast.
The second is a Rosso di Montalcino, often called “Baby Brunellos.” Another bargain priced, ready to drink wine.
Banfi Rosso di Montalcino 2010 $23.00. Winemaker’s notes: Intense ruby red in color with violet reflections. Fresh bouquet with typical varietal characteristics of violet, cherry, and plum. Full and elegant in taste, with a surprisingly long finish.
At the time of this writing I could not find any reviews but upon sharing this with a few friends (now a second time) we scored it an 89 to 90 with potential of scoring higher with a little more time in the bottle.
Related articles
- Wine and food Pairing: A Primer (redenvelope.com)
- Brunello Consorzio suing Soldera for libel (thedrinksbusiness.com)
- Barolo not better than Barbaresco (thedrinksbusiness.com)
- How a Tuscan wine said No to recession (bbc.co.uk)
