[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

Sorry you didn’t like it.

No worries. Thanks for the suggestion.

[cmyx6go]

I’m ashamed to admit I am clueless when it comes to Italian wines especially since my last name ends in a vowel. I mostly drink CA Cabernets with a select few Merlot. I like heavy, flavorful reds. Long ago, I drank Ruffino Chianti Classico Reserva Ducale and the Gold label. Although the gold was smoother, the other had more flavor. I then discovered CA which is my go to. Wanting to broaden my horizons, I recently tried a bottle of Amarone and Brunello Di Montalcino (will update with pics tomorrow) but they didn’t do it for me. They were smooth but too light and not as flavorful.

Are there any Italian reds that are comparable to CA Cabernets? I tried the Chianti again but I’m not loving it. Too light.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Edit. As a reference point, my current go to is Austin Hope. My fav is Caymus with a Stags Leap Artemis here and there. The Merlot I enjoy is Emmolo.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I’m ashamed to admit I am clueless when it comes to Italian wines especially since my last name ends in a vowel. I mostly drink CA Cabernets with a select few Merlot. I like heavy, flavorful reds. Long ago, I drank Ruffino Chianti Classico Reserva Ducale and the Gold label. Although the gold was smoother, the other had more flavor. I then discovered CA which is my go to. Wanting to broaden my horizons, I recently tried a bottle of Amarone and Brunello Di Montalcino (will update with pics tomorrow) but they didn’t do it for me. They were smooth but too light and not as flavorful.

Are there any Italian reds that are comparable to CA Cabernets? I tried the Chianti again but I’m not loving it. Too light.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Edit. As a reference point, my current go to is Austin Hope. My fav is Caymus with a Stags Leap Artemis here and there. The Merlot I enjoy is Emmolo.

Which Brunello did you try?

I like Brunello and Tignanello but my wife always prefers Cabernet. So I usually only drink the Italians when we are out with a group and I bring a bottle of Italian and a bottle of Cabernet.

I have some Sassicaia that I haven’t opened yet but expect it to be spectacular when it ages.

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Which Brunello did you try?

I like Brunello and Tignanello but my wife always prefers Cabernet. So I usually only drink the Italians when we are out with a group and I bring a bottle of Italian and a bottle of Cabernet.

I have some Sassicaia that I haven’t opened yet but expect it to be spectacular when it ages.

2014 Altismo? Altizmo?

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

2014 Altismo? Altizmo?

Maybe Altesino? I haven’t tried it but believe it is a good wine. I don’t think 2014 was a great year for Brunello though. 2010, 2015 and (I think) 2016 are very good years. If you can find a 2010 Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova or 2010 Valdicava Brunello I’d recommend trying again. There are a lot of good Brunello’s. I will say the last 2 bottles I had of 2010 Valdicava went bad, which was very disappointing. They were stored in a wine fridge so I had to buy them that way.

Chianti Classico is good with pasta / red sauce but you’re right, it’s pretty light.

I’m not a fan of Barbera but it’s all personal taste.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

There are a lot of good Brunello’s.

There certainly are, although they're not made in the style that cmyx6go finds most enjoyable.

Brunello is one of my favorite Italian wines. I find pairing Osso Buco with an equally rich and flavorful Brunello to be an especially enjoyable match of food and wine.

----- digression -----

Re: Matching Italian Wines with Food

One combination I've always enjoyed is a Fiano di Avellino matched with Chicken or Veal Piccata. Both the wine and the food have an acidity that complement each other very well.

Of course, as you say, enjoying wine (and the food you might have with it) is a matter of personal taste.

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Maybe Altesino? I haven’t tried it but believe it is a good wine. I don’t think 2014 was a great year for Brunello though. .

The Brunello and the Amarone I tried.

[hubbahubba]

Opened this last night. Spectacular, just as great as I remembered.

[hubbahubba]

Figured we’d better give the Tierra Roja a shot after the Beckstoffer To Kalon. At the winery, this was my wife’s favorite. Nothing changed last night. One pic of decant, and one of the soldiers from the last 2 nights.

[hubbahubba]

Received my wine club shipment for Stags’ Leap yesterday. Woot woot!

[RickFLM4]

Recent arrivals over past few weeks.

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Recent arrivals over past few weeks.

Man, those are some great bottles! Bolgheri and Realm are on my to do list…

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by hubbahubba

Man, those are some great bottles! Bolgheri and Realm are on my to do list…

The Bard is a really good wine and not too crazy ($100-$125 range). But it is hard to find, unless you join their mailing list. Then it takes about a year of being in the mailing list to get a modest allocation.

Realm has the best shipping of any winery or retailer I have had ship to me. They use cold packs and packaging so when the wine arrives, it feels like it was just pulled out of a wine cellar (at least with overnight shipping), even in FL where it was low-80 degree range on delivery day. I’ve seen some others use cold packs, but Realm has a really nice packing setup.

[hubbahubba]

RickFLM4 That’s great feedback about Realm, thank you.

Catching up on the last couple. Having the Rutherford as I type. The Stags’ Winemakers Muse Tannat was very good. It left an almost sour patch kids taste on the back of mouth that made you want more. I have looked, but unfortunately it appears to be sold out. If anybody comes across a source, please let me know.:

[dradernh]

This evening I'm going with a sort-of Southern Rhone-style wine from Force Majeure in the Walla Walla Valley of Oregon up against the Washington State line. The "sort-of" is that the 2017 vintage I found has no Grenache in it, and the dominant characteristic is of a Syrah (86% of the blend) that enjoyed a very warm summer.

It's certainly well-made, while being denser and higher in alcohol (14.9%) than I generally expect to find from an Oregon or Washington State producer. No complaints, though; most new wines I try are to discover just what they're like and if I'd like to buy more of them, that being a great deal of my interest in trying them out.

This is a producer whose wines I'll see if I can buy more of them locally.

[Lady Jane]

Early start to the evening: From the Niagara Peninsula.

[Roman]

It's going down!

[Fugly M3]

Some light reading this evening.

[hubbahubba]

Way to go for bring this up.. I have taken a few pics but not posted..

[hubbahubba]

The Viognier was superb.

[hubbahubba]

Whoops. Looks like I should have included one of those pics in the what are you sipping on thread…

[hubbahubba]

We went to a wine dinner last night with Plumpjack and Cade. Mrs actually sat next to Plumpjack winemaker Aaron Miller. It was an interesting conversation. Took home 2 signed bottles.