Revisiting A Barbera d'Alba

Revisiting A Barbera d'Alba

Can you get a fine Piedmont red at this price?...

Ascheri Fontanelle Barbera d'Alba

Once again this wine comes in at slightly over the $15 mark on the web. I had to pay a bit more myself. As you may remember, Barbera is the most widely grown Piedmont red grape. The Barbera d’Alba variety is one of the best. The producer, Cantine Giacomo Aschere, has been in the wine business since the 1880s. Their website includes the recipe of the month, as served in their hotel restaurant. One featured dish is Hand made "tagliatelle" with sausage from Bra; with tomato and basil; with butter and sage, paired with (among others) the 2010 vintage of today wine. I’m repeating the previous review’s trivia, and not only because of laziness: The local village is La Morra where it was illegal to cut down a Nebbiolo vine (in case you don’t know Nebbiolo is considered the best Piedmont grape). The penalty ranged from amputating a hand to death. Today’s companion wine is a red blend from the more plebian wine region of Latium at half the price.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
Ascheri Fontanelle Barbera d’Alba DOC 2009 14 % alcohol about $16.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Description: This single-vineyard Barbera gives you a taste of the latest vintage from Piedmont, and for a song! Deep purple in color, it displays elegant aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, tobacco and hints of new oak. It's medium bodied, with deep, dark fruit flavors balanced by lively acidity and soft tannins. Enjoy with tomato-based pasta, chicken marengo, or a meat-and-cheese antipasto platter.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was dark, long, and quite round. Japanese rice crackers brought out its fine acidity. This meal’s centerpiece was slow-cooked round steak. The libation responded with chocolate and dark fruit. It was round with light tannins. The accompanying potatoes increased the liquid’s length. Steamed broccoli imparted a tinge of sweetness and the wine was nicely acidic. Dollops of Chinese chili sauce on the meat made my beverage descend; it became too sweet.

This review of an Italian Barbera d'Alba continues on my website at  http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_articles/My_own_Italian_wine_articles/revisiting_a_barbera_dalba.php

 

An Almost Roman Red

 Wine Reviewed
Fontana di Papa Castelli Romani DOC 2011 12 % alcohol $7.50

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : Pale garnet almost rose color; light strawberry, and dried fruit aromas; light body, simple light fruit flavor, pleasant finish. Serving Suggestion : Serve with pasta with tomato sauce or pizza.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was excessively sweet, presenting light tannins and fruity acidity. Japanese rice crackers made the plums come out, sweet plums. This meal’s centerpiece was slow-cooked round steak. In response the libation was sweet, long, and tannin free. The accompanying potatoes increased the liquid’s acidity. Steamed broccoli kept up the wine’s sweetness and acidity, but took away its fruit. Dollops of Chinese chili sauce on the meat seemed to have no effect.

This review of an Inexpensive Roman Red continues on my website at  http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2012/wine_lovers_bargain_review_aarr.php

A Languedoc, France Rosé

 http://theworldwidewine.com/Wine_reviews/Weekly_cheap_wine_reviews/Y2012/wine_lovers_bargain_review_lfro.php

 

Can this up-and-coming area deliver a bargain Rosé?...

Orangeraie Rosé

Wine Reviewed
L’Orangeraie Vin de Pays D’Oc 2011 12.5% alcohol about $10

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : Salmon pink color; soft floral, raspberry, strawberry, and citrus aromas with a mineral note; medium body, dry, berry and citrus flavors, moderate acidity and clean finish. Serving Suggestion : Serve with shrimp and pasta or lobster salad.” And now for my review.
At the first sips this wine was quite sweet and refreshing providing acidity and little fruit. My first meal centered on an omelet enlivened by basil, thyme, crushed chili peppers, and processed American cheese, which rounded the libation’s acidity and provided a bit of strawberries. Steamed broccoli rendered the drink metallic, I’m thinking bronze, and darkened the strawberries. A Turkish salad composed of sweet pimento, tomato paste, dried parsley, hot peppers, vinegar, and spices proved too strong for our Languedoc friend. A strawberry frozen yoghurt accented the liquid’s acidity and sensation of metal. The second dessert was a vanilla pizzelle, an Italian waffle cookie and in response the rosé tasted burnt, lots of burnt.

This review of A Languedoc, France Rosé continues on my web site.

 

An Israeli Kosher Chardonnay

An Israeli Kosher Chardonnay: Wine Reviewed
Shiloh Chardonnay Kosher for Passover 2010 13.5% alcohol about $18 (I paid $24)

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : This is a very well-made Chardonnay showing poise and balance. The nose has notes of apple turnover, pear, apricot, coconut cream pie, and a touch of sandalwood. It’s dry, round textured with generous fruit flavors and hints of hazelnut backed by lively acidity. There are lots of apple and pear flavors on the finish. Try it with a mushroom and garlic tart, or stuffed yellow zucchini with couscous and lentils. (VINTAGES panel, March 2012)” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was subtle, offering good acidity. It was somewhat sweet and had too much oak. (Perhaps that’s my problem, I am no big fan of oak.) In the presence of Japanese rice crackers the drink sharpened. My first meal centered on an omelet made with basil, thyme, crushed chili peppers, caraway, celery seed, and processed American cheese. The drink’s sweetness stepped up and I tasted some pears. When paired with potato salad containing peas, carrots, and pickles, the libation provided that oppressive oak juice even as it presented good acidity. Upon facing a tomato, cucumber, red pepper, and carrot salad our Israeli friend was smoky and oaky. Dessert was a blueberry strudel brimming with cornstarch. My glass responded with oak and not much else.

This review of An Israeli Kosher Chardonnay  continues on my web site.

A Central Italian Chardonnay

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Farnese Chardonnay Terre di Chieti IGT 2010 13% alcohol about $7

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : Medium gold/yellow color, green applet, citrus and vanilla nose; dry, medium bodied with ripe citrus, sweet apple fruit and butterscotch flavors; hint of toast on the finish; crisp and dry with a long finish. Serving Suggestion : Roasted chicken; mild cheeses; grilled prawns.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered pleasant sweetness and acidity with good citrus. In the presence of Japanese rice crackers the drink’s acidity stepped up. My first meal centered on an omelet made with basil, thyme, crushed chili peppers, caraway, celery seed, and processed American cheese. Now it was citrus’s turn to step up. When paired with potato salad containing peas, carrots, and pickles, the libation provided a good balance of acidity and sweetness. Upon facing a tomato, cucumber, red pepper, and carrot salad our Italian friend was light and pleasant. Dessert was a blueberry strudel brimming with cornstarch. My glass responded with good acidity and a bit of citrus. I sensed a tinge of oak.

This review of  A Central Italian Chardonnay continues on my web site.

I Love Upscale Wine - A Brunello di Montalcino

I Love Upscale Wine - A Brunello di Montalcino: Wine Reviewed
Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2006 12.5% alcohol about $27 (half bottle)

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : This red starts out ripe and accessible, boasting plum, cherry and chocolate flavors, then turns firm and tight on the finish, where tobacco and mineral notes take over. I like the potential of this when it integrates more fully. Best from 2014 through 2024. Score – 93. (Bruce Sanderson at the Wine Spectator web site, Aug 31, 2011)” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was mouth filling, multilayered and long with chocolate. In the presence of Japanese rice crackers I tasted chocolate and dark cherries. My first meal centered on a slow-cooked shoulder lamb chop. The libation was disappointingly thin, offering some dark cherries. When paired with the accompanying potatoes the liquid’s provided more chocolate and was slightly longer. The lengthening process continued when paired with sweet potatoes and it became almost mouth filling. Then I added a generous amount of Louisiana hot sauce to the meat. This weakened the wine.

This review of  A Brunello di Montalcino: continues on my web site.

A Central Italian Red Blend

A Central Italian Red Blend: Wine Reviewed
Velletri Centurio DOC 2011 12.5% alcohol about $7

Let’s start with the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : Medium ruby/garnet; aromas of raspberry, dried cherry, mocha, cedar, and herbs; dry, medium bodied, moderate structured tannins, fresh fruit on finish. Serving Suggestion : Eggplant parmigianna, chicken casserole, rich tomato based pasta dishes, or braised veal shank.” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine was dark, offering balanced acidity and tannins. But it was short. In the presence of Japanese rice crackers the drink’s acidity stepped up and I tasted plums. My first meal centered on a slow-cooked shoulder lamb chop. The libation was longer as it melded with the meat and I tasted some chocolate. When paired with the accompanying potatoes the liquid’s acidity became slightly unbalanced. Then I added a generous amount of Louisiana hot sauce to the meat. My glass’s contents gave me the impression of thinness.

This review of A Central Italian Red Blend: continues on my web site.