origin: Italy

Il Pollenza Red

97
Il Pollenza
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Marche IGT
Retail Price: $124

Tasting Notes: You can think of this as a “Super Marche,” produced from the central eastern region of Marche. A touch of merlot and petit verdot are part of the cabernet sauvignon-dominated blend. Exceptionally deeply colored in the glass, the nose is composed of dark fruit and touches of spice. In the mouth the wine has plenty of weight — and fruit. The finish lingers on and on, showcasing the wine's complexity and quality.
Il Pollenza Red

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Banfi Centine Rosé 2016

91
Banfi
Fanciful Name: Centine
Varietal: Rosé
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Tuscany
Retail Price: $10

Tasting Notes: A blend of sangiovese, merlot and cabernet. Medium bodies and packed with lots of rich, succulent strawberry aromas and flavor. Nice crisp finish. Try it with a nice bowl of pasta with shrimp.
Banfi Centine Rosé 2016

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Montaribaldi Sigiuja Rosato Nebbiolo 2016

94
Montaribaldi Sigiuja Rosato
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Piedmont
Retail Price: $15

Tasting Notes: Much darker in the glass then most, almost ruby-red grapefruit in color. Made from nebbiolo, this is tight when first released. A year later and this wine has released some great dark berry and plum notes. Bone dry and rich lasting finish make this perfect for a chilly spring day.
Montaribaldi Sigiuja Rosato Nebbiolo 2016

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Saladini Pilastri Rosso Piceno 2015

89
Saladini Pilastri
Varietal: Rosé
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $14

Tasting Notes: Vibrant red cherry and blueberry gently paired with hints of savory herbs. The varietal pairing provides both acidity and polish.
Saladini Pilastri Rosso Piceno 2015

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Rocca Felice Langhe Rosso Arbat 2015

90
Rocca Felice Langhe
Varietal: Rosé
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $18

Tasting Notes: A graceful pairing of barbera and nebbiolo. Fresh red cherry, crushed flowers and licorice combine with the soft tannin and bright acidity. An elegant beauty.
Rocca Felice Langhe Rosso Arbat 2015

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Villa Cavarena Valpolicella Ripasso 2015

91
Villa Cavarena
Varietal: Corvina
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $25

Tasting Notes: Subtle and Intense. Luscious cherry and strawberry are complimented by smoke and hints of leather. Finishing with a soft tannin.
Villa Cavarena Valpolicella Ripasso 2015

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Antica Corte Valpoicella Ripasso 2015

92
Antica Corte
Varietal: Corvina
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $25

Tasting Notes: This wine expresses power and concentration of the Ripasso method. The wine showcases flavors of black cherry, blueberry and oak tones. It’s framed with a fresh acidity providing a long length and excellent food compatibility.
Antica Corte Valpoicella Ripasso 2015

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Gran Appasso 2015

92
Gran Appasso
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $17

Tasting Notes: A remarkable blend of negroamaro and primitivo grapes from Puglia. Deep rich color with dense cherry notes. A slight raisiny character with soft vanilla oak tones. Overall medium balanced fruit and oak body with a lasting dried fruit finish. Great when paired with lasagna and tenderloin roast.
Gran Appasso 2015

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Elvio Tintero Barbaresco 2014

94
Elvio Tintero
Varietal: Barbaresco
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $29.99

Tasting Notes: Elvio Tintero makes affordable wines in Piedmont and the Barbaresco is the star. This fruit-forward, easier-drinking expression of nebbiolo offers people a nice entry into the market, while also attracting the nebbiolo purist. This is the perfect balance between big and bold, and pleasing to drink now, with roses screaming from the glass into your nose and red fruits and earth finishing on the palate. Most barbaresco that come in at this price don't deliver the goods. This is not that case.
Elvio Tintero Barbaresco 2014

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Manni Nossing Gruner Veltliner 2015

95
Manni Nossing
Varietal: Gruner Veltliner
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $26.99

Tasting Notes: Gruner veltliner from . . . Alto Adige? Yes, that's right! Welcome to the coolest and most surprising white wine you will try all year. This is the white wine of all white wines this year. Wonderfully balanced, perfectly acidic, dancing on all cylinders and making us forget this is a grape Austria made famous. Partake in this gem from Manni Nossing and join the Italian gruner veltliner bandwagon.
Manni Nossing Gruner Veltliner 2015

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Lovo Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio Moscato DOCG

95
Lovo Colli Euganei
Fanciful Name: Fior d’Arancio
Varietal: Moscato
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $17.99

Tasting Notes: Fior d’Arancio means “orange blossom.” Indeed, there are aromas and flavors of such along with mandarin, nectarine and ripe melon in this unique style, made from the moscato giallo clone, which is rare. The wine is frizzante, sweet, crisp and refreshing. It’s absolutely delectable! Even those who don’t usually prefer sweet wines would probably enjoy this. It’s a delightful aperitif, or will complement many desserts, fresh fruit and mild cheeses.
Lovo Colli Euganei Fior d’Arancio Moscato DOCG

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Sets Brunelli 2012

98
Sets
Varietal: Brunelli
Vintage: 2012
Country of Origin: Italy
Retail Price: $98.99

Tasting Notes: If classic brunello is what you want, classic is what you get! Sesti produces their wines the rustic style, embodying the style that brunello gained its fame for. The fruit flavors are there, but they take a back seat to the aroma that bursts from the glass and welcomes you in for a brunello experience you won't soon forget.
Sets Brunelli 2012

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