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$19.95
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Italy
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Piedmont
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Other
In stock,
7
available
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If you want proof that Dolcetto is not 'the Beaujolais of Italy,' pour yourself a glass of Anna Maria Abbona's Maioli, which is 100% Dolcetto. The wine is violet-tinged deep purple, a very inviting color; it smells of violets, Assam tealeaves, and blueberries; and it is a mouth-filling, deep, substantial wine to drink. 'Una bomba,' as they say in Italy, and an excellent food wine; it goes with many red meat dishes, grilled sausages, cheese... The fruit comes from very old vines planted in the '30s by Anna Maria's uncle. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel.
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$112.95
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WE 98
JS 97
WA 94
Italy
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Tuscany
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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98 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "This is a landmark wine from a landmark vintage. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which results in a generous, striking and unforgettable product. The bouquet is elegant and toned, with aromas of dark fruit, tobacco and chocolate. The mouthfeel is tight and firm, and it boasts persistence and impressive balance. It has all of the qualities required for long-term aging, so keep this for 10 years or more. (Apr 2013)"
97 points James Suckling: "Best Guado al Tasso ever. Wonderful nose of crushed blackberries and cherries with hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with soft and round tannins and a long, long finish. It goes on for minutes. Now just a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Better after 2015. (8/29/12)"
94 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso impresses for its richness and sheer power. Mocha, sweet spices, plums, blackberries and herbs wrap around the palate as this intense wine shows off its pedigree. Layers of flavor build to the deep, intensely satisfying finish. The 2009 is complete and harmonious from the very first taste. In 2009 the blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. (Jun 2012)"
Producer notes: "60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. On the nose the initial balsamic sensations are followed by aromas of ripe fruit and spices, on the palate is velvety, with soft tannins and much finesse. The finish and aftertaste are well supported by savory mineral notes and much length and persistence."
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$79.95
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WA 94
JS 93
WS 92
Italy
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Tuscany
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $105.00
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Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso (2013).
94 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$105 list] The 2009 Tignanello is quite beautiful. Cedar, graphite, sweet herbs, licorice and leather add complexity to a core of highly expressive red fruits. The 2009 impresses for its energy, drive and focus. Today, the 2009 comes across as slightly understated relative to many recent vintages, especially 2007 and 2008. There is a silkiness and polish that is reminiscent of the 2004. Tignanello is 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc from vineyards in San Casciano Val di Pesa, one of the most evocative hillsides in all of Italy. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029. (Jun 2012)"
93 points James Suckling: "Dried fruits and flowers on the nose. More roses than anything else. Full body, with light toffee, coffee and ginseng character. Light prunes too. Really enjoyable. A blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Give it a year or two to soften. (8/29/12)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "[$105 list] Laced with black cherry, plum and spice flavors, this generous red firms up on the finish. Balanced, with accents of tobacco and black tea lingering. Best from 2014 through 2025. (10/15/12)"
92 points Ian D'Agata (International Wine Cellar): "(80% sangiovese, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc): Bright red-ruby. Ripe aromas of sweet red cherries macerated in alcohol, cedar, cinnamon and pepper. Suave and seamless, with soft, almost-overripe flavors of redcurrant jam, red plum syrup, stewed red plum and tobacco leaf. A very distinctive and much creamier than usual Tignanello, finishing with supple tannins and excellent length. Obviously the product of a warmer year, and though this outstanding Tignanello is a touch less refined than some recent standout vintages, it's hard to argue with its sweet, soft style and early drinking appeal. No need to cellar this too long. (Sep 2012)"
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$19.95
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JS 91
WA 90
WS 90
Italy
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Tuscany
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $25.00
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91 points James Suckling: "Subtle walnuts and berries with hints of milk chocolate. Medium to full body, with fine tannins and a fruity, tangy finish. Orange peel undertones. This is excellent quality for the money. Drink now. (11/26/12)"
90 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Villa Antinori is a pretty, mid-weight wine laced with dark red berries, flowers and sweet spices. Nothing in particular stands out, just the wine’s lovely depth, balance and overall sense of harmony. This is a fabulous wine for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. (Jun 2012)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "[$25 list] Black currant, bilberry, violet and spice flavors align in this luscious red, which is well-balanced and integrated, with a lingering aftertaste of sweet fruit and spices. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Drink now through 2018. Smart Buys. (12/15/12)"
Producer notes: "55% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Syrah. The wine is ruby red in color with intense aromas of cherries, mint, and, particularly, chocolate. On the palate the wine is ample in body, supple and with velvety and soft tannins, long and savory."
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$7.95
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WE 86
Italy
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Sicily
In stock, 12+ available
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List $10.00
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'Best Buy' and 86 points Wine Enthusiast: "Warm notes of raw, jammy fruit and moderate spice emerge from the nose. This native variety usually shows aromas of cherry, pistachio and almond and these very characteristics are evident here. Alcohol 13.5%. (Mar 2011)"
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$13.95
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Italy
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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Not yet reviewed; 2008 vintage rated 90 points by Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2008 Aglianico del Vulture Terra di Vulcano is a gem. It reveals gorgeous textural richness that belies its elevage in stainless steel. There is plenty of varietal and regional character in this beautifully balanced, stylish Aglianico. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014."
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$24.95
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Italy
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Piedmont
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Barbera
In stock,
11
available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price!
(We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
Producer notes: "Color: Deep ruby red with orange reflections. Bouquet: Typical scent of Barbera -- slightly oaky with hints of dried fruit. Taste: Full bodied, balanced with oak notes, persistent. Serving suggestions: With all the red meat or rich pasta dishes. Drink: now to 2022. Alcohol content: 14.0% vol. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months (70% used; 30% new), then in bottle for one year."
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$14.95
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Italy
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Piedmont
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Other
In stock,
3
available
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Producer notes: "Color: Straw yellow with green reflections. Aroma: Good fruit, oak, a hint of spices, herbs and fruit. Taste: Delicate and fresh, with good acidity and a lingering aftertaste. Serving suggestions: As an aperitif, with fish or with all cold appetizers. Drink within 3-4 years. Alcohol 13.0%."
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$9.95
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Italy
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Puglia
In stock, 12+ available
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Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso (2013). In addition to becoming a Three Glasses winner, this wine was awarded the single 'Best Value for the Money' among all Italian wines by Gambero Rosso.
This modestly priced 100% Negroamaro from Puglia was recently awarded the coveted Three Glasses designation by Gambero Rosso--perhaps the lowest priced Italian wine we have ever known to receive such an award! The wine shows streaks of garnet giving way to intense ruby red color. Its nose is of candied fruits and spices that evolve into clean underbrush, tea, and amber notes. Enhanced by notes of red flowers, the aromas return on the palate transported by confident but not overbearing alcohol. The tannins and fresh acidity work in counterpoint to create a balanced, soft wine. Pair with veal and beef, game, lamb, and ripe aged cheeses.
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$17.95
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WA 88–90
Italy
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Tuscany
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Other
In stock,
3
available
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List $25.00
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88-90 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$25 list] I tasted the 2009 Rosso di Casanova di Neri from tank just before it was scheduled to be bottled. The wine shows gorgeous juiciness and richness with a round, harmonious personality that captures the essence of the house style. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015. (May 2011)"
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$10.95
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WA 87
Italy
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Tuscany
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $14.00
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87 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$14 list] The 2009 Rosso Toscano is an attractive, juicy wine bursting with dark cherries, flowers and sweet spices. This plump, generous red is best enjoyed over the next few years, while the wine retains its juiciness. The Rosso is 50% Sangiovese, 35% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. It is a fabulous wine for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014. (Jun 2012)"
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$11.95
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Italy
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Tuscany
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Other
In stock,
5
available
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A value Sangiovese-based blend from Tuscany. Fruity, lightly herbal and enriched by hints of spices. This wine is ready for drinking, full bodied, quite soft and balanced. A very versatile food wine that pairs well especially with meat-based courses, salami and cheese.
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$39.95
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IWC 92
Italy
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Piedmont
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $50.00
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price!
(We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
92 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "(90% nebbiolo and 10% barbera; spent 18 months in new barriques): Good dark red. Aromas of redcurrant, black raspberry, tobacco, mocha and violet. Fat and sweet on entry, then minerally and backward in the middle, with surprising acidity giving this elegant wine a serious mien. Some sexy oak tones sweeten the wine's powerful tannins. Densely packed and built to age. Clerico stopped putting cabernet sauvignon in his Arte blend with vintage 2006, which incidentally showed very well in September, offering a beguiling combination of mellowness, elegance and grip. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
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$8.95
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WA 89
Italy
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Sicily
In stock, 12+ available
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List $14.00
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89 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Rosso opens with sweet dark fruit and warm spiced notes. Floral overtones add lift and complexity. Six months in Slavonian oak gives the Rosso a touch more body and spiciness than the straight Nero d'Avola. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. (Jun 2011)"
Wine Spectator: "[$14 list] Polished and ripe, displaying a rustic edge to the spicy plum and crushed cherry notes, as hints of underbrush emerge in the slightly grippy finish. Drink now. (2/29/12)"
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$16.95
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WA 89
WE 88
Italy
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Piedmont
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Barbera
In stock,
1
available
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List $19.00
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89 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "[$19 list] Damilano’s 2009 Barbera d’Asti is a big, powerful wine loaded with dark fruit, minerals and spices, showing terrific balance in a full-bodied, rewarding style. This is the second release from a recently acquired parcel in Asti, where Barbera is capable of reaching greater heights than just about anywhere else. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2014. (Aug 2010)"
88 points Wine Enthusiast: "[$19 list] This youthful expression of Barbera comes forth with ripe and raw aromas of black fruit, plum, prune and wild berries. You really feel the freshness of the fruit here and this wine would pair perfectly with pasta or pizza. (Dec 2010)"
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$10.95
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Italy
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Other
In stock,
2
available
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Producer notes: "Montepulciano 70%, Sangiovese 30%. Bright ruby color, lively, young yet intense, an aroma that evolves into a floral flavor, a full-bodied, fresh vinously creamy treat. Rosso Piceno combines the pleasures of the freshness, flavor and delightfulness of a youthful wine with the complex structure of a fuller red. It is dedicated to those who wish to savor the bouquet of an extraordinarily light, classic red wine that evades the seriousness of fuller-bodied, barrel-aged wines."
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$9.95
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Italy
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Dry and mellow wine, with a bright red colour, fresh and fruity bouquet with a hint of violet and red berries and a trace of leather. Ideal with hors d’oeuvres, starters, game, meats and cheeses." From the Molise region of south-central Italy.
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$8.95
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Italy
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Campania
In stock, 12+ available
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List $14.00
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This vibrant Lacryma Christi 2009 Rosso hails from the lava-caked foothills of Mount Vesuvius, just east of the spirited bayside city of Naples. Lovers of Campanese wines already know that the region's mild year-round climate and cool Mediterranean breezes provide ideal growing conditions for its indigenous varietals. This deliciously inexpensive blend is crafted with fruit sourced from Caputo's Enodelta, twenty-five hectares of sun-baked volcanic soil at altitudes of 300-500 meters. Campania's local varietals include the smoky, licorice and berry infused Piedirosso and Aglianico, varietals that are uniquely suited to the volcanic soils of the region. This delightful wine is aged entirely in stainless steel, which allows the subtleties and nuances of the smoky, mineral-driven terroir to come out naturally. The 2009 vintage in southern Italy has been highly lauded by critics and oenophiles alike. This is easily one of the most interesting, well-balanced red quaffers we've come across at this price.
Aromas of red current, cherry, cocoa, tar, licorice, and dusty earth on the nose give way to tobacco leaf and smoky black minerals on the palate. A rustic yet smooth, well-balanced, medium-bodied red with bright acidity. In the glass over time evolve pretty scents of mint, flowers and dried herbs that add complexity and elegance. Perfect with pizza, spicy seafood pasta, or on its own with salumi, antipasti, and hard sheep's milk cheeses. The blend is 65% Piedirosso, 35% Aglianico, all grown in the black lava caked soils of region.
Not reviewed; 2010 vintage rated 87 points by Robert Parker: "The wild strawberry, sweet cherry and damp earth-scented and flavored, fresh, light-bodied 2010 Lacryma di Christi can be drunk slightly chilled (as you would a Beaujolais). Enodelta has fashioned three very good values."
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$11.95
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WS 91
WA 90
JS 90
Italy
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Tuscany
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Chianti
In stock, 12+ available
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91 points Wine Spectator: "In a darker, balsamic vein, this red evokes tar, black cherry, underbrush and tobacco flavors. They're all held together by the dense, fine tannins. Oak spice emerges on the taut finish. Best from 2014 through 2025. Smart Buys. (10/31/11)"
90 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Chianti Classico shows excellent weight and depth to match its expressive dark red fruit. This is an especially open vintage for the Chianti Classico. The 2009 is probably not destined for a super long life, but will drink beautifully for at least a handful of years. Hints of earthiness and tar add to an impression of gravitas in this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. (Aug 2011)"
90 points James Suckling: "Dried cherry and light vanilla character, with a full body and fresh finish. Delicious wine. Drink now. (8/17/11)"
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$11.95
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Italy
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Sicily
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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Two Glasses, Gambero Rosso (2012).
2008 vintage rated 87 points by Wine Enthusiast: "From a beautiful vineyard site in southern Sicily, this easy Nero d’Avola would pair well with lasagna or grilled pork sausages. Cherry, almond and wild berry aromas are followed by a bright, fresh mouthfeel."
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$10.95
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Italy
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Piedmont
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Barbera
In stock, 12+ available
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88 points Wine Spectator: "There's good depth to this red, whose black cherry and blackberry flavors are intense and fresh. This is bright, with a hint of tannins on the finish. Drink now. (2/29/12)"
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$13.95
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JS 91
Italy
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Tuscany
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Chianti
In stock,
7
available
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91 points James Suckling: "Aromas of fresh herbs and dried fruits. Full and velvety, with plenty of fruit and a long finish. Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. Needs a year or two to come together. (12/27/11)"
Producer notes: "An intense, purple-rimmed ruby-red introduces Castiglioni Chianti 2009. The nose brims with emphatic notes of wild red fruit, such as blackberry, redcurrant, raspberry, and strawberry. The mouth boasts a warm velvety mouthfeel, with fine-grained tannins already well integrated into the structure. A bright, lively acidity contributes to the wine's impressive overall balance. Emphatic fruit returns on a long-lived, harmonious conclusion."
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$24.95
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WS 90
Italy
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Tuscany
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Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $34.00
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90 points Wine Spectator: "[$34 list] Rich and round, sporting cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral aromas and flavors, this balanced red displays a lively structure, with a subtle aftertaste of fruit and mineral. Best from 2012 through 2020. 900 cases made. (10/15/11)"
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$99.95
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IWC 91
WS 91
Italy
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Piedmont
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Barbaresco
In stock, 12+ available
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List $200.00
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91 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Medium red. Very ripe strawberry on the expressive, forward nose. Elegant and penetrating, with very good grip to the cherry and strawberry flavors. Not especially fleshy for the year; in fact, this went into a shell in the glass. Finishes with edgy tannins and lovely lift. This suave wine should harmonize with five or six years of cellaring. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
91 points Wine Spectator: "[$200 list] An elegant style, with rose and white pepper aromas followed by strawberry, cherry and herb flavors. Balanced on the tannic side, with a firm, dense structure and a lingering finish. Best from 2016 through 2030. 200 cases imported. (5/31/13)"
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$94.95
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WS 93
JS 93
IWC 92
Italy
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Piedmont
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Barbaresco
In stock, 12+ available
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List $200.00
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93 points Wine Spectator: "[$200 list] This is rich, packed with floral, sweet cherry, strawberry, anise and a hint of menthol aromas and flavors that stand up to the dusty tannins. Elegant, offering a long and satisfying finish, with a balanced impression overall. Best from 2014 through 2025. 150 cases imported. (2/28/13)"
93 points James Suckling: "Beautiful aromas of plums and chocolate follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and a focused finish. Tangy and fresh. Better in 2015. (7/19/12)"
92 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Medium red. High-pitched, rather cool aromas of cherry, raspberry, white tobacco, medicinal herbs, minerals and menthol. Then quite dry and backward on the palate, with mint and herb flavor dominating. Almost Barolo-like in its medicinal character. Very young and backward Asili, displaying terrific fruit through the retronasal passage. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
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