winewaves

Stella Pinot Grigio Umbria 2004

Stella Pinot Grigio Umbria 2004 is 100% Pinot Grigio, cold-fermented and aged three months in tanks, plus a "few months" in the bottle before release. Umbria is located in the center of Italy's "boot". The vineyard is about 400 feet above sea level, and is primarily clay soil.

Umbria is just a bit warmer and drier than Veneto, where many Pinot Grigios are produced. This is a light dry wine, with 11.5% alcohol and essentially no residual sugar. Production is 40,000 cases. Winemaker is Danilo Chini. 86 points.  Color: Pale straw, with a greenish tint. Aromas: Restrained minerality, citrus, and green melon. The mouthfeel is very light-bodied, with tart acidity. Green apple, citrus and mineral flavors fade quickly into the light simple refreshing finish. Closure: Real cork. Retail: $11. Value: Nice. Imported by Winebow (a Leonardo LoCascio Selection).

Antinori Campogrande Orvieto Classico 2004

Antinori has been a family name in the Italian wine business for 26 generations.

Orvieto is a town in Umbria, which is right in the center of the boot of Italy. Campogrande Orvieto is composed of 60% Procanico, 20% Grechetto, 15% Verdello, 5% Drupeggio and Malvasia. 85 points.  Antinori Campogrande is pale straw in color. The aromas and flavors are restrained, with citrus and tree fruit essences (lime, pear), and a hint of nuttiness. The mouthfeel is pleasant, round, and with medium body. The finish is dry and clean. We drank this first bottle by itself. The closure is a real cork. (A screw cap would be more modern.) The $10 Nashville price is reasonable for a refreshing Italian white.

Villa Antinori Toscano White 2004

We know Villa Antinori for their reds, but this is our first bottle of their Tuscan white. The composition is 80% Trebbiano and Malvasia, 20% Tuscan Chardonnay. The vinification was all stainless steel, cool-fermented. Here is a fresh light white, a pale straw color in the glass. This is a crisp clean, mineral-laden white with citrus and melon flavors framed by moderate tartness. Pleasant finish. The closure is a real cork. (A screw cap would be a plus.) At $10 (Nashville), this is an excellent alternative to Pinot Grigio.

Sartarelli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2003

This is the first vintage we have tasted, although we have now tried three bottles. Domaine Select Wine Estates imports this dry white wine from the Marches (East Coast, midway down). In the glass, the color is pale straw with a tinge of green. A bit of almond aroma gives sophistication to this dry citrusy white. The mouthfeel is an asset of this wine, generous, juicy and round yet dry. Pleasant minerality would complement any seafood. The finish is lively and clean. The closure is a genuine cork. For $16 (Nashville), here is a nice alternative to the more expected Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, especially with fish.

Kris Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2004

We thought last year's Kris (2003) was quite good. The price of the 2004 went up a dollar. In this year's Kris, pears abound in the nose, and on the palate. There is also a hint of almonds in the aroma. The minerality is a bit less than the 2003. Here is a crisp, dry citrusy Pinot Grigio, tart and lively in the mouth. The finish is clean, refreshing and lingers with good acidity. The closure is a composite cork. (A screw cap would be an improvement). At $13 (Nashville), this remains a good buy, maybe not quite as good a value as before.

Zenato Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2003

Winebow brings us this white from Zenato.  Made from 90% Pinot Grigio, from Delle Venezie, in Northeast Italy, where the weather is cool. The color is light gold, and the flavors are on the rich side. This is a peaches and cream Pinot Grigio, slightly dry, with a hint of residual sugar, and just a bit of tartness to balance it. The closure is a genuine cork. A screw cap would be a plus. At $16, this is a lovely sophisticated fruit-filled Pinot Grigio, perfect for warm afternoons. This is not the driest, tartest, or most mineral-laden Pinot Grigio, but it is really good. All the better with a fruit tart.

Vasevo Sannio Falanghina 2004 White Wine

Sannio is near Vesuveus, in the South of Italy, in warm climate with volcanic soil. The location on the map of Italy is along the West coast, across from the "heel of the boot".  Falanghina is the grape variety.  Vesevo is the ancient name for Vesuveus. In the glass, Vasevo is light gold. The aroma is rich and very fruity, noticeably gingery/spicy as well. The palate is juicy, but delightfully unsweet, with nice tartness. The wine has good structure for a young white, and a long tart finish. The closure is a genuine cork. A screw cap would be a plus.

At $13 (Nashville), buy this one and enjoy, perhaps broaden your Italian geographical palate.

Corvo Sicilia White 2003

This Sicilian white is refreshing. Made from Inzolia grapes, it was slow-cold-fermented without the influence of wood. The fruit aromas and flavors are delicate and restrained, and include tree fruits like apple, pear, peach and lemon-lime. There is some mineral as well. The finish is clean, dry and without flaws. The closure is a genuine cork. At $8.99 (Nashville price), you get a more complex Italian wine than you would expect for the price. Perfect for upcoming warm afternoons, by itself or with Havarti or mild cheeses.

Kris Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2003

This wine sells well at the store, but tonight was actually my first time to enjoy a bottle.  The wine has a pale gold color, and the aromas and flavors include the delicate essences of citrus fruit, ranging from lemon-lime to orange, apples, and a touch of honey. There is nice mineral on the palate. The finish is crisp, tart and lively.  The closure is a genuine cork (a screw cap would be better.) At $11.99, this wine is definitely one to include in a mixed case of whites for everyday drinking.

Prima Terra Pinot Grigio 2003

This is a Pinot Grigio from Lazio that I had not tried before, and it was quite enjoyable. Light, crisp, citrus and apple notes, tart fruit acidity nicely balanced with some mineral.  This wine is imported by Winewave (no relation), of Jericho, New York. The price is good at $8.99 (Nashville), although we would like it to cost a dollar or two less.  Composite closure.