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Wines
of the Week:
Best Buys from Italy - Under $20, 90 Points
Even
if you can't actually visit Italy, you can still enjoy some
of the country's gifts to us with a wonderful spread of Italian
fare and, most importantly, good wine for a nice price. Here
are a handful of bottles our tasting panel discovered available
for under $20:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Banfi
2016 Centine Toscana
Winery:
Banfi
Grape(s): Cabernet,
Merlot, Sangiovese
Region: Tuscan, Italy
Year:
2016
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 5-10
Review:
Bing cherry and subtle cranberry aromas mingle among expressions
of leather, spice, and floral earth on the nose. Lots
of cherries emerge on the palate, accented by suggestions
of spice and rose petal. A lively acidity and light body
make this wine a good choice for a pasta dish with fresh
tomatoes.
Rating: 90 |
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San
Felice 2016 Chianti Classico
Winery:
San Felice
Grape(s): 80%
Sangiovese, 10% Colorino, & 10% Pugnitello
Region: Italy
Year:
2016
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
Inviting aromas of bing cherries, red plums, leather and
spice greets the senses. Lively flavors of cherry, cranberry,
and plum interweave among expressions of earth and white
pepper on the palate. Fairly light, but lifted by a nice
acidity, it's a great buy if you can find it for $15 or
less.
Rating: 90 |
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Avignonesi
Cantaloro 2015 Tuscana Red
Winery:
Avignonesi Cantaloro
Grape(s): Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany,
Italy
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
Notes of cherries and blackberries mingle among expressions
of pepper, all-spice, and graham cracker on the nose.
Lots of dark cherry, plum, and bramble berry come together
with elements of clove, white pepper, and herbs on the
palate. Supple with a medium-body, it walks the line between
new and old world quite nicely.
Rating: 90 |
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Monrosso
2016 Tuscan Red Blend
Winery:
Monrosso
Grape(s): 60%
Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot & 3% Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany,
Italy
Year:
2016
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
An inviting nose rises from a glass, with aromas of bing
cherries, plums, leather, and spice. Fairly light, flavors
of cherry and dark plum come up front, followed up by
suggestions of floral earth, leather, and spice. Ripe
fruit is lifted by a nice acidity and there are enough
savory notes to remind one it's defiantly Italian. Nice
wine for under $20.
Rating: 90 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
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*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
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