Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy
Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy – Argiolas is widely regarded as the foremost wine estate on the island of Sardinia, off the west coast of Italy. It produces a large portfolio of award-winning wines, including the powerful, tannic, herbal-noted Turriga Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, based on Cannonau (Grenache) from the rocky vineyard of the same name.
Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy – Azienda Agricola Tua Rita is a leading Tuscan wine estate located just outside Suvereto in the Colline Metallifere hill country. It is best known for its single-variety IGT Toscana wine made from Merlot, Redigaffi, which has gained cult status. It is a regular feature in top global auction catalogues, and the 2000 vintage was the first Italian wine to be awarded a perfect 100-point rating by Robert Parker.
Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy – Rocca di Frassinello is an Italian winery in the Tuscan region of Maremma. Its wines incorporate a blend of Sangiovese – the region’s dominant variety and the key grape in nearby Chianti – and the Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy – Dal Forno Romano is a producer of aromatic, spicy, opulent Amarone in Valpolicella, and is widely regarded as being one of the greatest estates in the Veneto. The estate is located at Illasi, outside the Valpolicella Classico zone, and was established by Romano dal Forno himself in 1983. There are just eight hectares (20 acres) of low-yielding vineyards with gravelly clay soils planted to Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Oseleta.
Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy – Turriga Isola Dei Nuraghi 2015
Turriga Isola Dei Nuraghi 2015
Rating 92
Price $75
Turriga is a powerful red wine that requires time in bottle to show its full complexity.
Upon release, Turriga is densely packed with powerful tannins and tightly wound fruit, thus decanting is recommended.
With time in bottle, Turriga reveals multiple layers of Mediterranean herbs, roasted coffee, spices, and licorice with a generous core of black and red fruit.
Cannonau (Garnacha) is known for giving full-flavored and full-bodied red wines and requires big flavors at the table.
Grilled or stewed game, beef, or lamb are obvious pairings for this wine as are earthy vegetables such as roasted wild mushrooms. T
urriga can also accompany cured meats or aged Pecorino cheese.
Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy – Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT 2018
Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT – 2018
Rating 95
Price $85
Deep purple in color, Giusto di Notri offers abundant aromas of blackberry, plum and currants with underpinnings of coriander, violet and a touch of vanilla.
Full-bodied, with ripe, fine tannins, and a silky texture, this is a stunning wine with great aging potential.
Ideal for barbecued ribs, steaks, grilled meats and medium-aged cheeses.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy – Tua Rita ‘Per Sempre’ Toscana 2018
Tua Rita ‘Per Sempre’ Toscana IGT – 2018
Rating 97
Price $171
Hand-crafted by the esteemed winemaker Luca d’Attoma, Tua Rita Syrah is a beautiful expression of this noble variety. Yields are kept to a minimum to ensure flavor concentration.
Remarkably layered and complex, this Syrah is pure harmony in the glass and a must-have for every collector of fine Tuscan wines.
Deep garnet in color, notes of ripe blackberries and plums complement undertones of figs, black pepper, and violets.
On the palate, it is full-bodied with silky tannins and flavors that unfold into the lush finish.
Pair this wine with Moroccan lamb stew, champignon sauces, grilled venison, or pork chops with a rhubarb-cherry sauce.
Rocca di Frassinello Baffonero Maremma Rosso 2015
Rating 93
Price $175
Baffonero takes its name from a vineyard, 100% Merlot, that was one of the first to be planted at Rocca di Frassinello.
The company was born of a joint venture between Castellare di Castellina and Domaines Baron de Rothschild-Lafite, the most famous chateau in the world.
The Baffonero vineyard lies below the winery designed by Renzo Piano, on terrain with perfect exposure.
Italian Wines to Drink While in Italy – Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta – 2013
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta – 2013
Rating 98
Price $300
The Dal Forno family has been making wine since 1983.
Located in Val D’Illasi, the estate consists of 65 acres of vines planted to traditional indigenous varieties of Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta and Croatina.
The estate vineyards and farm are located where the slopes begin to rise toward the mountains and sit 1,000 feet above sea level.
The loose, alluvial soils, meticulous pruning and scrupulous viticultural techniques ensure remarkable-quality grapes.
The Dal Fornos use traditional methods to grow the finest fruit, and then employ modern techniques to produce the best wines — classic in expression and modern in purity.
Less Expensive Super Tuscan Wines >>
