Great article (hat tip Valerie Q) on the specifics in re: the compounds and resultant flavors imparted into wine from various oaks. Fascinating stuff!
http://winefolly.com/tutorial/how-wine-barrels-affect-the-taste-of-wine/
Tag Archives: italian wine
French Wine Bubble?
There’s an easy solution to this that I’m almost scared to offer:
Drink Italian wine instead. Duh.
I’m scared to offer this “solution” as it concerns me to think that the international consumers in the US and China who are driving the costs of these old saw wines through the roof are going to discover Piemonte and Tuscany and other regions as acceptable alternatives for their snotty snootery and one-up-manship and start driving prices exorbitantly high for the great value Italian bottles more people should be trying. Italian wine is far more democratic and accessible, so that probably won’t happen as scarcity isn’t the same issue there…but still.
Sassi Italy Tours Is Now On Instagram
Quite a bit later than most of the 21st Century, but here we are. Please share and comment!
Friday Nebbiolo
It’s been a long couple of hard working weeks and I scarcely know what end is up, but it’s Friday, I’m back home to family, and it’s time to taste some Piemonte goodness.
Report soon to follow!
Aglianico!
Very much enjoyed this with our shallot butter tomato soup with homemade garlic bread this evening. While I’m partial to anything Italian and red, aglianico isn’t always at the top of my list for some reason; this one however immediately won me over and only got stronger with 10-20 mins out of the bottle. Corky, woody tannins that aren’t overdone and a fantastic mouthfeel–it’s just wonderful to sip.
My local wine store had it on sale for a price so low I’m embarrassed to say, but they claimed it was ordinarily $14. I got it for $8, and enjoyed it more than bottles I’ve spent three times as much on. Buy it if you see it.
Bud?
When you’re in Italy, allow me to reassure you: there are myriad and plenty MUCH BETTER THINGS TO DRINK than Bud(weiser).
It’s like walking around a Ferrari dealership worrying about what the model name should be for a Vespa.
Azelia’s Bricco dell’Oriolo
A very agreeable buy. $15 at my local liquor warehouse. Not as young as the other Dolcetto I tried last week and thus a bit less acidic as I recall. Try it if you see it.
Lovely Dolcetto
Our local wine bar had this very agreeably priced Dolcetto. A bit acidic as Dolcetto goes but not unpleasantly so. Great color. If you find it, I’d say pick some up. It’s everything that’s good about Italian wine–light on the wood, savory tannins, and good with food.
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