Monday, October 22, 2012

Report from ... the Stem (Agency) Tasting - October 1, 2012

Lots of Italian wines are the highlight of the Stem tasting, but there are also quite a few great wines from other parts of the world, including a fabulous Pinot Noir from New Zealand and a delightful Shiraz from Australia; plus a multitude of other wonderful wines here’s a look at a number that I tasted, most are available thru Stem Wine Group only: www.stemwinegroup.com.

Three-and-a-Half star wines (*** 1/2) ...
Vinicola Tombacco NV San Tiziano Rosso (Veneto, Italy) - $9.99
Villa a Sesta 2007 Chianti Classico, Riserva (Tuscany, Italy) - $29.99
Arnaldo Caprai 2009 Anima Umbria Rosso (Umbria, Italy) - $15.99
Rockbare 2011 Jackaroo Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) - $13.99
Woolshed Wines 2011 Chardonnay (Australia) - $14.99
Husic Vineyards 2008 Palm Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon (California, USA) - $67.99

Three-and-a-Half-plus star wines (*** 1/2+) ...
Vinicola Tombacco NV Prosecco 'Serenissima' (Veneto, Italy) - $14.99
Vinicola Tombacco 2010 Ca'del Doge 'Quindicimarzo' Chianti (Tuscany, Italy) - $13.99
Delibori 2010 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso (Veneto, Italy) - $17.99
Villabella 2011 Lugana, Ca'del Lago (Veneto, Italy) - $17.99
Tenuta Il Palagio 2011 "When We Dance" Chianti (Tuscany, Italy) - $26.99
Fattoria di Magliano 2011 'Sinarra' (Tuscany, Italy) - $21.99
Feudi di San Gregorio 2011 Greco di Tufo (Campania, Italy) - $22.99
Feudi di San Gregorio 2009 Taurasi Aglianico (Campania, Italy) - $39.99
Argiolas 2009 'Perdera' Monica (Sardegna, Italy) - $17.95
Bodegas Darien 2009 Crianza (Rioja, Spain) - $21.99
David Franz 2006 Alexander's Reward Cab/Shiraz (Australia) - $59.99
Andeluna Cellars 2010 Malbec (Argentina) - $15.49
"Silky tannins wih coffee and vanilla notes" (**** 1/2)

Four star wines (****) ...
Baroli 2008 Barbera d'Alba (Piedmont, Italy) - $15.99
Ca'del Baio 2011 Moscato d'Asti (Piedmont, Italy) - 18.99
Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2011 Brachetto d'Acqui (Piedmont, Italy) - $21.99
Matto Wines 2008 Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) - $29.99
Vinicola Tombacco 2010 Ca'Del Doge 'Piantaferro' Primitivo (Puglia, Italy) - $11.99
Feudi di San Gregorio 2007 Serpico Aglianico (Campania, Italy) - $79.99
Feudi di San Gregorio 2010 Primitivo di Manduria (Puglia, Italy) - $18.99
Chateau du Val d'Or 2009 Saint Emilion Grand Cru (Bordeaux, France) - $29.99
Marisco Vineyards 2012 Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) - $19.99
Michael Sullberg Wines 2010 Merlot (California, USA) - $16.99
Merry Edwards 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (California, USA) - $47.95
Merry Edwards 2009 'Klopp Ranch', RRV Pinot Noir (California, USA) - $89.99
"An absolute beauty" (**** 1/2)

Four-plus star wines (****+) ...
Villabella 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 'Fracastoro' (Veneto, Italy) - $52.99
Villabella 2008 Passito del "Fiordilej" (Veneto, Italy) - $21.99 / 375ml
Zyme 2008 Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Ripasso Method (Vento, Italy) - $36.99
Fattoria di Magliano 2009 'Heba', Morellino di Scansano (Tuscany, Italy) - $21.99
Fattoria di Magliano 2008 'Poggio Bestiale' (Tuscany, Italy) - $45.99
Cantine Belisario 2010 Verdicchio di Matelica, 'Cambrugiano Riserva' (Marche, Italy) - $23.99
David Franz 2006 Benjamin's Promise Shiraz (Australia) - $59.99
Andeluna Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina) - $15.49
Andeluna Cellars 2009 Reserve Malbec (Argentina) - $22.99
Merry Edwards 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (California, USA) - $51.99
Hart & McGarry Wines 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (California, USA) - $23.99
"Juicy yet with restraint" (**** 1/2)

Four-and-a-Half star wines (**** 1/2) ...
Zyme 2005 Kairos (Veneto, Italy) - $78.99
Henri Abele NV Brut Champagne, Traditionnel (Champagne, France) - $49.99
Marisco Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir (New Zealand) - $21.99
Rockbare 2010 Shiraz (Australia) - $22.99

The Beers of Birrificcio Bruton from Tuscany, Italy (all come in 750ml bottles) ...
Birra Bianca ($11.99) - ****+
Birra Bruton ($11.99) - *** 1/2+
Birra Stoner ($11.99) - ****
Birra Lilith ($11.99) - **** 1/2


1 comment:

Dean Tudor said...

My take...

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):



-Boroli Barolo 2004 Cerequio, $87.99.

-Gaja Sito Moresco 2010, $53.99

-Zyme Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2004, $135.99

-Villabella Passito del Fiordilej 2008, $24.99 (375 mL)

-Tenuta Il Palagio Sister Moon IGT 2009 Tuscany, $54.99

-Villa a Sesta Chianti Classico Riserva Sorleone 2008, $48.99

-La Fattoria de Magliano Poggio Bestiale IGT 2008, $45.99

-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 2005,

$134.99

-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 2006,

$169.99

-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2007, $139.99

-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2005, $104.99

-Arnaldo Caprai Montefalco Rosso 2009 Umbria, $19.99

-Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005 Villa Gemma, $74.99

-Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Aglianico 2007, $79.99

-Andeluna Chardonnay Reserve 2009 Mendoza, $23

-Bod. Darien Seleccion Rioja 2003, $34.99

-Henri Abele Brut Champagne Traditionnel NV, $49.99

-Henri Abele Rose Champagne Traditionnel NV, $54.99

-Rockbare Shiraz McLaren Vale 2010, $22.99

-Merry Edwards Pinot Noir 2009 Klopp Ranch Russian River, $89.99

-Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2010, $47.99

-Husic Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2005, $89



***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):



-Gaja Barbaresco 2008, $218.95

-Gaja Ca'Marcanda Bolgheri Tuscany 2009 Promis IGT, $45.99

-Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino 2007, $62.95

-Villabella Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Fracastoro 2004, $52.99

-Zyme Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso 2008, $36.99

-Zyme Kairos 2005, $78.99 (15 different varieties!)

-Tenuta Il Palagio Casino delle Vie IGT 2009 Tuscany, $36.99

-Villa a Sesta Chianti Classico Riserva 2007, $29.99

-Tenuta Monteti IGT Tuscany 2007, $39.99

-La Fattoria de Magliano Perenzo Syrah IGT 2009, $51.99

-La Fattoria de Magliano Sinarra IGT 2010, $21.99

-La Fattoria de Magliano Heba Morellino di Scansano 2009, $21.99

-Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino 2007, $89.99

-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2004, $119.99

-Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2006, $104.99

-Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco 2007 Collepiano Umbria,

$51.99

-Masciarelli Castello di Semivicoli Trebbiano d'Abruzzo 2008, $29.99

-Masciarelli Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2007, $28.99

-Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi 2006, $39.99

-Argiolas Is Solinas Cannonau 2009 Sardegna, $24.95

-Argiolas Costamolino Vermentino 2011 Sardegna, $16.99

-Andeluna Cellars Grand Reserve Pasionado 2005 Mendoza, $44.99

-Chateau du Val d'Or St. Emilion Grand Cru 2009, $29.99

-Jean Gauteau L'Autre de Sociando-Mallet 2009 Haut-Medoc, $37.99.

-Dom. Chotard Sancerre 2011, $21.99

-Merry Edwards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2009, $64.95

-Hart & McGarry Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2008, $23.99

-Husic Vineyards Palm Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2008, $67.00

-Boroli Barolo 2006, $49.99

-Boroli Langhe Anna Rosso, $15.99

-Ca' del Baio Langhe Nebbiolo Bric del Baio 2010, $21.99



*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):



-Ca' del Baio Barbaresco Pianrosa 2008, $32.99

-Vinicola Tombacco Terre Nuove Piantaferro Syrah Sicily IGT, $11.99

-Delibori Vignetti Cantine Amarone della Valpolicella 2009, $32.99

-Tombacco Ca'Del Doge Piantaferro Primitivo IGT 2010 Puglia, $11.99

-Zyme Cabernet 60/20/20 IGT 2007 Veneto, $49.00

-Feudi di San Gregorio Rubrato Alianico 2009 IGT Campania, $19.99

-Tenuta Monteti Caburnio IGT 2009 Tuscany, $20.99

-David Franz Lehmann Barossa Benjamin's Promise Shiraz 2006, $59.99

-David Franz Lehmann Barossa Georgie's Walk Cabernet Sauvignon 2006,

$59.99

-Michael Sullberg Merlot 2010 Central Coast, $16.99