Toso, Nebbiolo D'Alba and Montepulciano D'Abruzzo from Cantina Zaccagnini

The wine Marne Forteí is a Nebbiolo D'Alba from the producer Toso. It is of the vintage 2016 and the ABV is 13%. The grapes are 100% Nebbiolo.  In the taste I get black currant with spice and some earthy notes with some tannins and oak. A nice Nebbiolo.

The next wine is Montepulciano D'Abruzzo from Cantina Zaccagnini. It is of the vintage 2017 with an ABV of 12,5%. I get a lot of red fruits on the nose. On the taste I get dark cherry and plum with some vanilla. A lovely wine.

Dolcetto wines from Alba

Dolcetto is a black wine grape grown in Northern Italy, especially it is grown in Piemonte around Alba and is considered more of a table wine compared to the Barbera and Nebbiolo. The first bottle is  a Dolcetta d'Alba from producer Grimaldi Luigino. The vintage is 2017 and the ABV is 13,5%. In the taste I get Black currant, blackberry and some sourness. A decent Dolcetto but I have had better ones. I think that this Dolcetto would benefit from one or two years of aging.

The next Dolcetto is a Dolcetto d'Alba from Cascina Ballarin and it is called Pilade. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 13%. In the taste I get cherry, some viols and some juniper. This one I find to be very good.

Two red wines from Alba and Aosta

Let us go and start with A. With wines from Alba and Aosta. First up is a Barbera D'Alba from producer Camerano who I visited in 2017. It is made of 100% Barbera grapes and the ABV is 14%. the vintage is 2013. This wine has soft tannins with red and black currants and hints of cherries. A good Barbera which is quite easy drinking.

Next wine is from Valle D'Aosta next to the border of France. It is from producer Grosjean and when I was in Aosta earlier on this year I tasted several of their wines but not this red wine made of the grape Cornalin. It is called Cornalin Vigne Rovettaz 2014 with an ABV of 13%. Not a complex one but in the taste I get raspberry, some acidity followed by cherries. Some tannins later on followed by black currants. I like the Grosjeans wine Fumin better but this is a good red wine also. Good quality by Grosjean.

Three red wines from northern Italy

Back to normal after some very busy weeks.

First red wine is from Alba in Piemonte. It is the Dolcetto D'Alba from producer Orlando Abrigo. The vintage is 13% and the vintage is 2014. The taste is of red berried with black currants with some soft tannins. Nice and good.

Next wine is from Asti, which is in Piemonte just north of Alba. It is a Barbera D'Asti from producer Castello del Poggio. The vintage is 2014 and the ABV is 13%. The taste is of red cherries and some viols. Nice.

The last wine is a Greccio Rosso from Bepin de Eto in Veneto. It is a Bordeaux blend from 2012 consisting of the grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and some Marzemino. the ABV is 15%. The taste is rich and complex. Tobacco and dark fruits. A long aftertaste. Let is open up for an hour before drinking.