Three sweet wines from Italy from I Pastini, Fattoria Zerbina and Monte Del Fra

Sweet wines are one of my favourite kind of wines but unfortunately I don't have so much chances to try them out but here are three wines that I have tasted over the last three months.

First up is the sweet wine Elogio Alla Lentezza from producer I Pastini in Puglia from the Valle D'Itria. I have tasted several good wines from I Pastini so far and it will be interesting to see how this sweet wine is. This wine is made of the grape Minutolo and the grapes are grown at 350 above the sea level. The grapes are picked in October after the berries has been left to wither on the vine. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 13,5%. In the taste I get some spice with dried apricots and some flowers.  A nice wine but I expected more. I think that this wine would go very well with some strong cheese.

Next up is the wine Arrocco from producer Fattoria Zerbina in Romagna in Italy. This wine is a passito wine made from Albana grapes and the Arrocco wine is only produced in 3000 bottles each year. Passito is a wine made from grapes that has been left to dry. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 12,5%. The taste is deep and rich. I find apricot, orange and some honey. This is a very good passito that will probably get better with a couple of more years of storage.

The last wine is a passito wine from Veneto in Italy. It is Monastero from the producer Monte Del Fra. It is made of 60% Garganega, 20% Cortese, 20% Chardonnay. The grapes comes from a vineyard in Custoza in Veneto. The grapes are harvested in October after some withering on the vine they are dried in boxes. The wine is aged 6 months in Barrique and then 8 months on the bottle. The wine that I tasted is from 2012 and the ABV is 12%. The colour is deep amber as it has been aged for a couple of years before drinking. On the nose I get almost a smokey raisin smell. In the taste I get a lot of raisins and apricots with an abundance of sugar. Not for everyone due to the strong taste and the sweetness but for me this is a wonderful passito. Love it!

Three Sangiovese based red wines from Italy

Sangiovese is a fabulous grape and I had the chance to try three red wines that uses the Dangiovese grapes from Tuscany, Umbria and Emila-Romagna.

First out is the Spezieri wine from producer Col d'Orcia in Tuscany. It is a blend of mostly Sangiovese and Ciliegiolo. The ABV is 14% and the vintage is 2016. From 2013 this wine is organically made. I get red fruits on the nose which is typically for a Sangiovese wine. I get a taste of cherries, black currants and some spiciness. Some tannins in the finish. A good wine.

Next we go to Tuscanys neighbour, namely Umbria. The green heart of Italy. Here we find a Montefalco Rosso from producer Lungarotti. For this wine the grapes Sangiovese, Merlot and Sagrantino is used. Here at least 60-70% Sangiovese must be used and between 10-15% Sagrantino and the rest other grapes. The ABV is 14% and the vintage is 2014. This is a big and powerful wine. Dry and strong tannins with dark sour cherries and earthy notes. Definitely some tobacco in the back. This wine needs food. After tasting it I would give it 2-3 more years of ageing before drinking it. Good now but with a couple of more years of storage I think it will be even better.

Finally we go to Tuscany and Umbrias northern neighbour Emilia-Romagna. Here we find the wine Ora from producer San Patrignano. It is a Romagna Sangiovese superiore from 2015 with and ABV of 14%. This wine contains only 100% Sangiovese. The taste is of dark cherries and black currants with some harsher tannins. This needs more time in storage before it gains it full potential. Like the Montefalco Rosso wine above, good now but will be even better in two years time.

Three Sangiovese from Italy

Three different Sangiovese blends from three different regions in the central Italy wine growing regions. Let's start with the northern most region which is Emilia-Romagna. Here the producer Nespoli makes a Romagna Sangiovse Superiore Riserva wine made of 100% Sangiovese grapes. The vintage is 2013 and the ABV is 13,5%. I find this wine to be very full bodied oaky wine with a taste of tobacco and dark cherries. A very good wine which will become better with a couple of years storage.

Next we move south to Tuscany and the wine la Bestia Governo which are made from the grapes Sangiovese and Colorino. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 14%. I get red fruits on the nose and the taste is of red cherries, vanilla and some coffee. A nice rich fruity wine. Almost ripasso like in the style.

The last wine we find in Tuscany's south eastern neighbour Umbria. The Montefalco Rosso from producer Arnaldo Caprai I have tried before but this time it is their new vintage from 2016. It consists of 70% Sangiovese grapes, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon. It is strong with cherries with spice and tannins. Almost tastes like the 2015 vintage but I think that this vintage won't get much better with storage, very good to drink right now.

Two sparkling wines from Italy, Cesarini and Dalfiume

Today I review two sparkling wines from Italy which I have some family connections to them.

First up is the wine Cesarini Sforza Le Millesime of vintage 2014. It has an ABV 12,5% and the production method is Metodo Classico which is the same technique as Champagne production. The producer Cesarini Sforza is situated in Trento in Italy. The grapes used are Chardonnay and Pinot nero. The taste is a dry bready taste with some citrus and pears. A very good sparkling wine.

Next up is a sparkling wine from near Bologna, namely the wine Pignoletto Vino Frizzante from producer Dalfiume. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 11,5%. From my experience these sparking Pignoletto wins are usually only lightly sparkling. When opening the bottle I only get a small pop and the wine is just slightly sparkling. The taste is light and quite easy drinking. Made for a warm summer day. For those who loves a lot of bubbles in their wine stay away.

Three white wines from Italy

From the south to the north. First up is a white wine from Sicily called Blu Profondo.  It has the ABV 13% and is of the vintage 2017. The grapes used for this wine is zibibbo and catarratto.  The taste is aromatic and is an easy drinking wine for a warm summer day.

Next wine is from the the Emilio-Romagna region in Italy. It the sparkling wine Camlet from producer Valle delle Lepri which is situated southwest of Rimini. They make several different sparkling wines and the Camlet one is made of 100% Chardonnay grapes. It is very nice and fesh with apples in the taste. Reminds me of a good prosecco.

The last wine is from Veneto region and it is called Lenotti Bianco Del Veneto. It is made of the grape Cortese and Garganega. The vintage is 2015 and the ABV is 12,5%. It has a fresh clear taste with some citrus, grapefruits and flowers. A very good wine.

Poderi dal Nespoli and Anselmi

Time to try Poderi dal Nespoli and one other white wine.

First up is the Poderi dal Nespoli which is situated in Romagna in Italy on the hills of Forli. I have tasted their wine Dogheria. This wine is from the IGT Rubicone IGT Pinot Bianco. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 12,5%. The colour is a straw yellow colour. The taste is of stone fruits and is aromatic. A good wine.

Next wine is also a white wine from Italy. It is the wine San Vincenzo from producer Anselmi. I have tasted this wine before but this is vintage 2017 and the one I had tasted was the vintage 2015. This wine is from Soave in Veneto in Italy. This wine is made from Garganega grapes. I get melons, some grass, grapefruit in the taste. It has a long aftertaste and is this is yet another good vintage.

Tasting two Sangiovese in Bologna

Bologna, the beautiful red city of the fat and learning.

In my last visit to Bologna I had the chance to sample some of the region Emilia-Romagna wines made from the grape Sangiovese. I had the chance to try two different Sangiovese Superiore di Romagna DOC. The first one is from producer Montaia and the vintage is 2015. ABV is 13%. The taste is of strong red fruits with some sharpness and acidity. Definitely a food wine due to the acidity.

Next wine is a  Sangiovese Supeirore di Romagna DOC Riserva by producer Campo del Sol.  The vintage is 2013 and the ABV is 13,5%. The taste is of liquorice and black currants. The nose is amazing on this wine, very strong, Goes very well together with traditional bolognese food.

Two whites from Italy, Arneis vs international grapes

Auelente is a white wine from San Patrigano in Emilia Romagna. San Patriagno is a place for youths who has lost their way and here they can be rehabilitated. They produce a white wine called Aulente. The wine consists of the grapes Chardonnay and Sauvignon. The vintage is 2015 and ABV is 13%. The taste is of fresh apples and gooseberries. A very nice mix of these grapes.

Arneis is a grape from Piemonte that is a bit rare. I think that this is the first time I have tasted this grape. The producer is Antica cascina dei Conti di Roero, that was quite a mouthful. The vintage is 2016 and the abv is 13%. The wine is very fresh with some citrus and acidity. Perfect for fish. An interesting wine from an interesting grape.