When I open a bottle of Chianti and fondly breathe in that first whiff of its characteristic spicy tart-cherry aroma, I realize that this is not just a wine that I like. It is a wine that makes me thankful.
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If you want a good Chianti that could serve as the picture next to the definition for Chianti in the dictionary, I don’t think you could do much better than the Ruffino “Aziano” Chianti Classico featured in this week’s column.
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Check prices and find places to buy Ruffino “Aziano” Chianti Classico on Wine-Searcher.com.
Find dozens of Chianti Classico wines and vendors, plus a concise article about Chianti Classico on this Wine-Searcher link.
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Lazio, the region that includes the city of Rome, used to be known for fairly average wines. No more, says Neil Duarte, who found much different – and better – wines on a recent visit. Read article.
If you want to argue that the world of fine wine is never confusing, you should probably avert your eyes from Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
But here’s interesting news: Frustrated at last with the ongoing confusion, wine makers in Vino Nobile’s home village are taking “Montepulciano” off the front label.
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This tasty Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a clear dark reddish-purple color, shading to a lighter garnet edge. Simple but fresh, tart cherries and blackberries with an edge of spice on the nose and palate. Fresh-fruit acidity and moderate astringent tannins surround dark fruit on the palate, with appealing cherry-berry fruit lingering in the finish. Its 14 percent alcohol doesn’t overwhelm the flavor.
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Find vendors and check prices for La Fiera Montepulciano d’Abruzzo on Wine-Searcher.com.
Find dozens of other Montepulciano d’Abruzzo bottlings and vendors on this Wine-Searcher link. Read article.
Today let’s take an affectionate look at two beverages that have suffered from seriously poor reputations over time but that, at least among those who know them, have regained their appeal and become desirable again. I’m talking about Beaujolais, and I’m talking about gin.
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This is a clear, dark garnet Beaujolais, with reddish-orange glints against the light. Pleasant red-fruit aromas, subtle cherries and raspberries, are backed by a pleasant earthy sense of damp red clay. Delicious cherry-berry flavors are framed by surprising tannins for a Beaujolais, crisp, mouth-watering acidity and firm but not overwhelming 13.5 percent alcohol. A good wine that clearly shows the style of named-village Cru Beaujolais.
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Check prices and view vendors for Château de Poncie “Le Prê Roi” Fleurie on Wine-Searcher.com.
For an extensive list of other Fleurie producers and vendors, view this Wine-Searcher link.
Clear, watery pale with just a hint of buff color. If you’re used to the distinct juniper scent of more traditional gins, this American organic gin may surprise you: Juniper is there, but a pleasant soft citric vegetal scent of lemongrass dominates the scent for me, with earthy spicy notes of coriander seed and other subtle botanicals. It’s a bit warm on the palate at 93.4 proof, but its smooth, mellow character holds the heat under control and makes it an excellent mixer in negronis, martinis, gin and tonics or whatever you like.
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Find vendors and compare prices for Farmer’s Botanical Small Batch Organic Gin on Wine-Searcher.com.
Learn about gin and browse a list of brands and stores on this Wine-Searcher link. Read article.
When I type the word “minerality” into a tasting note, spell-check invariably bites back with an angry red underline declaring that there’s no such word. This seems unfair, as I love the stony, chalky, granite, slate, clay, oystershell, or rainwater-over-rocks character …
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Transparent light gold color, a pretty hue in the glass. It’s a wine of surprising complexity and flavor interest for a relatively affordable white. Notes of pears and white flowers are accented by chalky notes on the nose and a distinct minerality in the dry, gently acidic, medium-bodied flavor.
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Find vendors and compare prices for Julien Braud “Les Vignes du Bourg” Muscadet on Wine-Searcher.com.
If you can’t find this particular label near you, use this link to browse WineSearcher.com; page down to find a large variety of other Muscadets and their vendors.
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