Mambo Italiano!

This week, I have two fabulous Italian reds to share with you.


For the penny pinchers:

- For $19, (and on some wine websites, even less!), Villa Fulvia makes a Valpolicella Classico Superiore red wine. This grape is grown near the city of Venice, and is actually several different types of grapes blended together. If you want to find out more about this wine, visit their website: http://www.voliovino.com/wine/110. I tried the 2004 vintage, and loved it. It has a dark red, rich appearance. One thing I love about wines is their ability to produce amazing colors. It has a dark cherry, raspberry taste to it. One thing that did throw me off was it had an acidic smell to it, but the wine is very smooth and balanced. (Quite a surprise). The 2004 vintage is hard to come by in stores, but later vintages are available, and around the same price.

For the big spenders:

- $65-$88- Villa Poggio Salvi from Brunello Di Moltacino. - 1997  (To learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunello_di_Montalcino). This wine is produced in the Tuscany region, and my husband Tim bought this bottle of wine right in Sienna, Italy. It is also a DOCG wine. A DOCG wine is a wine that has strict government rules, and therefore noted to be of high quality. (To learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denominazione_di_Origine_Controllata_e_Garantita). We had the 1997 vintage, and it was an experience. It is a Sangiovese grape blend red wine. When it was first opened, it had a heavy tobacco smell, and it also tasted of heavy tobacco. However, this wine needs to breathe for at least a day. Since it has a tobacco taste, the air will soften the smell and taste, and more fruit flavors will start to emerge. Once is breathes, it has a leather, tobacco, tar, chocolate, and dark fruit smell. It has a burnt red color to it. It is very balanced in its body, and the taste is unlike anything you have had before. This is a hard wine to find at the stores, but can be bought online. (One website: http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/biondi+santi+villa+poggio+salvi+docg+brunello+montalcino+tuscany+italy/1997).

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Thanks for the support!