Wine & Spirits - August 2019 - 78

IMPORTED NEW RELEASES
TUSCANY

1952, and the warm 2015 growing season
accentuates the sweet fruit and round tannins that characterize sangiovese from this
region. Unlike riservas from Montalcino,
which borders the region to the northwest,
this wine can be enjoyed immediately for
its soft spiced-cherry and baked-plum flavors. § Leonardo LoCascio Selections/Winebow
Imports, NY
271181
271497

93 | Marchesi Antinori

271073

96 | Marchesi Antinori

$130

2016 Toscana Tignanello ^ The 2016 growing
season saw warm temperatures without any
big heat spikes, allowing even ripening and
yielding a vibrant, harmonious Tignanello
with plenty of aging potential. Brisk acidity
draws out the wine's deeply concentrated flavors of blackberry, cherry and plum into an
energetic evolution across the palate. Notes
of tobacco, subtle spices and dark chocolate emerge to add dimension to the fruit
tones, the flavors woven together in a seamless, silky texture. § Ste. Michelle Wine Estates,
Woodinville, WA
271798

95 | Grattamacco

$44

2016 Bolgheri Superiore ^ This wine showcases the best aspects of the 2016 vintage. A
blend of cabernet sauvignon with 20 percent
merlot and 15 percent sangiovese, it offers
flavors of black currant and raspberry that
are crunchy and fresh, buoyed by lively acidity. The texture is taut and the tannins refined
by 21 months of barrique aging, though with
just 30 percent new barrels used, the effect is
subtle and the fruit flavors remain precise,
enlivened by notes of licorice and spice. The
flavors seem to gain freshness and energy
over several days, suggesting excellent aging
potential. § Leonardo LoCascio Selections/
Winebow Imports, NY
271801

94 | Poggio di Sotto

$168

2016 Rosso di Montalcino ^ Although pricy
for a Rosso di Montalcino, this wine could
stand up to many Brunellos for its complexity and intensity. The nose is gorgeous, exuding scents of violets, rose petals and fresh
cherries. Those cherry notes continue on
the palate, joined by raspberry and orange
zest buoyed by lively acidity. Floral and delicate, yet intensely flavorful and fresh, this is
worth the splurge. § Leonardo LoCascio Selections/Winebow Imports, NY

78

WINE & SPIRITS

AUGUST 2019

$130

2016 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso ^
The 2016 Guado al Tasso is ripe and rich, its
flavors of dark plum and dried cherries laced
with notes of exotic black spices and dark
chocolate. With its rich texture and layered
complexity, it will be even better after the oak
flavors have time to integrate. § Ste. Michelle
Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA
271799

93 | Grattamacco

$100

2016 Bolgheri Superiore L'Alberello ^ A
blend of cabernet sauvignon with some cabernet franc and petit verdot, this comes from
a five-acre vineyard planted in 2004, one of
Bolgheri's few plots to use the alberello training system. The three varieties are harvested
on the same day and cofermented spontaneously with ambient yeasts before resting for
16 months in French oak barriques (50 percent new). The result is an earthy wine with
concentrated dark-berry flavors accented
by notes of tobacco, black olive and roasted
mushroom. The wine brightens over time,
taking on hints of eucalyptus and menthol
while sneaky acidity freshens the dense,
chewy texture. A bit intense at present, this
should benefit from a few years in the cellar. § Leonardo LoCascio Selections/Winebow
Imports, NY
271077

91 | Marchesi Antinori

$45

2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese
Antinori Tenuta Tignanello ^ This is a plush
and velvety Chianti Classico, with ample
notes of toasted vanilla and baking spices
that cushion the red cherry and plum tones.
The wine shows good freshness and acidity,
suggesting a few years in the cellar will allow
the fruit and oak to further integrate. § Ste.
Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA
271805

90 | Castello ColleMassari

$70

2015 Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva
Poggio Lombrone ^ Montecucco Sangiovese became a DOCG in 2011, but sangiovese has been growing in this Tuscan region
for much longer. The vines in ColleMassari's
Poggio Lombrone vineyard were planted in

90 | Valdipiatta

$55

87 | Lamole di Lamole

$19

2016 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Vigna
d'Alfiero ^ From a five-acre vineyard planted
in 1973, this aged for 18 months in French
oak barriques, rounding out the tannins and
gaining toasty notes that balance the ripe
cherry and plum flavors. § Leonardo LoCascio
Selections/Winebow Imports, NY
271123
2016 Chianti Classico (Best Buy) ^ This wine
offers scents of fresh green herbs, and flavors
of sour cherry, licorice and tobacco. The
savory finish suggests a match with tomatobased dishes. § Santa Margherita USA, Miami
Beach, FL

KOSOVO RED
272112

87 | Stone Castle Vyds.

$15

2017 Rahoveci Valley Gjergj Kastrioti
Vranc (Best Buy) ^ Stone Castle was once a
powerhouse winery for Yugoslavia, a staterun behemoth producing 30 million liters of
wine a year. It went down with the collapse
of the country in the 1990s, but has been
rejuvenated by Rrustem Gecaj, an AlbanianAmerican businessman who purchased
the estate in 2006. This cuvée, made from
the local vranc (the Albanian spelling of
vranac), is named for an Albanian who led
the resistance against the Ottomans in the
1400s. It's plump and juicy, with the sweet,
charry notes of toasted barrels, a simple red
for roasted meats. § Stone Castle Imports, NY

PORTUGAL RED
ALENTEJO
270938

87 | Monsaraz

$11

2017 Alentejo Tradicão (Best Buy) ^ The
light garnet color and rustic simplicity of
this wine make it a bright and juicy match for
braised pork trotters. It's a blend of trincadeira, aragonez and alicante bouschet, hightoned with spice, gamey with black-cherry
flavors. § Tri-Vin Imports, New Rochelle, NY
https://www.antinori.it/en/vino/tignanello-en/ https://www.antinori.it/en/vino/guado-al-tasso-en/
Wine & Spirits - August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - August 2019
