In March, I went to another wine class by Highland Wine. The topic of this class was Spain and Italy – a huge subject to try to cover in just one class! Here, I’ll just focus on our Italian tastings. Like the majority of Europe, most wines are labeled by the producer and the region, NOT the type of grape(s). So unless you know the area well, you’re not likely to be familiar with the winery and what types of wine they make that are indiginious to that area. The tasting was fun, but to really know Spain and Italy, you better be well prepared with a map and a LONG list of indiginious grapes and their many names. Talk about confusing… Fun though and some of the most versatile wines in the world, especially with food.

2007 Marco Flaco Memo Montepulciano D’Abbruzzo

See this previous post about Memo… extremely yummy and extremely versatile! Lots of fruit but also a nice balance of tannins.

Origin: Italy
Price $13
Next time: Get a glass!

2007 Cusamano Nero d’Avola Sicilia

Zin meets Grenache. Very tannic.

Origin:Italy
Price $12
Next time: I’ll pass.

2005 Lungarotti Rubesco Rosso di Torgiano

Sangiovese blend. Really yummy with a great balance of fruit and tannins. More subtle fruit compared to the Memo above.

Origin: Italy
Price $17
Next time: Get a case!

2003 Gioso Nebbiolo d’Alba

Very heavy fruit and heavy tannins. Too overpowering for my taste.

Origin: Italy
Price $21
Next time: I’ll pass.

2005 Sensi Chianti Riserva

This wine was really interesting. The Sensi Chianti smelled like dirty socks… seriously. But the flavor wasn’t the same (thank goodness)… it was better. Still wasn’t a terribly enjoyable wine for me though.

Origin: Italy
Price $21
Next time: I’ll pass.

2007 Ornellaia Le Volte Toscana

The Ornellaia Le Volte is quickly becoming a new favorite. With 51% Sangiovese, 34% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is simply delightful. Lots of fruit, medium tannins, aged in new oak barrels… it’s a lot like a New World Cabernet, if it’s done right, and not overly ripe.

Origin: Italy
Price $29
Next time: Get a case!

2004 Sartori Rino Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico

Amarone is a unique grape and a really unique flavor – high alcohol and high acid; super jammy and wine from concentrate. Basically, a liquid fig newton. Each to his own, in my opinion. This wine is aged 18 months in oak barrels and 18 months in the bottle before release (as a typical Classico style).

Origin: Italy
Price $36
Next time: I’ll pass.

Now that we’re a couple of months into 2010, I took a look back at the wines I tried in 2009 and present to you my list of Favorite Red Wines of 2009! Fave 2009 Whites coming soon!

• Pine & Post Cab Sauv – $9
• Simonnet-Febvre Pinot Noir – ~ $10
• Finca el Origen Malbec – $11
• Lucky Star Pinot Noir - $9
• Mark West Sonoma County Pinot Noir – $12
• Memo Montepulciano – $11
• Morande Pionero Pinot Noir – $10
• Spellbound Petite Syrah – $13
• Alexander Valley Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – $?
• Angeline Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – $14
• Oyster Bay Pinot Noir – $15
• G5 Puerta Bonita Garnacha – $15
• Eos Estate Zinfandel and Petite Syrah – $15ish? and $16
• Bliss Cab Sauv – $15
• Chateau Fantin Bordeaux Superioeur – $16
• Big Fire Pinot Noir – $18
• Poppy Pinot Noir – $16
• Rivola Sardon de Duero Cab Sauv – $17
• Vina Robles Cav Sauv – ~ $18
• Le Signal Domaine Ligneres Carignan – $19
• Murphy-Goode Cab Sauv – $20
• Wirra Wirra Church Block Cab Sauv – $20
• Chateau Robin Cotes De Castillion – $22
• Louis M. Martini Cab Sauv – $15-$20
• L’Oustal Blanc Minervois – $21
• Twenty Rows Cab Sauv – $23
• Oberon Cab Sauv – $24
• Molnar Family Pinot Noir – $26
• Douglas Green Shiraz Reserve – $20ish?
• Obsidian Ridge Cab Sauv – $29
• Patricia Green Pinot Noir – $30
• Hartford Zinfandel – $30
• Chateau Rollan de By Medoc – $30
• Louis Latour Domaine de Valmoissine Pinot Noir – $??
• Anne Amie Pinot Noir – $??

Remember the post a while back about the Chateaneuf du Pape that I should have opened about ten years from now? And how it was supposed to go perfectly with this awesome shrimp and cornbread casserole? And it didn’t. Well, the next week, W and I whipped up the delicious shrimp recipe again when my parents visited. This time, I did what I should have done in the first place – go over to Highland Wine and ask Skip what to serve with dinner!

Memo proved to be superb, especially with the spicy, savory shrimp and cornbread casserole. Very fruity with nice tannins, it reminded me of some Zinfandels. Best of all, it’s economically priced for it to be a regular staple in your wine rack.

Origin: Italy
Where: Highland Wine
Price: around $11
Next time: Get a case!