An excellent partner for grilled lamb or roast suckling pig.

TASTING NOTE: Full-throttle, with lots of vanilla and ripe fruit character. Almost cherry liqueur. Full-bodied, round and soft, with lots of flavor. Drink now.  Score - 91. (James Suckling, www.winespectator.com, Oct. 31, 2007) 

719864    (XD)            750 mL    $39.95   

Works beautifully with antipasto or a simple pasta with fresh tomato sauce. Italo Zingarelli, the late film producer and founder of Rocca delle Macìe, passed his love for winemaking onto his family. They are masters of Chianti. This delicious, well-structured wine has complex aromas and flavours of plum, earth, mushroom and a touch of oak. Uncompromising quality and value.

Try this with sun-dried-tomato pasta, or grilled summer vegetables. In 2005, the Gambero Rosso Italian Wines guide panel remarked: "Roberto Droandi's wines reveal a strong territorial bond and a light hand in the cellar." Medium-bodied with ripe cherry, plum and tobacco notes with a touch of cedar, this will be a favourite with customers who enjoy a more fruit-forward style of Chianti.

Perfect with braised beef dishes. Governato, the past participle of Governo, is a variation on the old Tuscan process. With Governo, unfermented grape juice from dried or fully ripe grapes were added to the newly fermented wine, causing a refermentation. Le Chiantigiane's process is closer in style to the Veneto method, called apassimento, where semi-dried grapes are added to the fermented juice causing refermentaton.The resulting wine in this method creates wines that are richer, fuller and more complex than regular Chianti. Cellar this wine 2-4 years.

This Brunello may be enjoyed tonight with roast beef and a wild mushroom risotto.

TASTING NOTE: The 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is a sleek, stylish effort very much in the style of consulting oenologist Carlo Ferrini. This mid-weight Brunello opens to reveal vibrant dark cherries, spices, menthol and licorice with a nice inner sweetness and freshness to its core. The tannins are firm, yet well-integrated into the wine's fabric. Another year or two in bottle should help it come together. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018.  Score - 90. (Antonio Galloni, www.erobertparker.com, April 30, 2008) 

650812    (XD)            750 mL    $65.95   

Match it to a meat-based lasagna.

TASTING NOTE: The Nobile '03 from prugnolo gentile with small amounts of merlot and cabernet sauvignon showed well. The nose starts out rather hesitantly but goes on to reveal perfectly ripe, eloquently expressed fruit followed by lovely spicy notes. But it is on the palate that the wine really comes into its own, displaying good extract, tangi-ness and energy.  
Score - (out of 3). (Gambero Rosso Italian Wines, 2007) 

065854    (XD)            750 mL    $39.95   

Try this wine with a Florentine steak or veal roast.

TASTING NOTE: Appearance: dense ruby-purple. Nose: floral with a cidery note. Taste: full-bodied, sour cherry flavour; firm structure.  Score - (out of 5). (Tony Aspler, www.tonyaspler.com, Feb. 9, 2008) 

974394    (XD)            750 mL    $22.95   

Decanted for at least two hours, this is a fine choice for roasted lamb with grilled vegetables. Consistently one of the most sought-after wines, this is a must for any cellar. 'Tig' is considered one of the best Italian wines, racking up numerous awards and accolades with each and every vintage. This rich and spicy blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is loaded with blackberry, coffee, tar and truffle aromas. It should be cellared for 2-10 years.