Tried these two reds at dinner last night:
- Venturini Baldini Montelocco IGP: Lambrusco Emilia (11.5%; Organic grapes; MassanoisImprts/NY; www.VenturiniBaldini.It) Quattro Castella NV: Fairly dark color w/ lots of fizzy bubbles; very strong floral/grapey/Lambrusco/slight Nehi grape soda pop bit earthy/dusty classic Lambrusco nose; very strong frizzante/carbonated rather grapey/floral/Lambrusco quite dry Nehi grape soda pop flavor w/ little tannins; long grapey/floral/Lambrusco dry finish w/ no tannins; a fairly classic Lambrusco but pretty much dry; tain’t Riunite; a bit too much carbonation for me. $18.00 (AV)
- Mazzoni Vespolina Dd’OC: Colline Novaresi il Ricetto (13%; NorthBerkeleyImprts)Tiziano Mazzoni/Cavaglio d’Agogna 2017: Dark color; some earthy/dusty/loamy strong black cherry/blackberry/black cherry cola slight pungent/tarry slight oak rather attractive nose; fairly tart/tangy bit pungent/tarry/licorice strong blackberry/black cherry cola flavor w/ modest tangy/hard tannins; very long/lingering blackberry/black cherry cola slight earthy/dusty/loamy slight oak finish w/ some hard tannins; a bit hard/angular on the palate but lots of black cherry Vespolina fruit; a bit like a good Piemontese Barbera but w/o the spiciness those show; quite a nice if bit rustic AltoPiemonte red. $24.00 (AV)
A wee BloodyPulpit:
- Lambrusco: I tend to like many dry Lambruscos, and even the off-dry one. They’re great w/ salumi & charcuturie. I liked the flavors on this one quite a bit, but it had a bit too much carbonation for me. When you put the wine into the mouth, there’s a big explosion of gas that pretty much covers the interesting things that come along later. Too much like soda pop, not enough like Lambrusco.
Tom