Il Papavero

June 13, 2009 — Tom & Melody

We have had this Italian red table wine, Il Papavero, before and really enjoyed it. This is delightful; a juicy cherry-flavored  quaff; dark and spicy with ripe fruit and chocolate.

For dinner tonight, I am making baked, spicy chicken, steamed brown rice and vegetables. I also baked some brownies with chopped walnuts. Tom was craving my brownies. . .

We both had busy weeks. Tom was in Montreal on business and I was up north to see my folks and to watch our son, Tommy, play his bass guitar in The Ben Daniels Band at “The Loading Dock” in Traverse City. My 77-year-old mother came with me to the bar; the band started playing at 11:00 p.m. and my mom was as lively as can be. What fun!

I am missing our youngest son, Tony. Hurry home, Tones!

Posted in Blends, Italian wines, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Nero d'Avola, Over $10, Sangiovese. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Torciano Crete Rosse Chianti (2007)

March 22, 2009 — Tom & Melody

I chose this Italian Torciano Crete Rosse Chianti for our Sunday night supper. I am enjoying being home after a 2-day trip to Indiana, with my school’s  Gymnastics team (it was our conference championship meet). I didn’t get home until very late and was unable to  unwind enough to sleep  — so, a short night for me. Then, up and out the door for my long run (11 miles). So, dinner tonight is simple: A batch of bean soup and a loaf of whole wheat bread. The soup is simmering and the bread is baking. . .and Tom and I are watching some of the basketball games (just watched Michigan State beat University of Southern California and Louisville beat Siena.)

So, back to the wine. This is a light wine. The nose is barely discernable. Perhaps it needs to open for awhile longer. The taste is understated and thin. This would be a great wine for new red-wine drinkers because it has a very mild taste. I’ll bet, though, that tomorrow the wine will have more character than it does tonight.

Posted in Chianti, Italian wines, Sangiovese, Under $10. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Sangiovese Rubicone Vezzani

July 7, 2008 — Tom & Melody
Vezzani Sangiovese Rubicone 2007

This is our second bottle of this Sangiovese Italian red wine. A medium ruby red in the glass, the nose is a lovely fruit — very delicate and inviting. I like the taste of this wine very much. This has as much to do with the structure as it does the taste. While it is quite dry, it is also softly spicy and fruity. This wine has a somewhat austere, old-world quality to it that is quite wonderful.

We are enjoying this wine at the ideal temperature for red wine — thanks to Tom’s brother and wife, Bob & Suzanne, who gave us a wine refrigerator! Thank you, Bob & Suzanne!

Posted in Italian wines, Over $10, Sangiovese. Tags: , , . 2 Comments »

Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine (2005)

June 21, 2008 — Tom & Melody

Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine 2005It is a beautiful June Saturday evening. We started the evening with a refreshing gin and tonic with plenty of fresh-squeezed lime. Now, we are having a glass of this Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine 2005, a delicious blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This Washington State blend is luscious and fruity. The nose is a delicate whiff of vanilla and cloves. The taste is plums and spice. Tom purchased this wine for about $8 from Polly’s (our local grocery store).

I harvested some lettuce from my little garden for our salad tonight. I am also marinating pork chops, which we will grill. I have brown rice steaming now. Cheers and happy summertime!

Posted in Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Syrah, Under $10, Washington wines. Tags: , , , , . 4 Comments »

Vezzani Sangiovese Rubicone 2007

June 14, 2008 — Tom & Melody

Vezzani Sangiovese Rubicone 2007We opened this Vezzani Sangiovese Rubicone 2007 to go with spaghetti tonight.

It has a dark-ruby color, a pleasantly mild but distinctive Sangiovese nose (that certain yeastiness), and a nice dark-berry fruit taste.

This is a great example of an Italian table wine, and it paired beautifully with our spaghetti, spinach, and salad (from our garden). We both loved it.

Posted in Italian wines, Over $10, Sangiovese. 2 Comments »

Il Valore Sangiovese 2006

August 31, 2007 — Tom & Melody

Il Valore Sangiovese 2006We opened this Il Valore Sangiovese 2006 last night to have with pizza. (It even says, “Serve at room temperature with red meats, pastas, and pizza,” on the label!)

It’s a very pleasant Italian red table wine. We’ve reviewed it before. It’s medium bodied, medium dry, and medium fruit (blackberries), with some tobacco flavor.

It complemented the pizza nicely last evening (as the label promised!) and is a pleasant cocktail-hour quaff this evening; a wonderful value at way, way under $10 from Trader Joe’s.

Posted in Italian wines, Sangiovese, Under $10. 1 Comment »

Il Valore Sangiovese (2006)

July 23, 2007 — Tom & Melody

Il Valore Sangiovese 2006This Il Valore Sangiovese 2006 from Italy is a delightful, light-bodied quaff. Not a big red, it paired well with our roasted chicken dinner last night. Tom purchased this bottle from Trader Joe’s while I was in Austin last week. He is such a good shopper!

Tom: This Il Valore Sangiovese 2006 is a very nice, dry, light table red. Very easy drinking. It is from the Puglia region of the Italy (the heel of the boot). The Sangiovese grape is the main component of Chianti. A wonderful value at way, way under $10.

Posted in Italian wines, Sangiovese, Under $10. 5 Comments »

Villa Puccini Toscana (2001)

June 24, 2007 — Tom & Melody

Villa Puccini Toscana 2001We have had this lovely Tuscan wine before and enjoyed it very much. This Villa Puccini Toscana is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. In the glass it is ruby colored with good legs. On the nose, I note a whiff of tobacco and coffee. The taste is dry and acidic, not very fruity, with earth overtones. This is a real Italian, rustic-tasting — almost grainy textured, red. The body is somewhat light and actually a good summer wine to sip on the patio — although I can picture having this in the dead of winter in front of the fireplace, too. A good find!

Posted in Italian wines, Sangiovese, Under $10. Leave a Comment »