July 2005

Here is a GREAT summer wine that is built to cool you down on a hot day while also matching with just about everything served at an outdoor barbecue or picnic. Seafood, salads, cheeses, BBQ chicken and ribs, shellfish — you name it — will meld well with Falanghina. And, it has the added bonus of making you look like an uber-geek by simply pronouncing it correctly (FA-lan-GHEE-nah). Further impress your friends by telling them it comes from the Campania region of Italy, then quickly mention how well it matches with the macaroni salad … you’ll be as golden as this wine.

Real deal cost: $13.99

Nose: Intense mineral and spicy lime citrus. Nice stony quality.

Palate: Good citrus fruit (lime) and hints of spice (ginger?). Excellent edge of acidity — great for food matching — and a stony mineral character. Chalky, citrusy finish is longer than expected. Match it with pasta salads, fish, chicken dishes, or enjoy as an aperitif. A geeky alternative to Pinot Grigio.

aromas-8 tasty-ness-8 balance-8 food compatibility-10 value-7

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A Super Umbrian
N: Deep black fruit and earth. Some hints of spice and berry fruit.

P: Ripe black and red berry fruits. Well structured, with good flavor through the midpalate and an unusually long and balanced finish. Somewhat green and earthy, in an attractive way, with a touch of mild tobacco. Though it is big and ripe with fruit, it is simultaneously soft in the mouth: tannins and acidity firmly hold the fruit in place, and hardly an afterthought until the fruit finally fades away. I stole this out of a discount bin for around ten bucks — it is still a bargain for double the price. Read the rest of this entry »

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$7.99

N: Open. Earthy. Very earthy. We’re talking dirt, wet leaves, maybe a hint of tobacco and vegetation.

P: Ripe fruit and earth. Black pepper, black fruits, touches of tobacco. Reminds me of a dirty merlot. Distinctive, non-commercial flavor. Tannins are mild to medium, acidity is appropriate: enough for food, not too much to be overbearing. Alcohol is mild to medium and adds structure.

This is a kickass wine for the price, though not everyone will love the earthy character that melds with the black berry fruit. Try it, you’ll like it.

Enjoy with beef-based and wild mushroom dishes, or a plate of cheese.

a-8 t-8 b-8 fc-7 v-10

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