home | gift certificate | private dining | reservations  | awards & reviews | acquerello adventures | map     

Reds from Italy — Lombardia...Emilia e Romagna

Lombardia
Chiavennasca is a regional name for Nebbiolo grown in the Valtellina zone of Lombardia, near the Swiss border. The most interesting wine here is the Sforzato (Sfursat in dialect), made with semi-dried grapes to produce a dense, high-alcohol red of unique character.
           
Sforzato, Canua Conti Sertoli Salis Tirano Chiavennasca 2002 95
Vini del Ticino
Upon first tasting the wines of Ticino, I expected to find crisp whites. Instead, the most important grape in this Italian speaking part of Switzerland is Merlot, which is produced on steep hills that make growing difficult. These are very polished wines, with just the right amount of oak and alcohol.
           
Rompideé Chiodi Vini Ascona Merlot 1997 98
Rovere Cantina Monti Cademario Merlot 1999 84
Veneto
These wines are produced near the town of Verona, and use of varietals indigenous to the area. Until recently, Corvina and Corvinone were regarded as the same varietal. Corvinone is now used as a complementary grape by some producers. Valpolicella and Amarone use the same blend of varietals, but the grapes for the production of Valpolicella are not partially dried as they are for Amarone. Grapes destined to become Amarone are picked and laid out on mats, where they shrivel and remain for months after harvest. The appassimento, or drying process, takes place indoors with good ventilation to prevent the growth of mold. Good Amarone is like no other wine in the world, with scents of cherry, dark fruits, and aging exotic spices.
Recioto della Vapolicella Amarone Classico
         
Cav. Giovanni Bertani Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1968 475
Cav. Giovanni Bertani Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1975 500
Cav. Giovanni Bertani Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1976 500
Cav. Giovanni Bertani Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1981 400
         
Masi Campolongo di Torbe Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1974 250
Masi Mazzano Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1967 250
           
Allegrini Fumane Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1990 280
Luigi Righetti Capitel de' Roari Valgatara Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1985 270
Amarone Classico della Valpolicella
         
Allegrini Fumane Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2003 135
Buglioni San Pietro in Cariano Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2001 85
Cav. Giovanni Bertani Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1999 150
Corteforte, Magnum Vigneti di Osan Fumane Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2000 245
           
Masi Campolongo di Torbe Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1988 360
Masi Campolongo di Torbe Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1990 360
Masi Campolongo di Torbe Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1993 340
Masi Costasera S. Ambrogio di Valpolicella Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2004 100
Masi Mazzano Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1999 225
           
Nicolis Ambrosan S. Pietro in Cariano Corvina/Rondinella/Croatina 2000 125
Serego Alighieri Vaio Amaron S. Ambrogio di Valoplicella Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2001 140
           
Amarone della Valpolicella
         
Aldegheri S. Ambrogio di Valpolicella Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2003 150
Ca' Rugate Montecchia di Crosara Corvina/Rondinella/Corvinone 2003 110
Romano Dal Forno Monte Lodoletta Cellore d'Illasi Corvina/Rondinella/Oseleta 2000 700
Romano Dal Forno Monte Lodoletta Cellore d'Illasi Corvina/Rondinella/Oseleta 2001 750
Romano Dal Forno Monte Lodoletta Cellore d'Illasi Corvina/Rondinella/Oseleta 2002 1000
Valpolicella Superiore
         
Romano Dal Forno Cellore d'Illasi Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1999 200
Romano Dal Forno Cellore d'Illasi Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2000 225
Romano Dal Forno Cellore d'Illasi Corvina/Rondinella/Oseleta 2002 250
Romano Dal Forno Cellore d'Illasi Corvina/Rondinella/Oseleta 2003 340
Valpolicella Classico Superiore
         
Giuseppe Quintarelli Cere' di Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 1998 135
Viviani Campo Morar Mazzano di Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2001 85
Other wines…
           
Capo di Stato, Venegazzu' Conte Loredan Gasparini Venegazzu' del Montello Cab.Sauv/Cab.Franc/Merlot/Malbec 2003 80
Crosara Fausto Maculan Breganze Merlot 2001 140
Crosara Fausto Maculan Breganze Merlot 2003 200
Fratta Fausto Maculan Breganze Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2003 165
Gelsaia Giorgio Cecchetto Tezza di Piave Raboso 2002 130
Gemola, Colli Euganei Vignalta Arqua' Petrarca Merlot/Cabernet Franc 2000 58
Primofiore Giuseppe Quintarelli Cere' di Negrar Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara 2004 78
Privilegia Giuseppe Lonardi Marano di Valpolicella Cabernet Franc/Corvina 1997 90
Sante Rosso Giorgio Cecchetto Tezza di Piave Merlot 2003 85
Trentino-Alto Adige
The northern part of the region that borders Austria, known as Alto Adige, is locally called Sudtirol. It is home to indigenous varietals, such as Schiava and Lagrein. Schiava is a pleasing, fruity red, while Lagrein is black and chocolaty, with a scent of plums, and bright acidity. In many cases Lagrein is framed with new oak, which the grape can handle superbly. The southern part of the region is known as Trentino, where the grape of choice is Teroldego, which features deep colored red with scent of berries, tar and wild cherries. The best Teroldego is Granato, produced by Elisabetta Foradori. International varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are produced in both parts of the region with great success.
           
Barthenau, Vigna S. Urbano Josef Hofstatter Termeno Pinot Nero 2002 105
Carano Baron di Pauli Caldaro Lagrein 2004 75
Granato Elisabetta Foradori Mezzolombardo Teroldego 2002 90
Krafuss Alois Lageder Magre' Pinot Nero 2004 70
La Foa Colterenzio Cornaiano Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 95
Laurenz Heinrich Plattner, Waldgries St. Justina Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 65
Mason Manicor Caldaro Pinot Nero 2005 105
Mirell Heinrich Plattner, Waldgries St. Justina Lagrein 2001 98
Porphyr Cantina di Terlano Terlano Lagrein 2003 78
           
San Leonardo Guerrieri Gonzaga Borghetto all'Adige Cab.Sauv./Cab.Franc/Merlot 1996 140
San Leonardo Guerrieri Gonzaga Borghetto all'Adige Cab.Sauv./Cab.Franc/Merlot 1999 130
San Leonardo Guerrieri Gonzaga Borghetto all'Adige Cab.Sauv./Cab.Franc/Merlot 2000 125
San Leonardo Guerrieri Gonzaga Borghetto all'Adige Cab.Sauv./Cab.Franc/Merlot 2001 120
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
The real success in this North-East region bordering Austria and Slovenia is accomplished by its white wines. Recently, producers have started to release well-made reds form local varietals, Refosco and Schioppettino.
           
Calabrone Bastianich Casali Ottelio Merlot/Refosco/Cab.Franc/Pignolo 2000 105
Lis Neris Lis Neris San Lorenzo Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 90
Montsclapade Girolamo Dorigo Buttrio Cab.Sauvignon/Cab.Franc/Merlot 1999 85
Rosso Josko Gravner Oslavia Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 1991 200
Rosso Josko Gravner Oslavia Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 200
Emilia e Romagna
Sangiovese is the grape of choice in the eastern part of the region, while Lambrusco and Bonarda are more prevalent in the western part. Quality is on the rise, but production has been dominated by large cooperatives emphasizing quantity over quality. Changes are occurring throughout the region with good results from small producers trying to emulate the success of Sangiovese in Tuscany. Lambrusco produced around the towns of Modena and Reggio Emilia is a local favorite, but its unique style is not appreciated by all.
           
Gutturnio Riserva Torre Fornello Ziano Barbera/Bonarda 2001 58
Pietramora Fattoria Zerbina Marzeno Sangiovese 2003 115
Ravenna Rosso, Arcolaio Leone Conti Faenza Sauvignon Rosso 2000 90
Ronco delle Ginestre Az. Agr. Castelluccio Modigliana Sangiovese Grosso 1998 70
Tauleto Umberto Cesari Castel S. Pietro Terme Sangiovese 2001 80
           
Republica di San Marino
           
Tessano, Riserva Consorzio Vini Tipici San Marino Sangiovese 2001 55
           

© copyright 2008 Acquerello Restaurant. All Rights Reserved.