davidbdesilva

Inspired by the latest book I've been reading (Vino Italiano, Regional Italian Wines by Joseph Bastianich), I had the opportunity over Easter to try some Northern Italian wines from the regions of Trentino and Friuli (regions I've not explored as much as those below) and was blown away. The wine I was most impressed with was a 1997 Trentino Cabernet Sauvignon by Ca' Montini. Not a hint of oak, medium bodied, intense fruit and very smooth. At $15 it is quite a bargain as this is better than most if not all of the Cab's I've had from California. A very different style and refreshing break from Cal. Cab's. I also had a 1999 Conti Brandolini d' Adda Vestorta Merlot ($14) from Fruili. Surprisingly this was quite tannic (perhaps it needed a bit more rest time) but it was bright, intense and again, quite different from it's Californian siblings. Finally, I had a lovely 1997 Volpe Pasini Zuc di Volpe Tocai Fruilano ($17). This white was actually the most full-bodied of the lot and was creamy and toasty with a hint of oak and oh so good. These wines reveal what the Italians are capable of, that the Fruili region is putting out some of the best wines around (e.g. Jermann), and that I am quickly forgetting about Californian wines.

I absolutely love both vintage and tawny ports, both are among the best things in life. For a good vintage one should not think of even touching a Port with less than 10 years age and probably 15-20 years is ideal. I have a 1983 Smith & Woodhouse waiting to be opened at the right occassion. Some of the best ports I've had are the 1983 Grahams (around $80, I tend to like sweet, thick and viscous ports and this is Grahams style) and 20-40 year old Sandlemans, Taylor Fladgate and Grahams tawny ports. But I have been recently amazed at the quality of some of the Australian tawny's. I recently had one (forget the name!) that received a rarting of 95 and it was amazing. Thick, sweet, caramel, vanilla, I didn't want the bottle to end!

I dearly miss her previous restaurant, Alison Cafe, on Skippack Pike in Skippack. In an area devoid of fine cuisine, it was one of the few fine places to eat. I'll have to try her new place, which is a little further from me. But I still have Ravenna and FuziOn down the road in Centre Point (both good places to eat if you happen to be "in the countryside").

Whilst I have nowhere near the knowledge of those responding in this thread, I do have an opinion. My first love of wine was the Italians and, after having brief affairs with Californians, Australians, South Americans and French, I have returned to my first love and now predominantly drink Italian wines, ranging from $10 bottles of fine Salice Salentino to $50 (about what my budget will allow) bottles of Barolo and Barberesco. I think that Italian wine first and foremost is becoming more consistently good across the country, albeit that there is more plonk produced by Italy than probably any other country. But what I love about fine Italian wine that I do not taste as often in French wine is the terrior of the region it's from (yes I know it's a French term). I love tasting the dirt, the sun, and the bursting flavors of Italian wine. Italian wines, IMHO, offer the greatest variety and intense fruit of any other country. And, again IMHO, Italian cuisine is superior to French. A crude sinopsis I know, but my opinion.

I love this wine as well and think it is very underestimated by others. The best are very well made and I liken them to drinking liquid sunshine. My favorites are from Vietti and Vignaioli di Sante Stefano (hard to find but worth seeking out). Katie, you'll be pleased to know that ever since I took that course in Italian wines with you (by Marnie Old), I have returned to my first wine love and now am drinking primarily only Italian wines. I think they are the best in the world (though my francophile friends might disagree with me!).

I recently got a "knock-off" version of "The Rabbitt" and have found this to be the easiest and best corkscrew I've used. You merely align it on the bottle, pull the lever up (inserts the screw) and then down (removes cork), the same motion removes the cork from the screw. This one only cost me $20. Downside: it is rather large and stored in a flat box, so you have to get it out each time you wanna use it.

All so taken by the French wines, aren't we? For $100 (or less) I would recommend some fine Italians like: Sassicaia; Ornellaia; Tignanello; Solaia; Flaccinello; and Brunello di Montalcino. Many of these are Bordeaux-style blends that rival and even surpass their French counterparts. I would love to receive a gift of any of these!