05
May
2025
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(Febraury 2025) ... Terraelectae: chosen land, special land, elected land - just some of the translations possible for this word on these bottles of wine. For me, "chosen land" fits best. This is single vineyard Sangiovese from a special part of Chianti known as Rufina.
Rufina decided they wanted to follow the rules of Gran Selezione along with Chianti Classico - but they went one step further, making their wines 100% Sangiovese from a 'cru' (single vineyard / single plot) – which 
is named right on the bottle. What we, as consumers, end up with, are a plethora of great wines that are also affordable, that shows off the diversity, the beauty, and passion of the winemakers from this area.
Tonight, a dinner accompanied these wines, paired not only with food, but put up against one another: two wines per course, I rated the best wine presented and gave it a review.
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Colognole (wins between the first two wines): 
2021 Vigneto Le Rogaie ... Fruit forward, but with enough acidity and weight to make it drinkable with food and/or on its own. (****)
Vinae Montae
2021 Vigneto il Monte: An elegant wine that shows its dark fruit roots and spicy middle with good mocha and blackberry. Nice acid backbone. (****)
Marchesi Gondi
2020 Poggio Diamante: what a powerhouse wine, it's a fist in a velvet glove. Dark fruit that leans bold and brilliant, a juicy core of pure fruity goodness backed by Sangiovese acidity. Total yum. (****+)
Grignano
2021 Vigna Montefiesole: smooth and sexy, with creme de cassis, blackberry, good acidity and silky tannins. (****+)
Frescobaldi
2021 Vigna Montesodi: Mocha, smoky and black cherry - mouth filling fruit load with blackberry, black cherry and cassis. Tannins are silky and the acidity hides in the background until it is needed. (**** ½)
Selvapiana
2020 Vigneto Erchi: This was a big fight with a wine from I Veroni, but the Selva finally wins the battle with a good freshness and spice, but there’s also some balsamic-strawberry and cassis, mocha and subtle tannin - this is a delicious bottle of wine. Elegant and electric. (**** ½)
01
May
2025
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(October 2024) ... A big room. A ton of wine. Not enough time to do even half. But here we go with a look at some of the good stuff I tasted
FOUR-and-a-HALF Star wines
L’Aventure 2021 Estate Cuvee (California) – $211.62
This 20th Anniversary wine has a blue label, making it easier to notice. Chocolate-cherry, strawberry, with good acidity and spicy on the finish.
Marchesi Antinori 2021 Tignanello (Italy) - $192.95 
An absolutely lovely Sangiovese based blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc (10% each) … plenty of reasons to buy this bottle.
FOUR PLUS Star wines
Jean-Luc Colombo 2018 Cornas Rouge Les Ruchets (France) - $156.56
Sweet dark fruit, but so well balanced on every angle. Super drinkable, still with good age-ability-potential.
Marchesi Antinori 2021 Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore (Italy) - $201.87
The blend is Cab Sauv (55%) with 15% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot - this wine is a real banger.
Penner Ash 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Oregon) - $119.00
Such a pretty version of Pinot with floral, gentle smoke and darkish fruit.
Tormaresca 2020 Arso (Italy) - $307.55
With more Cabernet Franc being made in Italy, this is not surprising to see and it is really pretty: dark fruit, mocha with a long finish.
FOUR Star wines
Amulet Estate 2021 Proprietary Napa Valley Red Wine (California) - $467.85
A four vineyard blend with a nice fruit core and medium length finish.
Antinori California 2021 Napa Valley Townsend Cabernet Sauvignon (Italy) - $194.15
Juicy dark fruit with notes of vanilla, cherry and chocolate.
Butterfield 2022 Beaune 1er Cru Les Teurons (France) - $122.35
Silky-smooth and easy-drinking with notes of cran-cherry and gentle acidity.
Castello di Ama 2020 Montebouni Chianti Classico Riserva (Italy) - $45.75
The oak has been sucked into the wine making the fruit the star; nicely balanced with a hint of smokiness and a finish that has good pleasant length.
Chateau Calon Segur 2016 Saint-Estephe (France) - $366.31
Smoky bite with a dark fruit seam.
Dobbin Estate 2020 Dobbin Cabernet Blend (Ontario) - $78.80 
Dominated by Cabernet Franc (85%) with the rest of Merlot: nice fruit components, dark and lush; nice tannin structure with a pleasant finish.
Foolhardy 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington) - $82.06
A fruit forward wine full of dark and spicy notes; good acidity keeps things in balance – made from 38 year old vines. A real delight.
Gerard Tremblay 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume (France) - $49.95
Here the fruit is fresh and lively, minerality is on point and there’s even some honeydew melon and lime. Really tasty.
Jean-Luc Colombo 2017 Cornas Rouge Vallon de L’Aigle (France) - $495.37
Spicy black raspberry with notes of white pepper on the finish.
L’Aventure 2021 Optimus (California) - $109.05
Very tasty and approachable with good acidity: complex and juicy.
Prunotto 2020 Barbaresco (Italy) - $155.35
A site from 1879, supple and silky with beautiful tannins and a fruit forward nature.
Prunotto 2020 Barolo Bussia (Italy) - $112.20
First produced in 1961, this nicely balanced wine is full of fruit and tannin with good acidity. So very pretty with hints of floral also dipping in.
Tormaresca 2020 Tenuta Bocca di Lupo (Italy) - $105.95
This Aglianico is nice and juicy with pretty black plum, mocha and cherry.
THREE-and-a-HALF / THREE-and-a-HALF-PLUS Stars
+ Borgoluce 2023 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore ‘Rive Collato’ Extra Brut - $29.25
Borgoluce 2023 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore ‘Rive Collato’ Extra Dry - $29.25
+ Caduceus Cellars 2021 Sancha – Tempranillo (Arizona) - $89.95
+ Cambria 2022 Julia’s Pinot Noir - $44.95 
+ Cambria 2022 Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay - $39.95
+ Capensis 2018 Stellenbosch Chardonnay - $127.06
+ Castello di Ama 2020 Haiku - $94.00
Chateau Capbern 2017 Saint-Estephe - $52.70
+ Chateau Lassegue 2019 St Emilion - $129.00
+ Chateau Vray Croix de Gay 2017 Pomerol - $145.75
+ Domaine de la Cendrillon 2022 Les Vieilles Pierres Corbieres - $33.95
+ Fattoria di Fiorano 2022 Appia Rosso - $25.95
+ Fuligni 2022 Rosso di Montalcino Ginestreto - $62.80
+ Fuligni 2020 Rosso di Toscana Joanni - $117.65
Gerard Tremblay 2023 Chablis - $33.95
+ Gerard Tremblay 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Montmain - $48.95
+ Grillesino 2022 Kamarte - $25.55
+ Hecht & Bannier 2022 Pic-Saint-Loup Rouge - $32.95
+ Hecht & Bannier 2016 Bandol Rouge - $40.95
+ Jean-Luc Colombo 2018 Cornas Rouge La Louvee - $193.99
+ JM Seleque NV Solessence Rose Extra Brut Champagne - $95.50
Marchesi Antinori 2023 Castello della Sala Bramito della Sala - $35.05
+ Tenuta di Biserno 2021 Il Pino di Biserno - $83.30
Tormaresca 2023 Calafuria Rosato - $25.75
