Oh for the love of Italy

Just a day after casting dispersions at some Italian wines, I found 3 today that renewed my faith in the most interesting culture and country in Europe, Italy. Great Italian wine doesn't come cheap these days, but good ones sure can be dazzling. 3 wines from Marziano Abbona brought smiles to the faces of 12 hardened professionals as we ground through samples at a meeting today.

The '07 Barbera  "Rinaldi" was charming without the pretention of elegance. The fruit was just dazzling with layers of spice adding just the right amount of complexity. This was a jaw dropper that we opened on Monday afternoon.

'04 Barolo "Pressenda" had depth and body. This is truly great Nebbiolo with a voluptuous mouthfeel enhanced by a kiss of oak. Elegance, style, and grace with all those bottle flavors and aromas just starting to blossom. Drinking this wine makes you understand the comparisons between Burgundy and Piedmont.

'08/'07 Papa Celso - Barriqued-Aged Dolcetto. this precocious stunner deserves every glass Gambero Rosso gave it. So it's got some oak, still fun and delicious to drink.

Congrats to Frederick Wildman for a nice pickup on this estate!