Brunello di Montalcino is one of my favorite wines in the world. It’s a gorgeous wine of great complexity and character that relies on Mother Nature and incredible patience to produce. Under Italian law, regular Brunello must be aged for five years before it can be released for sale; the riservas must wait six years. From a drinking […]
Month: October 2016
Fab 50: Tickle your taste buds and celebrate a milestone at a Grand Tasting in Andover on Saturday
Wine drinkers, rev up your palates! On Saturday, the Wine ConneXtion in North Andover is hosting a Grand Wine Tasting event to celebrate its seventh anniversary. Co-owners Sam and Tina Messina and their staff have culled a list of more than 1,000 brands and come up with 50 favorites in all wine styles, varietals and […]
Two wines that clear up the confusion on Montepulciano
What’s the difference between Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Montepulciano D’Abruzzo? The answer is simple: Both are wines made entirely from different grapes grown in different regions. Vino nobile di Montepulciano is named for the town/region in Tuscany where ancient Etruscans first planted vineyards. The wine is made from a clone of the Sangiovese grape; […]
Tenuta Sette Ponti's Crognolo: A consistently elegant Super Tuscan
The 2014 viintage of Tenuta Sette Ponti’s “Crognolo” — a Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot — was released several months ago and is now available in Massachusetts and New Hampshire wine outlets. If you like full-bodied, dry Italian red wines with a lot of character and smoothness, this one is worth a […]
Say 'Ole!' to Jorge Ordonez' Spanish wines
If you know little about Spanish wines, today’s your lucky day. Craig Gandolf, a Lowell resident, is the USA Wine Director for one ofthe biggest and most respected production and importing houses in Spain — Jorge Ordoñez Selections. Ordoñez, who has strong roots in Massachusetts, including a home and office on Cape Cod, has helped to liberate and […]
