#108 Garganega

"Garganega is a variety of white Italian wine grape widely grown in the Veneto (wine) region of North East Italy, particularly in the provinces of Verona and Vicenza. It is Italy's 6th most widely planted white grape. It forms the basis of Venetian white wine Soave."

Another crisp white wine but I can't really remember if there were any real defining characteristics that set it apart from ohhhh say a sauv blanc... Good value though near $10.

#107 Pecorino

"The Pecorino grape is legendary story of a variety that was literally brought back from the brink of extinction. Not too long ago, just a few vines were discovered in a nearly wild state in a narrow canyon in Italy’s Marche region. Clippings were cut, and identified as the historic Pecorino grape, which was long thought to have been extinct. Cantina Tollo took the torch of re-establishing the variety as a missing piece of the local Abruzzese viticultural history. The origin of the name is that the grape variety was once a favorite snack of the sheep that were often driven through vineyard lands on their way to lower pastures. In Italian “Pecora” means sheep." (for some reason I cannot credit the author of the above www.enotec.net)

This was a bright and lively and I hate to say sauv blanc like white wine. It is not terribly easy to find but is well worth the effort. I think I paid well under $20 for it and will buy it again soon.

#106 Cortese

How can you resist a wine which has the owner's dog on the label? This is a Gavi from the north of Italy. Since tonight's dinner is salmon on the grill a Cortese di Gavi is called for.

This straw colored wine has surprising sweetness while having such bracing acidity. The nose is reminds me of a sauvignon blanc but it has a lot more fruit. Maybe apple? Melon? Lychee? (I will stop making up stuff there).

At $15 or so its a decent value that I might just buy again.... I mean look at those puppy dog eyes!

#105 Corvina!

Feeling a bit too tired to blog but not too tired to open up a bottle of wine (which is quite good) I will leave the review to Mr. Parker's operation....

Vintage 2004
Wine Advocate - Issue #173 / October 2007 - 90 points - Exploring the Best of Northern Italy

"Allegrini's Palazzo della Torre (70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese) has long been one of my favorite ripasso-style wines and the 2004 is another winner. It reveals a plump, juicy personality loaded with perfumed, jammy fruit, roasted coffee beans and new leather. Although it is absolutely irresistible today, a few additional months of bottle age should help soften the wine further. It is a gorgeous effort at this level and a terrific value. Allegrini employs a unique variation of the ripasso technique for its Palazzo della Torre. The traditional method calls for the wine to undergo a second fermentation on the skins that are leftover from the vinification of the Amarone. The estate believes that this method leads to oxidized wines. Instead Allegrini dries a portion of the grapes (around 30%) and ferments them separately in the same style as an Amarone, then adds that wine to the larger portion of the wine, which is fermented in the conventional manner. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2010."

Little guy taking a swing at politics

I suppose raising kids is a challenge. But things get a little more complicated when you find out that your newest family member has begun a campaign without consulting you first.

(all credit for this image to Eric M... thanks!)

#104 Nerello Mascalese

How does this blogging thing work again? It's been a very long time since my last post so please bear with me as I catch up on my wine quest.

About a month ago I tried a bottle of Nerello Mascalese from Di Giovanna and I remember it as great value and very drinkable. It is a Sicilian grape which is widely used as a blending grape. In this case it stood by itself quite well.

I am due for another trip to the wine shops soon and have my eye on a few more varietals to extend this quest further into the 100's. Soon I will be submitting my paperwork to officially become a member of the "Wine Century Club".... (at that point this will become a quite expensive pay site so please be prepared.... in these times of economic uncertainty it is important to be thoroughly advised on peripheral wine varietals)

#103 Coda di Volpe

From a distributor: "Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio is so named for the legend of Christ's ascension into heaven and his emotion upon seeing the beauty of the Bay of Naples beneath him. The grape, Coda di Volpe, refers to the foxtail shape of the grape bunches."

It has a dry minerality and a layer of lemon rind which adds a level of tartness to the dry finish. It is a $12 steal.