From my previous article, I showed you which white, sparkling, and sweet wines I thought were of excellent quality at the #VinItaly tour held in Vancouver. But of course, Italy is well-known for their red wines, from the north, e.g. Nebbiolo, to the south, e.g. Nero D’Avola and Nerello Mascalese. Again I ask you to try a grape you may not have tried before; start a love affair with the Nebbiolo grape, from which the famous Barolo wines are made. Italian wines, in my opinion, are very food-friendly, not being overly extracted fruit bombs; rather have a good balance of red and black fruit flavours, acidity, and Old World tannins. Cin cin.
My Red Wine Recommendations
Cantina Colli Del Soligo Sac, Veneto, Soligo “Levigato” Pinot Nero NT IGT 2014 – Pinot Nero is the Italian name for what we call Pinot Noir. This wine has smoky bacon and red fruit aromas in the glass. Dry, round, with medium-plus body. Some sweetness and smokiness on the palate, mixed with cassis fruit and soft tannins. Medium acidity. A fun wine to drink. 
Cantine Dei Marchesi di Barolo S.P.A. Langhe Nebbiolo Sbirolo DOC 2014, Piedmont – Closed candied red cherry nose. Dry and mineral, with candied red cherries and floral flavours. Tasty.
Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011, Tuscany – Very aromatic nose, with aromas of vanilla, cedar and red fruit. Medium body, silky with fine tannins. Red fruit and some sweet spice on the palate. I like.
Castello Romitorio IGT Toscana Rosso “Il Toro” 2012, Tuscany – Light vanilla and cassis aromas. Dry with soft tannins and a light mouthfeel. Nutmeg, cherries, and cassis with a mineral component. Very good.
Ciabot Berton Langhe Nebbiolo 3 Utin DOC 2014, Piedmont – Old World oak nose. Medium minus body and mouthfeel. Red cherries and apples on the palate. Dry with firm tannins. Very good quality.
Ciabot Berton Barolo del Comune di La Morra DOCG 2012, Piedmont – Wood, red cherries and a hint of beef bbq on the nose. Medium body, dry with a light mouthfeel. Light cherry and oak flavour. Medium-plus acid and fine tannins.
Conte Tasca d’Almerita Soc Agr A. R. L. Regaleali Nero d’Avola 2016, Sicily – Restrained, cassis and vanilla aromas. Medium minus body, dry; semi-round mouth feel. Medium intensity cassis flavour, with pepperiness that builds in your mouth. Medium minus tannins.
Donnafugata SRL Societa Agricola Tancredi 2012 Terre Siciliane IGT 2012, Sicily – Very aromatic, complex nose, with a mix of cedar and ripe cassis fruit. Dry, medium body with fine tannins. Lighter mouthfeel. Cherries, followed by apples and some pepperiness. The wine finishes light in your mouth.
Fattoria di Casalbosco SRL Chianti Riserva DOCG 2014, Tuscany – Nice light vanilla, cassis, and vanilla nose. Round, medium-plus body with soft mouthfeel. Ripe cassis. Medium tannins.
S.Agri.V.It SRL Sangiovese IGT 2015, Lazio – Ripe cassis nose. Medium body, smooth and round. Cassis and vanilla flavours, with medium minus acidity
S.Agri.V.It SRL Refosco, Lazio – Nice ripe cassis and cherry nose. Medium body, dry and soft mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Cassis flavour with fine tannins
Azienda Vinicola Umani Ronchi Spa, Marche, Cumaro, Conero Riserva DOCG 2012 – Initially upon nosing, I thought this wine was too much of a fruit bomb. Very intense vanilla, oak, apples, and sweet cassis aromas. But I was wrong when I tasted the wine. Dry and round, with medium-plus body; cassis flavour. Mineral with firmer tannins. The structure in the wine made me consider that this wine if held for 4-5 years, would be quite interesting.
