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Picks & Pans November 2001 / October 2001

Wine of the Week reviews one or more wines each week. Most are picks; a few are pans. Please write in and let us know if you agree or disagree with our opinion. Note: The wine prices in our reviews are the prices we pay (before any discount) at our local wine stores or that are suggested by the importer or distributor. They are given solely as guidelines. We do not sell any wines.

This week's wine (11/26/01) is 2000 Castello Banfi, Le Rime, Toscana IGT ($9.00)

Pale straw, almost transparent, in color, this new-style Tuscan blend of Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Grigio (30%) has an inviting nose of green apple and bright citrus, with some hints of straw and fennel. Light to medium bodied, it has a nice mouthfeel and delivers dry mineral and apple flavors with a hint of fennel. It has adequate acidity to stand up to food. The finish is good with minerals and a touch of spice. A perfect match would be linguine with white clam sauce. Imported by Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY. Website Link

This week's wine (11/19/01) is 2000 Falesco, Vitiano, Umbria (IGT) ($9.99)

Opaque ruby in color, this blend of Merlot, Cabernet, and Sangiovese has good legs and a rustic nose of wild mushrooms, cherry, and smoked meat. Light to medium bodied, it delivers dry, tannic, leathery flavors with plum underpinnings. It has a good finish with cherry and cocoa notes. Not at all complex, this wine is charming in its own way. Be sure to give this wine a little time to breathe, to enjoy all its fruit. A great value, this wine would go well with grilled meats or pasta with a wild-mushroom (porcini) sauce. Imported by Winebow, Inc. New York, NY. Website Link

This week's wine (11/12/01) is 1999 Castello Banfi, Col-di-Sasso, Toscana IGT ($9.00)

This Tuscan blend of Sangiovese (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) is opaque ruby in color. It has good legs and an attractive nose that begins with iris, earth, and tobacco and develops to chalk and sweet cherries. On the palate, it's light to medium bodied and delivers cherry and cocoa flavors with an underpinning of spice. It's well structured with supple tannins and good acidity for food. It has a very smooth finish with tobacco and leather notes. An excellent value that should go well with beef dishes like steak pizzaiola. Imported by Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY. Website Link

This week's wine (11/05/01) is 2000, Georges Duboeuf, Domaine de la Tour du Bief, Moulin-a-Vent ($13.50)

This cru Beaujolais is plum in color with sheeting legs. It has a deep nose of jammy strawberry, with chalk, mushroom, and earth notes. On the palate, it's medium bodied and delivers plenty of jammy red-berry and chalk flavors. This is a well structured wine with supple tannins and good acidity. It has a good finish that's reminiscent of cocktail bitters. While quite enjoyable now, with proper storage, this wine should be even better after some additional bottle age. Enjoy it with grilled sausages or a roast pork loin. Imported by W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., Harrison, NY. Website Link

This week's wine (10/29/01) is 2000 Carmen, Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle Central, Chile ($7.99)

Bright ruby red in color, with nice legs, this Chilean cab has a big, forward nose of boysenberry, earth, and some hints of cedar. Medium to full bodied, it's quite aggressive on the palate and delivers plenty of tart plum and burnt sugar flavors. The wine is well structured, with supple tannins and adequate acidity for food. It has a long, dry, spicy finish. An outstanding value. Serve this bottle with a hearty winter stew or as an accompaniment to a cheese course. Imported by W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., Harrison, NY. Website Link

This week's wine (10/22/01) is 1999 Francis Coppola, Diamond Series, Red Label, Zinfandel, California ($14.00)

This zinfandel is deep, dark red in color and has loads of long legs. The nose is huge, with deep raspberry and cherry aromas complemented by nuances of crushed black pepper. On the palate, it's medium bodied and dry, and it delivers wild-cherry and sweet raspberry flavors, complemented by just a hint of spice. It's nicely balanced with supple tannins and has good acidity for standing up to food. Although not long, the finish is pleasant with berry notes. Unlike many zins, this one is more elegant than overpowering. This bottle would make a pleasant sipping wine on a cool evening or would pair well with most beef dishes. Website Link.

This week's wine (10/15/01) is 1998 Barbi, Brusco dei Barbi, IGT, Toscana ($12.99)

Deep garnet in color, with long legs, this wine has a pretty nose of violets and earth. It's light bodied and very dry and delivers flavors of burnt sugar and bitter almond. The flavors linger. The wine also has a nice almond finish. This is the perfect spaghetti red. Imported by Parliament Import Company, Atlantic City, NJ.

This week's wine (10/08/01) is 1998 Buena Vista, Carneros Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros ($16.99)

The color is deep ruby and the legs are long. This wine has a big nose of green bell pepper, black cherry, and some mild tar; there's some jammy fruit notes as well. Medium to full bodied, it delivers plenty of tobacco, plum, and currant flavors. It's well structured, with mild tannins in good proportion to the fruit. The wine is still a bit tannic, however, and would benefit from a little more bottle aging. The finish is good and long, with black-cherry and tar notes. A very good Cabernet that would be perfect with a grilled sirloin steak. Website Link.

This week's wine (10/01/01) is 1998 Buena Vista, Carneros Chardonnay, Carneros ($13.99)

Pale gold in color, this wine has a gorgeous nose of vanilla, butterscotch, and nuances of nectarine. The nose is so big that it seems to leap from the glass. Medium bodied, the wine is packed with butterscotch and lemon-citrus flavors complemented by toast notes. It's beautifully structured, with plenty of good acidity for dining, and it has an unctuous, butterscotch finish. Oak is used judiciously. Given its quality, this is an outstanding value. We paired this wine with spaghetti sauced with smothered onions, white wine, Parmesan cheese, and parsley. Website Link.

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