Italian wines open for tasting this weekend

[wondersofwine]

Carolina wine company had four Pinot Noirs and four Italian wines for tasting this weekend ($10 fee).

2001 Paradiso Barbarossa
14% alcohol dark crimson color; almost opaque
Nice flavor. Fruity, but a little tart on the finish. Not sure I've had any wine from the Barbarossa grape before so this adds to my total varieties.

1999 Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico from Felsina (I tried the 1988 of this at a tasting last June). Berardenga (location) was much larger on the label than the name of the producer. Had to really strain to see that it was from Felsina. Dark brownish crimson color. Slightly less opaque than the Barbarossa. Nice nose and flavor of dark cherries. Pretty smooth considering that the 1988 wine still had some tannins left. I liked this but at a price of $29.99 would have to think hard about buying it.

1999 Sesti Brunello di Montalcino. $49.99
13.5% alcohol
Clear reddish-brown color. More delicate than robust but food friendly. I purchased one bottle of this earlier when Signor Sesti visited North Carolina with his daughter.

1999 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino $49.99
13.5% alcohol
deep crimson color
Comes across as having a little more body than the Sesti. I slightly prefer it over the Sesti but both wines would be good with meat or some hard cheeses.