When it comes to winemaking there’s New World, and there’s Old World. There’s new school, and of course, there’s old school. And then there are a select few people and wines who make the old school winemakers look like young tykes with newfangled toys.

In a world where “traditional” or “natural” winemaking has now become a self imposed designation of the most extreme proponents of biodynamic and non-interventionalist winemaking, Josko Gravner puts them all to shame. These people proclaim how in touch they are with the “traditional” methods of winemaking, but they’re still using what Gravner would call modern technology: wooden barrels. The iconoclastic Gravner eschews wines in wood, in favor of the original stuff: wines aged in huge clay amphorae lined with beeswax and buried in the ground.

Gravner, a small winery near Oslavia in Northern Italy, straddles two appellations: Fruili and Venezia Giulia. It is run by the occasionally enigmatic and always driven Josko Gravner, who has been making wines in the same spot for more than thirty years.

While Gravner may have stuck to his beloved Fruili region for this long, he has not been making wine the same way for all that time. Indeed, at one time he was a celebrated “modernist” who brought new French Oak barrels into a region whose white wines were always made in steel. But in what can only be described as an inspired drive to explore all the possibilities for making the best wines he possibly could, he eventually started using a combination of old oak barrels and terra cotta amphorae, a winemaking vessel that was believed to be pioneered by the Georgians between four and five thousand years prior.

The Gravner estate sits on about 45 acres of land straddling the Italy Slovenia border, and grows Ribolla, Riesling Italico, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pignolo, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Ribolla and Pignolo stand out of that list as varietals that most Americans, indeed, most people in general have never heard of. Ribolla Gialla, as this green skinned white varietal is also known, is grown only in this region of Italy (even rarely at that) and is mentioned in municipal documents from the area dating back to before the 13th century. Pignolo is also a native variety to the region, which was cultivated by the local monasteries in the region starting in the 17th century.

Since the 2001 vintage, Gravner has decided to make his wines exclusively in amphorae, leaving oak behind, just as he left industrial yeasts, sulfur, and even temperature controlled fermentation behind years before. Of all the winemakers I have ever heard of, Gravner seems to have one of the likeliest claims on the label “non-interventionalist” but he will shrug off such a label if he hears it, insisting that all winemaking is intervention in a natural process that leads to vinegar. Gravner has deliberately not adopted the principles of organic or biodynamic winemaking, instead opting to just do things “his way.”

If his way produces wine like this, then I’m more than content to sit back and let him work. This is the second Ribolla I have had from Gravner, and it is nearly a decade older than the last one I had, but you could never tell by tasting it. With only two points of reference it’s always tricky to make generalizations, but I have a feeling that these unusual whites, made by an unusual man, are the sort of ageless beauties that few wines (or women) manage to become.

Given that this wine is from 1991 it’s unclear to me whether this was an amphorae-aged wine or not. It certainly shared much in common with the last wine, which leads me to believe that it might be, but I cannot be sure.

Tasting Notes:
Palest gold in the glass this wine has an otherworldly nose of pine forest and nut skin — a sort of pungent dryness that is comforting and appetizing at the same time. In the mouth it is incredibly well balanced between a pointed acidity and a silky smooth body texture that sits weightily on the tongue. Flavors of tart green plums, old parchment, and rainwater and sundried citrus fruit mix in a swirling, airy complexity of flavor that soars into a substantial finish. If every white wine tasted like this, there might not be any reason to drink red. Seriously.

Food Pairing:
I drank this wine with a dish of grilled abalone, soft boiled egg, and garden vegetables. I believe the wine to be a good pairing with any dish that has more complex spices, including milder Indian, Vietnamese, or Indonesian food, and of course any white fish.

Overall Score: 9.5/10

How Much?: $130 these days.

This vintage currently not available as far as I can tell, but other vintages are available for purchase on the internet.

More: continued here

People are always asking me how they can learn more about wine, and my answer is always the same. The easiest way is to taste more wine. Leaving aside the more formal options of classes and seminars, there is just no substitute for tasting a number of wines side-by-side and paying enough attention to them to learn what style of Merlot you like, or whether you enjoy Rieslings, or what Beaujolais actually tastes like. The best place to do that is in your own home or someone else’s where you can taste at your leisure and take notes. But the second best place is at a large public tasting where you’re sharing the cost of the wines with not just a few friends, but with hundreds of other people.

Which brings me to the upcoming Wine Enthusiast Taste of The Town event, being held this Thursday at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House. Like the other big wine magazines, Wine Enthusiast Magazine hosts a yearly party at which revelers can sample hundreds of different wines along with food from some of the city’s top restaurants. To call it a bacchanalia might be going a little far, especially given that people’s clothes stay on all night, but for wine and food lovers, this event might just resemble some of their best fantasies.

I should note that I’ve never been to this event, so I cannot offer first-hand opinions about whether it is well run, or whether it is worth the $95 price tag. I can say however that any event where Krug champagne is being poured and The Fifth Floor kitchen is offering food is probably worth checking out.

But back to my original point, this is a great event for anyone interested in surveying a wide variety of wines of many types from around the world. Looking through their list of wineries attending I see producers from all over France, Spain, Chile, Australia, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and California, some of whom are very high-end labels.

So if you find yourself with a free evening on Thursday and want to taste some good stuff, you might check it out. VIP ticket holders can start wine tasting and eating at 5:00 PM and the general public event goes from 7:00 to 10:00 PM.

Wine Enthusiast Taste of The Town 2007
Thursday, March 29th, 2007 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
War Memorial Opera House
301 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

Tickets ($185 VIP, $95 General) are still available from the event web site, but may sell out by Thursday. I do not know if they will be available at the door.

This is something of a fancy event judging by the photos and videos on the site, so dress appropriately for a night on the town, but remember that wine spills happen all the time at these things. If you’re smart you’ll wear something dark.

Likewise, if you’re smart you’ll spit most of the wine you taste so you can taste more than six or eight wines and not end up a stumbling fool at the end of the evening.

More: continued here

I pride myself on my catholic tastes. I like wine from everywhere, and don’t believe I have a specific bias towards one region or another. However, each year, that claim is shaken a little bit as I emerge from what is one of the best public wine tasting events held in San Francisco, The Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri tasting. This year the Rhone Rangers tasting and the Gambero Rosso took place in the same week, and to put it bluntly, the Italians kicked some serious ass. Of course, it’s completely inappropriate to compare tastings of wines that are so radically different, but if I were forced to drink the wines from one tasting over the other for the rest of my life, it wouldn’t be hard to choose which one.

For those unfamiliar with the Gambero Rosso, it is essentially an organization focused on the promotion and evaluation of Italian food and wine that each year publishes a guide by the same name. The Gambero Rosso is the Italian Wine bible, and in my experience is the most thorough and quality guide to any wine region that exists in the world. The guide covers a dizzying 14,000+ wines each year from the incredibly diverse regions of Italy.

Each year the Gambero Rosso guide awards one, two, or three “Bicchieri” (or “glasses”) to wines of exceptional character and quality. From tens of thousands, there are usually a couple of hundred Tre Bicchieri wines, and every Spring, along with Slow Food USA, the Gambero Rosso brings many of them to San Francisco for the media, trade, and the public to taste.

While I don’t love all the wines at this tasting, I am constantly amazed by the quality and individuality of these wines, a fact which was underscored this year by the event’s proximity to Rhone Rangers. I tasted a bunch of good wines at Rhone Rangers, but only a few of them excited me as much as the three or four dozen top wines from this Tre Bicchieri tasting. I rarely leave big tastings doing mental arithmetic about just how much more money I can squeeze into my wine budget in order to buy a bunch of wines I just tasted, but as I walked up the hill from Fort Mason on Wednesday, I was doing dangerous math.

So without further ado, let me get on with the tasting notes.

WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9.5 and 10

Red
2004 Rivera Castel del Monte Puer Apuliae Nero di Troia, Puglia. $85

This wine was essentially stupendous, and in a more considered setting, or with a few years on it, might have merited a perfect 10. Nero di Troia is an indigenous varietal to the Puglia region of Southern Italy, which some believe (though no one can prove) was brought over from Troy (hence the name). It had the richness and depth of a Bordeaux with the aromatics of Aglianico. Its tannic structure and acid mean that this wine will probably age for a long long time.

WINES WITH A SCORE OF 9.5

White
2005 Cantina Produttori Termeno A. A. Gewürztraminer VT Terminum, Alto Adige. $80
2004 Cavalchina Bianco di Custoza Sup. Amedeo, Veneto. $15

Red
2001 Produttori Barbaresco Barbaresco Ris. Pajé, Piemonte. $46
2001 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Ris. Rabajà, Piemonte. $250
2003 Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Sup. Nizza La Court, Piemonte. $40
2001 Bongiovanni Barolo Pernanno, Piemonte. $70
2000 A. e G. Fantino Barolo Vigna dei Dardi Ris., Piemonte. $60
2001 Elvio Cogno Barolo Vigna Elena, Piemonte. $55
2001 Lorenzo Begali Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. Vign. Monte Ca’ Bianca, Veneto. $70
1997 Fratelli Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. Capitel Monte Olmi, Veneto. $90
1995 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. $??
2004 Poggio Piano Rosso di Sera, Toscana. $49
2003 Tenuta di Valgiano Tenuta di Valgiano, Toscana. $75
2003 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Villa Gemma, Abruzzo. $75
2004 Feudi di San Gregorio Patrimo, Campania. $120
2003 Donnafugata Contessa Entellina Milleunanotte, Sicilia. $68
2004 Palari Faro Palari, Sicilia. $45
2004 Firriato Ribeca, Sicilia. $56

WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 and 9.5

White
2005 Cantina Produttori Termeno A. A. Gewürztraminer Nussbaumer, Alto Adige. $40
2003 Cantina Caldaro A. A. Moscato Giallo Passito Serenade, Alto Adige. $??
2005 Cantina Produttori San Michele Appiano A. A. Sauvignon Sanct Valentin, Alto Adige. $45
2004 Livio Felluga COF Rosazzo Bianco Terre Alte, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $34
2005 Volpe Pasini COF Sauvignon Zuc di Volpe, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $20
2005 Ronco dei Tassi Collio Sauvignon, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $18
2005 Planeta Cometa, Sicilia. $40
2002 Benanti Etna Bianco Sup. Pietramarina, Sicilia. $45

Red
2003 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco “Ovello”, Piemonte. $38
2001 Produttori Barbaresco Barbaresco Ris. Rio Sordo, Piemonte. $46
2001 La Spinetta Barbaresco Starderi Ris., Piemonte. $250
2004 Braida Barbera d’Asti Ai Suma, Piemonte. $80
2001 Germano Barolo Cerretta, Piemonte. $55
2001 Fontanafredda Barolo Lazzarito Vigna Delizia, Piemonte. $65
2001 Castello di Verduno Barolo Massara, Piemonte. $30
2004 Hilberg Nebbiolo Alba, Piemonte. $45
2003 Cantina Convento Muri – Gries A. A. Lagrein Riserva Abtei Muri, Alto Adige. $30
2004 Cantina di Bolzano A. A. Lagrein Taber Ris., Alto Adige. $35
1999 Cav. G.B. Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. $80
2001 Corte Giara Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. $75
2003 Santi Amarone della Valpolicella Proemio, Veneto. $65
2004 Roberto Anselmi Capitel Croce, Veneto. $23
2003 Velenosi Rosso Piceno Sup. Roggio del Filare, Marche. $40
2004 San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia, Toscana. $250
2001 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova, Toscana. $45
2003 Querciabella Camartina, Toscana. $104
2003 Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Castello di Fonterutoli, Toscana. $30
2003 Colombaio di Cencio Chianti Classico I Massi Ris., Toscana. $35
2003 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Toscana. $84
2004 Fattoria di Petrolo Galatrona, Toscana. $100
2003 Boscarelli Nobile di Montepulciano Il Nocio dei Boscarelli, Toscana. $55
2003 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Asinone, Toscana. $45
2003 Colpetrone Umbria Sagrantino di Montefalco, Umbria. $46
2001 Illuminati Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane Zanna Ris., Abruzzo. $44
2004 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico, Campania. $65
2000 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Ris., Campania. $??
1999 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Ris., Campania. $??
2003 Benanti Etna Rosso Serra della Contessa, Sicilia. $59

WINES WITH A SCORE OF 9

White
1999 Ca’ del Bosco Franciacorta Brut Annamaria Clementi, Lombardia. $99
2004 Franz Haas Manna, Alto Adige. $35
2005 Suavia Soave Cl. Monte Carbonare, Veneto. $22
2005 Prà Soave Cl. Monte Grande, Veneto. $22
2005 Elena Walch A. A. Gewürztraminer Kastelaz, Alto Adige. $35
2004 Scubla COF Bianco Pomédes, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $??
2005 Russiz Superiore Collio Sauvignon, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $18
2005 Venica & Venica Collio Sauvignon Ronco delle Mele, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $28
2004 Lis Neris Pinot Grigio Gris, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $??
2004 Villa Matilde Falerno del Massico Bianco Caracci, Campania. $34
2005 Mastroberardino Fiano di Avellino Radici, Campania. $??

Red
2003 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco, Piemonte. $26
2004 Deltetto Barbera d’Alba Bricco Marasche Sup., Piemonte. $46
2003 Vietti Barbera d’Asti Sup. Nizza La Crena, Piemonte. $52
2004 Pecchenino Dolcetto di Dogliani Sup. Bricco Botti, Piemonte. $37
2001 Travaglini Gattinara Riserva, Piemonte. $42
2003 Malvirà Roero Sup. Trinità, Piemonte. $25
2003 Monzio Compagnoni Franciacorta Extra Brut, Lombardia. $??
2004 Cascina La Pertica Garda Cabernet Le Zalte, Lombardia. $35
2003 Negri Valtellina Sfursat 5 Stelle, Lombardia. $85
1999 Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. $68
2001 Fratelli Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. Capitel Monte Olmi, Veneto. $90
2001 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. $75
2004 San Patrignano Colli di Rimini Rosso Noi, Emilia Romagna. $28
2003 Colle Massari Bolgheri Sup. Grattamacco Ris., Toscana. $100
2003 Melini Chianti Classico La Selvanella Ris., Toscana. $29
2003 Il Molino di Grace Gratius, Toscana. $50
2004 Tenuta di Ghizzano Nambrot, Toscana. $??
2003 Antinori Solaia, Toscana. $150
2004 Castello della Sala Cervaro della Sala, Umbria. $40
2004 Castello delle Regine Merlot, Umbria. $42
2003 Caprai Umbria Sagrantino di Montefalco Collepiano, Umbria. $60
2005 Gran Furor Divina Costiera Costa d’Amalfi Fiorduva, Campania. $30
2003 Di Majo Norante Molise Aglianico Contado, Molise. $16
2003 Odoardi Scavigna Vigna Garrone, Calabria. $40
2004 Castello Monaci Salento Primitivo Artas, Puglia. $30
2003 Dettori Tenores, Sardegna. $50

WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 and 9

White
2004 Cascina Chicco Arcass Passito, Piemonte. $40
1997 Ferrari Trento Giulio Ferrari, Trentino. $22
2004 Leonildo Pieropan Soave Cl. Calvarino, Veneto. $22
2003 Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Cl. Plenio Ris., Marche. $35
2004 Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Cl. Villa Bucci Ris., Marche. $26
2005 Ca’ Rugate Soave Cl. Monte Fiorentine, Veneto. $40

Red
2002 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco “Ovello”, Piemonte. $38
2004 La Spinetta Barbera d’Asti Sup. Bionzo, Piemonte. $50
2003 Negri Valtellina Sfursat, Lombardia. $40
2004 Moris Farms Avvoltore, Toscana. $60
2004 San Guido Bolgheri Guidalberto, Toscana. $55
2001 Friggiali Brunello di Montalcino Donna Olga, Toscana. $100
2003 Fattoria di Felsina Chianti Classico Vign. Rancia Ris., Toscana. $20
2002 Castellare I Sodi di San Nicolò, Toscana. $75
2003 Banfi S.Antimo Excelsus, Toscana. $50
2004 Villa Medoro Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane Adrano, Abruzzo. $36
2003 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Marina Cvetic, Abruzzo. $24
2004 Falesco Marciliano, Lazio. $60
2005 Coppadoro Cotinone, Puglia. $16
2004 Tormaresca Masseria Maime, Puglia. $25
2005 Cusumano Benuara, Sicilia. $20
2004 Planeta Merlot, Sicilia. $36
2003 Tasca d’Almerita Rosso del Conte, Sicilia. $50

WINES WITH A SCORE OF 8.5

White
2004 Mariotto Colli Tortonesi Pitasso, Piemonte. $??
2002 Bellavista Franciacorta Grand Cuvée Brut, Lombardia. $??
1997 Cavit Trento Brut Altemasi Graal Ris., Trentino. $34
2002 Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Carato, Toscana. $??
2005 Coffele Soave Cl. Ca’ Visco, Veneto. $20

Red
2005 Ca’ Viola Dolcetto d’Alba Barturot, Piemonte. $16
2003 Elena Walch A. A. Lagrein Riserva Castel Ringberg, Alto Adige. $43
2004 Vistorta Friuli Grave Merlot, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $22
2001 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino “Tenuta il Greppo”, Toscana. $150
2001 Il Palazzone Brunello di Montalcino, Toscana. $85
2003 Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico, Toscana. $31
1995 Ama Chianti Classico Bellavista, Toscana. $??
2003 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico Ris., Toscana. $??
2003 Castello di Bossi Corbaia, Toscana. $50
2004 Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano Poggio Valente, Toscana. $??
2004 Lamborghini Campoleone, Umbria. $35
2004 Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo S.Calisto, Abruzzo. $33
2005 Pietracupa Cupo, Campania. $ n/a
2001 Sella & Mosca Alghero Marchese di Villamarina, Sardegna. $48
2002 Argiolas Turriga, Sardegna. $75

WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8 and 8.5

White
2004 Bastianich Vespa Bianco, Friuli Venezia Giulia. $30

Red
2001 Sella Lessona San Sebastiano, Piemonte. $??
2004 Montevetrano Montevetrano, Campania. $95
2003 Ama Chianti Classico Castello di Ama, Toscana. $80

And for those who care about such things…

WINES GROUPED BY REGION:

Abruzzo
2003 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Villa Gemma, Abruzzo. 9.5. $75
2001 Illuminati Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane Zanna Ris., Abruzzo. 9.25. $44
2004 Villa Medoro Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane Adrano, Abruzzo. 8.75. $36
2003 Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Marina Cvetic, Abruzzo. 8.75. $24
2004 Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo S.Calisto, Abruzzo. 8.5. $33

Alto Adige
2005 Cantina Produttori Termeno A. A. Gewürztraminer VT Terminum, Alto Adige. 9.5. $80
2005 Cantina Produttori Termeno A. A. Gewürztraminer Nussbaumer, Alto Adige. 9.25. $40
2003 Cantina Convento Muri – Gries A. A. Lagrein Riserva Abtei Muri, Alto Adige. 9.25. $30
2004 Cantina di Bolzano A. A. Lagrein Taber Ris., Alto Adige. 9.25. $35
2003 Cantina Caldaro A. A. Moscato Giallo Passito Serenade, Alto Adige. 9.25. $??
2005 Cantina Produttori San Michele Appiano A. A. Sauvignon Sanct Valentin, Alto Adige. 9.25. $45
2005 Elena Walch A. A. Gewürztraminer Kastelaz, Alto Adige. 9. $35
2004 Franz Haas Manna, Alto Adige. 9. $35
2003 Elena Walch A. A. Lagrein Riserva Castel Ringberg, Alto Adige. 8.5. $43

Calabria
2003 Odoardi Scavigna Vigna Garrone, Calabria. 9. $40

Campania
2004 Feudi di San Gregorio Patrimo, Campania. 9.5. $120
2004 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico, Campania. 9.25. $65
2000 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Ris., Campania. 9.25. $??
1999 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Ris., Campania. 9.25. $??
2005 Gran Furor Divina Costiera Costa d’Amalfi Fiorduva, Campania. 9. $30
2004 Villa Matilde Falerno del Massico Bianco Caracci, Campania. 9. $34
2005 Mastroberardino Fiano di Avellino Radici, Campania. 9. $??
2005 Pietracupa Cupo, Campania. 8.5. $n/a
2004 Montevetrano Montevetrano, Campania. 8.25. $95

Emilia Romagna
2004 San Patrignano Colli di Rimini Rosso Noi, Emilia Romagna. 9. $28

Friuli Venezia Giulia
2004 Livio Felluga COF Rosazzo Bianco Terre Alte, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 9.25. $34
2005 Volpe Pasini COF Sauvignon Zuc di Volpe, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 9.25. $20
2005 Ronco dei Tassi Collio Sauvignon, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 9.25. $18
2004 Scubla COF Bianco Pomédes, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 9. $??
2005 Russiz Superiore Collio Sauvignon, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 9. $18
2005 Venica & Venica Collio Sauvignon Ronco delle Mele, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 9. $28
2004 Lis Neris Pinot Grigio Gris, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 9. $??
2004 Vistorta Friuli Grave Merlot, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 8.5. $22
2004 Bastianich Vespa Bianco, Friuli Venezia Giulia. 8.25. $30

Lazio
2004 Falesco Marciliano, Lazio. 8.75. $60

Lombardia
1999 Ca’ del Bosco Franciacorta Brut Annamaria Clementi, Lombardia. 9. $99
2003 Monzio Compagnoni Franciacorta Extra Brut, Lombardia. 9. $??
2004 Cascina La Pertica Garda Cabernet Le Zalte, Lombardia. 9. $35
2003 Negri Valtellina Sfursat 5 Stelle, Lombardia. 9. $85
2003 Negri Valtellina Sfursat, Lombardia. 8.75. $40
2002 Bellavista Franciacorta Grand Cuvée Brut, Lombardia. 8.5. $??

Marche
2003 Velenosi Rosso Piceno Sup. Roggio del Filare, Marche. 9.25. $40
2003 Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Cl. Plenio Ris., Marche. 8.75. $35
2004 Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Cl. Villa Bucci Ris., Marche. 8.75. $26

Molise
2003 Di Majo Norante Molise Aglianico Contado, Molise. 9. $16

Piemonte
2001 Produttori Barbaresco Barbaresco Ris. Pajé, Piemonte. 9.5. $46
2001 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Ris. Rabajà, Piemonte. 9.5. $250
2003 Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Sup. Nizza La Court, Piemonte. 9.5. $40
2001 Bongiovanni Barolo Pernanno, Piemonte. 9.5. $70
2000 A. e G. Fantino Barolo Vigna dei Dardi Ris., Piemonte. 9.5. $60
2001 Cogno Barolo Vigna Elena, Piemonte. 9.5. $55
2003 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco “Ovello”, Piemonte. 9.25. $38
2001 Produttori Barbaresco Barbaresco Ris. Rio Sordo, Piemonte. 9.25. $46
2001 La Spinetta Barbaresco Starderi Ris., Piemonte. 9.25. $250
2004 Braida Barbera d’Asti Ai Suma, Piemonte. 9.25. $80
2001 Germano Barolo Cerretta, Piemonte. 9.25. $55
2001 Fontanafredda Barolo Lazzarito Vigna Delizia, Piemonte. 9.25. $65
2001 Castello di Verduno Barolo Massara, Piemonte. 9.25. $30
2004 Hilberg Nebbiolo Alba, Piemonte. 9.25. $45
2003 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco, Piemonte. 9. $26
2004 Deltetto Barbera d’Alba Bricco Marasche Sup., Piemonte. 9. $46
2003 Vietti Barbera d’Asti Sup. Nizza La Crena, Piemonte. 9. $52
2004 Pecchenino Dolcetto di Dogliani Sup. Bricco Botti, Piemonte. 9. $37
2001 Travaglini Gattinara Riserva, Piemonte. 9. $42
2003 Malvirà Roero Sup. Trinità, Piemonte. 9. $25
2004 Cascina Chicco Arcass Passito, Piemonte. 8.75. $40
2002 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco “Ovello”, Piemonte. 8.75. $38
2004 La Spinetta Barbera d’Asti Sup. Bionzo, Piemonte. 8.75. $50
2004 Mariotto Colli Tortonesi Pitasso, Piemonte. 8.5. $??
2005 Ca’ Viola Dolcetto d’Alba Barturot, Piemonte. 8.5. $16
2001 Sella Lessona San Sebastiano, Piemonte. 8.25. $??

Puglia
2004 Rivera Castel del Monte Puer Apuliae Nero di Troia, Puglia. 9.75. $85
2004 Castello Monaci Salento Primitivo Artas, Puglia. 9. $30
2005 Coppadoro Cotinone, Puglia. 8.75. $16
2004 Tormaresca Masseria Maime, Puglia. 8.75. $25

Sardegna
2003 Dettori Tenores, Sardegna. 9. $50
2001 Sella & Mosca Alghero Marchese di Villamarina, Sardegna. 8.5. $48
2002 Argiolas Turriga, Sardegna. 8.5. $75

Sicilia
2003 Donnafugata Contessa Entellina Milleunanotte, Sicilia. 9.5. $68
2004 Palari Faro Palari, Sicilia. 9.5. $45
2004 Firriato Ribeca, Sicilia. 9.5. $56
2005 Planeta Cometa, Sicilia. 9.25. $40
2002 Benanti Etna Bianco Sup. Pietramarina, Sicilia. 9.25. $45
2003 Benanti Etna Rosso Serra della Contessa, Sicilia. 9.25. $59
2005 Cusumano Benuara, Sicilia. 8.75. $20
2004 Planeta Merlot, Sicilia. 8.75. $36
2003 Tasca d’Almerita Rosso del Conte, Sicilia. 8.75. $50

Toscana
2004 Poggio Piano Rosso di Sera, Toscana. 9.5. $49
2003 Tenuta di Valgiano Tenuta di Valgiano, Toscana. 9.5. $75
2004 Fattoria di Petrolo Galatrona, Toscana. 9.25. $100
2004 San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia, Toscana. 9.25. $250
2001 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova, Toscana. 9.25. $45
2003 Querciabella Camartina, Toscana. 9.25. $104
2003 Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Castello di Fonterutoli, Toscana. 9.25. $30
2003 Colombaio di Cencio Chianti Classico I Massi Ris., Toscana. 9.25. $35
2003 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Toscana. 9.25. $84
2003 Boscarelli Nobile di Montepulciano Il Nocio dei Boscarelli, Toscana. 9.25. $55
2003 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Asinone, Toscana. 9.25. $45
2003 Il Molino di Grace Gratius, Toscana. 9. $50
2003 Colle Massari Bolgheri Sup. Grattamacco Ris., Toscana. 9. $100
2003 Melini Chianti Classico La Selvanella Ris., Toscana. 9. $29
2004 Tenuta di Ghizzano Nambrot, Toscana. 9. $??
2003 Antinori Solaia, Toscana. 9. $150
2004 Moris Farms Avvoltore, Toscana. 8.75. $60
2004 San Guido Bolgheri Guidalberto, Toscana. 8.75. $55
2001 Friggiali Brunello di Montalcino Donna Olga, Toscana. 8.75. $100
2003 Fattoria di Felsina Chianti Classico Vign. Rancia Ris., Toscana. 8.75. $20
2002 Castellare I Sodi di San Nicolò, Toscana. 8.75. $75
2003 Banfi S.Antimo Excelsus, Toscana. 8.75. $50
2001 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino “Tenuta il Greppo”, Toscana. 8.5. $150
2001 Il Palazzone Brunello di Montalcino, Toscana. 8.5. $85
2003 Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico, Toscana. 8.5. $31
1995 Ama Chianti Classico Bellavista, Toscana. 8.5. $??
2003 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico Ris., Toscana. 8.5. $??
2003 Castello di Bossi Corbaia, Toscana. 8.5. $50
2004 Le Pupille Morellino di Scansano Poggio Valente, Toscana. 8.5. $??
2002 Montenidoli Vernaccia di San Gimignano Carato, Toscana. 8.5. $??
2003 Ama Chianti Classico Castello di Ama, Toscana. 8. $80

Trentino
1997 Ferrari Trento Giulio Ferrari, Trentino. 8.75. $22
1997 Cavit Trento Brut Altemasi Graal Ris., Trentino. 8.5. $34

Umbria
2003 Colpetrone Umbria Sagrantino di Montefalco, Umbria. 9.25. $46
2004 Castello della Sala Cervaro della Sala, Umbria. 9. $40
2004 Castello delle Regine Merlot, Umbria. 9. $42
2003 Caprai Umbria Sagrantino di Montefalco Collepiano, Umbria. 9. $60
2004 Lamborghini Campoleone, Umbria. 8.5. $35

Veneto
2001 Lorenzo Begali Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. Vign. Monte Ca’ Bianca, Veneto. 9.5. $70
1997 Fratelli Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. Capitel Monte Olmi, Veneto. 9.5. $90
1995 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. 9.5. $??
2004 Cavalchina Bianco di Custoza Sup. Amedeo, Veneto. 9.5. $15
1999 Cav. G.B. Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. 9.25. $80
2001 Corte Giara Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. 9.25. $75
2003 Santi Amarone della Valpolicella Proemio, Veneto. 9.25. $65
2004 Roberto Anselmi Capitel Croce, Veneto. 9.25. $23
1999 Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. 9. $68
2001 Fratelli Tedeschi Amarone della Valpolicella Cl. Capitel Monte Olmi, Veneto. 9. $90
2001 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Cl., Veneto. 9. $75
2005 Suavia Soave Cl. Monte Carbonare, Veneto. 9. $22
2005 Prà Soave Cl. Monte Grande, Veneto. 9. $22
2004 Leonildo Pieropan Soave Cl. Calvarino, Veneto. 8.75. $22
2005 Ca’ Rugate Soave Cl. Monte Fiorentine, Veneto. 8.75. $40
2005 Coffele Soave Cl. Ca’ Visco, Veneto. 8.5. $20

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