Wine reviews – Page 4 – TalesoftheCork blog

This is my first installment of TalesoftheCork Wine Reviews.

Piccini Villa Cortile Riserva 2006 Brunello di Montalcino

With James Suckling and other wine critics calling the 2006 Brunello di Montalcino the best ever, I thought I’d begin my tasting review section with the darling of Italian red wine. As production increased over the last decade, it has become possible to purchase a wonderful bottle of Brunello without emptying the pocket book.

My first wine review will be the 2006 Piccini Villa Cortile Riserva DOCG Brunello di Montalcino. It is a dry red wine from Tuscany, Italy.

The romance of Italy is at your fingertips with this light Tuscan example of Brunello. Whether you travel to Tuscany this summer/fall or not, the 2006 Brunellos are showing their Tuscan flair. After five years in the bottle and now three on the shelf, this dark, reddish-brown, deep-garnet color has notes of black cherry and pretty roses aromas that fill the wine bowl as you swirl it.

*The 2006 Piccini Villa Al Cortile Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva can be purchased via WineChateau.com or other Internet outlets.*

This will be a great first Brunello for someone who’s experimenting with Italy’s most prized varietal. I opened the bottle three hours before dinner to give it time to breath and I wasn’t disappointed.

Brunello winemakers keep the wine in oak barrels for three years. The Piccini Sangiovese fruit is now showing a rich black cherry, mesquite with hints of coffee and chocolate aromas combined with a plum and brown sugar medium finish. The tannins have softened and dried fruits, spices including sage, cardamonm and clove, appear during a lasting finish at 14% alcohol.

While 2006 has wide fan fair, this is not a huge version but rather a lighter Brunello that even has some coffee overtones. I think it is perfect for roasts, game and mature cheese. On a rating scale of 100, I give the Piccini Villa Al Cortile Brunello 90 points.

Wine Enthusiast gave the Piccini Brunello 93 points.

The Piccini Brunello should continue to improve some but this light bodied Brunello is worth a try now. Originally marketed at $60 a bottle, this is the right time to purchase the 2006 Picciini Villa Cortile Riserva DOCG Brunello.

Currently this wine can be bought online through various outlets, including WineChateau.com for $34.97. If you are willing to buy a case of this or mix and match wine, the shipping is free! Another excellent source to find a good price for wine is at Wine-Searcher.com.

The average price for this wine currently is $37 (excluding tax) and available for as low as $34.97. Sample received courtesy Wine Chateau for review purposes.

According to their web flyer, the Piccini winery has been making wines since 1882. Winemaker Santo Gozzo grows his Sangiovese Grosso grapes on a seven hectare estate vineyards with a limestone based soil balancing clay and schist.

Be sure to return check out my Twitter @TalesoftheCork and on my Instagram (talesofthecork) daily postings. I also would covet those who would suggest a wine, restaurant, chef or hotel to visit. Feel free to contact me through social media or via email at talesofthecork.gmail.com.

If you missed it, check out my latest blog post: Talesofthecork to add grass roots wine reviews.

While the Internet is crowded with wine buying and tasting options, I consistently find myself experimenting with wines from Washington, Oregon, California, France and Italy. So while the phrase ‘drink what you like’ is still appropriate, for most it can be an expensive proposition to find bottles that fit personal taste, style, pairing and cost.

Fortunately, my travels to each of those wine regions have provided me the opportunity to do just that. The study of wine during my free time has gifted me the chance to talk to winemakers, chefs, wine lovers and casual drinkers for the last seven years. And while I did not officially document many of my travels or discussions, Talesofthecork.com was born out of those experiences.

So with those humble beginnings, I now offer my take on wines. My grass roots approach is not only for the once a week consumer but for those like me who are on the road to develop their palate.

*Greg Stobbe is TalesoftheCork and is adding wine reviews to his stories on wine, food and travel.*

While I follow and enjoy contemporary wine reviewers like Robert Parker and James Suckling, those require passwords and yearly fee. I also like what Jon Thorsen, the Reverse Wine Snob, is doing with wines under $20. I do not want to compete with his findings.

My vision is to try, taste and review what I either stumble across in the four regions of my travel or am sent to review and pass along my findings. The cost is not my primary consideration. I am looking for great wines across the spectrum. The goal is to share comments knowing that not all wines are for every body but find a variety suitable for all kinds of wine enthusiasts.

Of course I will give recommendations and how to obtain a wine or, in some cases, skip it. Sometimes the cost is worth the price for special occasions like an anniversary, birthday, or holiday meal. And some wines are perfect for poolside but not necessarily at the dinner table.

Another exciting part of my journey will be sharing best buys and value picks that are only available a short time via web sites or through wineries.

Of course I will continue to visit and chat with those involved in the food, wine and travel industry and post my tales, but my hope is to provide ‘tweener’ comments, tips and taste recommendations from my conversations and travels. After my winter illness, I am all the more excited to get back to a regular pace at Talesofthecork.com.

So return often to my blog, and you might check out my Twitter TalesoftheCork (@talesofthecork) and Instagram (talesofthecork) daily postings. I also would covet those who would suggest a wine, restaurant, chef or hotel to visit. Feel free to contact me through social media or via email at talesofthecork@gmail.com.

My first wine review will be the 2006 Piccini Villa Cortile Riserva DOCG Brunello from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy. Look for the first post by June 26, 2013.

Those wishing to view my latest article, read Matties Wood-Fired Pizza set to grow business.

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