Elisabetta Geppetti "Poggio Valente" Morellino di Scansano 2006

We visited this vineyard in Tuscany and schlepped this all the way back with us! It wasn't our favorite over there, but our palates were thoroughly spoiled when we tried it. Now back in reality, we give it a try...

EXPERIENCE

Cork has bright floral notes. The nose is floral and sweet, with underlying citrus and earthiness. Light alcohol on the nose, though not offensive. Seems brighter and sweeter than other morellinos. The taste is bitter dark chocolate with pepper on the finish. The wine is a bit light and watery which makes the flavor less deep than we'd like. As the wine opens, the finish becomes more bitter. 

VERDICT

NOT A VALUE - This was 25 Euros in Tuscany and pops up on the internet state-side for around $40... just not worth it. Aside from the fact that there is better Morellino di Scansano available for cheaper, this wine just wasn't that pleasant to drink. It lacks the depth of flavor and overall balance that we are big fans of in other morellinos. 

FACTS

Elisabetta Geppetti's vinyard "Fattoria Le Pupille" is located just outside of Grosetto in Southwestern Toscano. The 2006 "Poggio Valente" is a DOC classified Morellino di Scansano and this vintage marks the final production of the winery's original location. It is made from sangiovese (at least 85%) and alicante grapes, and is aged in oak barriques for 15 months. Geppetti also makes a DOC Morellino that is not aged (simply labeled Morellino di Scansano... no fancy name) which we've had as well... go ahead and skip that one too. 

Tenuta Santa Lucia Ótio 2004

Another offering from Cul De Sac in Rome brought out with a second plate of local meats and cheeses. Life is good...

EXPERIENCE
Spicy nose, a medium body, and a dry peppery finish. Excellent paired with cured meats; the finish cuts right through and refreshes the palate.

VERDICT
NOT A VALUE - This is not a bad wine, but our rating system is based on value. €23.50 paid in rome converts to about about $30 US, and though this wine is enjoyable, it's overpriced. If you've got money to burn, give it a try. If not, there are many comparable wines at lower prices. It really compares closely to a good Morellino di Scansano, which you can usually get for under $20.

FACTS
Tenuta Santa Lucia's Ótio is made from Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot all blended after separate vinification. The wine is classified IGT and comes from Poggio Mireto in northeastern Lazio. For more information visit the winery's website (complete with corny new age music).

Bussola "Ca' del Laito" 2003

After an 8 month hiatus, we picked up this recommended bottle at IWM for $45. We later came to find out that this is actually a declassified Valpolicella Superiore (listed as DOC on Bussola's website, though the wine is actually IGT... sounds like someone disagrees with classification laws).

EXPERIENCE
Not much from the cork... just, well, cork. The nose is earthy, very much like grape stems. The first taste is quite soft; the wine has a good medium body and lingers in your mouth pleasantly. The finish is sharp, almost bitter, and does not do the wine's other elements justice. As the wine opens, it still has an earthy nose with some alcohol undertones, though the body becomes thinner and slightly watery.

VERDICT
NOT A VALUE. It's not that we don't like this wine, it just left something to be desired. The aroma and flavor are complex, but the overall experience is inconsistent. At $45 we want to be grinning ear to ear when the bottle is empty, not wishing things had been different.

FACTS
Tommaso Bussola is located in Negrar, near the city of Verona in the Veneto region of Italy. The winery has a great website with information about this wine, so rather than cherry pick the specifics, we'll just send you there!

La Mozza Aragone 2005

The more expensive of La Mozza's two wine offerings, this bottle sells for around $43. We picked it up at Italian Wine Merchants in NYC. Aragone is the name the winemaker has given to this blend, which represents their attempt at a different kind of "Super-Tuscan" (a name given the regions non-traditional blends). La Mozza is owned by Lydia Bastianich, Joe Bastianich, and Mario Batali.

EXPERIENCE

This cork gave off a telltale spice. The first sip is vague at first then leads to a citrusy, tart finish. The wine is surprisingly light and the finish surprisingly strong. As the wine opened up, the fruity, citrus flavor became less apparent and the tart, dryness became the main focus. The aroma was pleasant throughout, but almost deceiving; we expected more on the "front" of the wine, not just a strong finish. In the end we wished the wine was more balanced like La Mozza's less costly "I Perazzi".

VERDICT

NOT A VALUE As huge fans of all things Batali and Bastianich, this was hard for us to dole out. At $40+ a bottle, this wine simply doesn't stack up, especially since we are such big fans of La Mozza's other offering.

FACTS

La Mozza is located in the Maremma region in the province of Grosseto in southern Toscana. The Aragone is classified IGT and is composed of 40% Sangiovese, 25% Alicante, 25% Syrah, and 10% Carignan.

BEHOLD! A rating system.

"And the Lord sayeth to them: Drink wine, and describe it in a way that pleaseth me."

I give you... THE VERDICT

No, this isn't an episode of Law & Order. Seriously, though, what does 85 points mean anyway? We don't know. So rather than come up with some new and unimproved rating system, we are going to keep things simple. 

Wines are separated into 3 categories based on price; they are then given a thumbs up or thumbs down accordingly. Here's the break down:

under $20 - GOOD AND CHEAP or TASTES CHEAP

$20 to $50 - GREAT VALUE or NOT A VALUE

$50 and up - SHELL OUT or SIT OUT

This makes it easy to find a wine that has a positive review and fits your budget.

Now, get on with it. Drink up and be somebody.