Giuseppe Mascarello & Figlio-Monprivato-Barolo-Italy-2003-$55.00-A nose of funk clear after a 3 hour decant, cherries and spice, light to medium ruby in color.  A medium bodied red, cherries, raspberry, herbs, minerals, a very good but not great wine.                 RP-93               CR-90               Good with meats, chicken, pasta.

Castello Banfi-Brunello di Montalcino-Sangiovese-Italy-2001-$60.00-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark ruby in color.  A delicious red, currants, blackberry, smoke, tea, spices, full bodied with a long finish, decanted for two hours.                   RP-89              WS-93              WE-91            CR-91               Good with steak, chicken, pasta.

Solaria 123-Brunello Di Montalcino-Sangiovese-Siena-Italy-2001-$45.99-Initial nose of sweet cherries, needed a three hour decant, 2nd hour very funky earthy odor, third hour sweet fruits and tobacco, ruby in color.   A food friendly, medium bodied wine, cherries, chocolate, smooth earthy interesting red.               RP-91              CR-90                Good with meats, chicken, pasta.

Fattoria Casa Di Terra-Terratico Di Bibbona-Poggio Querciolo-Italy-2006-$29.98-A nose of dark fruit and coffee,  beautiful amber color.  A smooth, full bodied blend, black and blueberries, nice use of oak, with a nice polished finish, a special wine.             WS-93             CR-92              Good with meats, pasta, cheeses.

Allegrini-Palazzo Della Torre-Veronese-Italy-2006-$15.46-A nose of dark fruit and roasted meat, dark purple in color.   Currants, leather, roasted meat flavors, chocolate, a good food friendly full bodied red.  I have enjoyed this Italian red for the last three verticals and all have been consistent, second time tried this year all consistent.               WS-90                CR-90                Good with veal, chicken, pasta.

Allegrini-Valpolicella-Dry Red-Fumane-Italy-2007-$11.99-A nose of cherry, ruby in color.  A smooth, easy drinking, food friendly red.  Cherry, berry, herbs, medium bodied, a good value.          RP-87               WS-86             CR-87                 Good with chicken, cheeses, salads.

Piancornello di Pieri Silvana-Brunello Di Montalcino-Sangiovese-Tuscany-Italy-2004-$29.99-A nose of dark fruit and spice, dark amber in color.  A medium to full bodied, a bit tart Brunello, cherries, plums, with cola and spice, good not great.                 RP-89                 WS-89                  WE-94                CR-89                    Good with meats, chicken, pasta.

Marchesi De Frescobaldi-Nipozzano-Riserva-Chianti Rufina-Sangiovese-Italy-2005-$18.99-A nose of plums, dark ruby in color.  A smooth, food friendly red, plum, medium bodied, some chocolate, spice, elegant, a very good value.               RP-89                 WS-90 (#76 Top 100 2008)               WE-89                CR-90                   Good with veal, chicken, pasta.

Casina Di Cornia-Chianti Classico-Tuscany-Italy-2006-$22.50-A nose of dark fruit and earth, dark amber in color.  A medium bodied, smooth Chianti, blackberry, plum with a dusty finish, a good food friendly wine.                         NR                       CR-89                       Goo with salads, cheese, pasta.

Tenuta Poggio al Tesoro-Mediterra-Toscana-Italy-2006-$17.98-A elegant nose of berry and chocolate, dark amber in color.  A smooth easy drinking red, dark fruit, earth, a juicy wine that was flat out enjoyable.    This is the third time I have had this wine in the past few months, all with similar results.          WS-92            RP-90             CR-91           Good with veal, chicken, pasta.