2000 Alois Lageder Südtirol/Alto Adige Cabernet Sauvignon Cor Römigberg (Südtirol/Alto Adige DOC, Trentino-Alto Adige, northeastern Italy) cork closure, 13.5% - appears beautiful purple black, smell very herbal, woodsy, oak and hay, some leather, concentrated and intense nose, mouthfeel is silky with a touch of graininess, taste very tender fruit and oak oak oak oak and more oak, delicate slightly spicy, intense drying tannins, tons of flavor, but that oak needs a lot more time to integrate, as it was now it was tasty but just too much, that being said, it did pair quite well with a simple rather bloody steak, as pricey as this was at 38 euro in 2006, I really wish I could have left it alone for at least another 5 years to give it a chance, as the underlying structure seemed very promising, but at this stage, though I enjoyed the wine, I didn’t get 38 euro out of it, though my drinking companion completely adored it—more of a fan of oak
2005 Foradori Teroldego Rotaliano (Teroldego Rotaliano DOC, Trentino, Trentino-Alto Adige, northeastern Italy) cork closure, 13% - at first the nose on this was a bit of a mess with lots of hay and weirdness, a bit of tightness on the palate as well, after an hour or so, however, it opened up beautifully into a delicious concoction of less than ripe blueberries, bits of welcome greenness and very refreshing acidity, had only a few days after I had Foradori’s 2003 Granato—right now this Teroldego is ready and delicious to drink (for those who hanker for reds with a bit of tang), while the Granato felt like a sleeping beauty, wish I had gotten lots more of this for less than 11 euro in 2007
2006 Antichi Giochi Piemontesi (Fracchia) Piemonte Chardonnay Giabiné (Piemonte DOC, northwestern Italy) 13.5% - imported to USA by Michael R. Downey selections, Lorton, Virginia - appears greenish gold, smell little on day one, but on day two, very green berries, bit of nail polish, strong nose (but more appealing than my description), mouthfeel viscous and thick, taste on the first day is again quite closed and greenness is the only impression, on day two, it is still tightly bound but greenness it matched by some picante spice, upfront and inviting, green spicy fruit, bit of alcohol that doesn't come through on the tongue for me, but in the belly. lively, spicy and very green, needs a good food match, but I liked it, paid $13 for it in 2008, but wouldn’t feel the need to seek out another (though I’d love to sample more chardonnays from Piemonte)