Last night I took David to JFK for his flight back to UK, and picked up pizza Betsy has ordered on way home. Cellar is a bit cool for immediately serving reds, so went with a white, the 2005 Pieropan "Calvarino" Soave Classico. I've long been a fan of the basic Pieropan. I've tried the La Rocca, found it well-done but not worth the considerable extra money for my tastes, I think subconsciously I put the Calvarino in same category even though I had never tried. But some notes by the esteemed Florida Jim made me reconsider. I'm really glad I did. This is a really lovely bottle of wine. Just the faintest hint of spritz, beautiful clean pear and apple fruit, wet rocks in the forest. Like standing next to a mountain stream. With time a little lemon and tropical fruits. Excellent length, nice concentration, medium-bodied with an acidic backbone, really excellent wine for $22. Lingers on the tongue. Jim says this can age, but I find it so lovely now. A-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.