Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep Ruby red color with garnet edges, aromas of berry fruit, spice, oak and tobacco emanated from my glass. The palate showed mature flavors of cherry, blackberry and currants, with soft well developed tannins, well balanced with acidity. The finish was long and satisfying ending with some oak and earthy tones. — 14 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

SATRICO 2024, Bianco IGP. Lazio, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A precision blend of Chardonnay 34% · Sauvignon Blanc 33% · Trebbiano 33% from Casale del Giglio combining Chardonnay’s structure, Sauvignon Blanc’s aromatic lift, and Trebbiano’s freshness. Bottled at 13.5% ABV, this wine bridges modern technique with ancestral regional identity.

Aromas & Flavors
Layered and multidimensional. Citrus zest, white peach, subtle tropical hints, and delicate herbal notes weave together seamlessly. Aromatically complex without being aggressive, everything in tension and harmony.

Mouthfeel
Structured yet energetic. Chardonnay provides body, Sauvignon brings edge and lift, and Trebbiano adds linear freshness. The result is a dynamic, evolving palate that feels architectural and intellectually engaging.

Food Pairings
Branzino, herb-crusted chicken, pasta alle vongole, roasted vegetables, or aged pecorino.

Verdict
A cerebral white blend that moves faster than language. Dimensional, balanced, and deeply expressive of Lazio’s evolving white identity. This is serious white wine.

🍷 Personal Pick
Strategic allocation territory. This isn’t just a blend, it’s a statement. One for near-term reflection. One for future “I knew this was special” validation. — 4 months ago

Fabio Franchella

9.2

Moschus, leder, tabak, viel wildes aroma, leicht krautig, frucht dezent im hintergrund (himbeer/kirsche). Komplexer Grigonlino. 15%, aber wunderbar eingebunden — 7 months ago

with Xenia

Jose Lorenzo

9.0

Crisp bright. Perfect pizza and Cacio Pepe wine. — 2 years ago

Mark Eastom

8.9

1/2 bottle. Apple and pear with citrus fruit and nice acid. — 5 years ago

Rebecca Graham

9.0

Well balanced. Fruit and tannins and length. — 6 years ago

Michael McGuire

9.0

Always a good option, med acid and med tannins, pretty dry, great with anything rich — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This is a remembrance of Sofia & my trip to Franciacorta & visit to Ca’ del Bosco in 2015.

If Italy has a kind of equivalent to Champagne, it would be Franciacorta. This is not Prosecco. It is made in the traditional method.

It is a beautiful part of Italy with both Lake Garda’s, one smaller (closer) & one much bigger and is a summer haven.

Excuse the fussy pics. I bought a new iPhone 7 just before we left & it had a defective camera.

The nose shows fruit blossoms, pineapple, green, apple, golden apple, white peach, tropical melons, vanilla, frothy cream, some caramel, soft volcanics, chalk & spring flowers setting in greens.

The palate has nice, soft, mousse. Ripe fruits; fruit blossoms, pineapple, green, apple, golden apple, lemon, lime, white peach, tropical melons & mango. Vanilla, frothy cream, some caramel, soft volcanics, sea spray, saline, chalk & spring flowers setting in greens, beautiful, acidity, well balanced, nicely structured & toned with an elegant finish that last a full minute and lands on volcanics. — a month ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

ANTHIUM 2024, Bellone, Lazio IGP, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
100% Bellone from Lazio, crafted by Casale del Giglio. An indigenous grape with ancient Roman roots, bottled at 14% ABV and expressing the full tropical and mineral personality of this historic variety.

Aromas & Flavors
Explosive tropical aromatics, mango, papaya, ripe pineapple, and golden peach — leap from the glass with remarkable intensity. Beneath the exuberant fruit lies a subtle mineral undertone that keeps everything focused and grounded.

Mouthfeel
Textured, vibrant, and rhythmically expressive. The palate mirrors the nose with precision, delivering layered tropical richness balanced by freshness. The finish lingers confidently, long and resonant without heaviness.

Food Pairings
Grilled prawns, Caribbean-spiced fish, roasted chicken with citrus glaze, burrata with stone fruit, or saffron seafood risotto.

Verdict
A show-stopping indigenous white that commands attention. Profound aromatics, dimensional palate, and unforgettable persistence. This is not just impressive, this is emotional wine.

🍷 Personal Pick
Yes. This is a 2-bottle strategy candidate. One to relive the shock. One to cellar and remember exactly where you were when Lazio changed your axis. — 4 months ago

Sara Urquidez

9.5

8 years out - still pretty red with hints of brown, legs are slowing down, no sediment yet. It's rounded out and smooth but could benefit from more time in the bottle to further develop the medium to full body. First nose of forest floor, mineral and cherry. Deep cherry, oak, with earthy forest flavors and slight minerality. Long finish with low-medium acidity.

Purchased at Castiglion del Bosco winery — 7 months ago

Gladys Xiques

9.0

Dark rich overripe fruits. Yet balanced with tobacco. — 4 years ago

Riccardo Arrigoni

9.0

AIS II
Dosage zero — 5 years ago

AHF

9.3

Subtle, lead pencil, smooth and elegant with underlying firmness after 24 hour decant. — 6 years ago

Michele Toscano

8.9

Our last evening in Florence — 7 years ago

with Doug

ARNS

9.3

Love it … so amazing — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Ca’ del Bosco “Annamaria Clementi” Franciacorta 2016, Franciacorta DOCG, Lombardy, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Prestige cuvée Franciacorta from Ca’ del Bosco, crafted using the traditional method and aged extensively on lees. The blend includes Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco, the latter adding a distinctive Italian identity rarely seen in Champagne. The 2016 vintage shows exceptional balance and refinement, delivering the depth and elegance expected from one of Italy’s most iconic sparkling wines.

Aromas & Flavors
White peach, baked apple, citrus zest, toasted brioche, almond pastry, and delicate floral tones. Subtle hints of honey, lemon curd, and crushed stone emerge with air, giving the wine impressive aromatic complexity.

Mouthfeel
Ultra-fine mousse with a creamy yet energetic texture. Structured and layered with vibrant acidity supporting a deep mid-palate. Long, persistent finish with elegance and precision, prestige cuvée level balance that rivals top Champagne houses.

Food Pairings
Lobster or scallop crudo. Oysters with citrus mignonette. Truffle risotto. Branzino or Dover sole. Aged Parmigiano Reggiano

Verdict
A striking example of Franciacorta at its highest level, refined, expressive, and unmistakably luxurious. The structure and finesse easily evoke comparisons with tête de cuvée Champagne, yet the presence of Pinot Bianco adds a subtle Italian nuance that sets it apart.

Did You Know?
Franciacorta requires longer minimum lees aging than Champagne for vintage wines (at least 30 months for vintage expressions), contributing to the creamy texture and complexity found in prestige cuvées like Annamaria Clementi.

🍷 Personal Pick
Absolutely a “whoa factor” sparkling wine, each glass reveals depth and refinement comparable to top Champagne prestige cuvées, yet with a distinctive Italian signature.
— 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 “Cuvée Annamaria Clementi” pours a deep straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is vinous, toasty, and leesy, with ripe tropical fruits, lemon curd, and marzipan. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is super rich and creamy. Fabulous stuff. Drink now. Disgorged Autumn of 2015. — 7 months ago

Stephen Countryman

9.3

Excellent. Seemed common on the nose at first, but the first sip blew me away. Complex flavors over a long finish. Fun but sophisticated. We get black berries, chocolate and a hint of tobacco. Hopefully I can find another 2008 one day. — 4 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.4

This pale yellow wine has a fragrant nose with some grassy, herbal notes, although not as grassy as the Tiare. There is a nice floral element and some tropical fruit, too. The palate shows a great Sauvignon Blanc flavor profile - citrus, minerals, herbs - and an acidity which is pleasant enough without getting too crazy. I sometimes find Sauvignon to be a little much on the palate for my taste, but that is not the case with the Turriano. It is a very nice sip and wonderful match for rice or pasta dishes, especially those with an herbal flair to them. BTW, this wine is Friuli DOC. — 5 years ago

Reda Pilybaite

8.9

Beautiful vine! — 6 years ago

with Travis