-excellent with my edge probably going to the Begali right now (assuming 2001 for all). If you want a wine that truly tastes like an Amarone but is not, I would reccomend the Bussola Valpolicalla TB which should be about $35. It...

want a lower price point, the great “sleeper” red wine of Italy, IMO, is Valpolicella Superiore Ripassa... a richly-fermented red predominantly from the corvina grape. As for whites, my single-favorite consistent rich...

For a great, soft red wine look no further than: Valpolicella Classico Ripasso DOC, Salvaia ’04 at 48 bucks... This wine will match alot of your dishes, and the price leaves room for a nice white which you’re going to need to...

A fairly multi-purpose wine that would specifically go well with what you’re doing would be the Masi Campofiorin, which is a Ripasso, the mid-process between Valpolicella and Amarone. A fair bit of body, good fruit, and...

Castellani, Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso, Collezione Cà del Pipa - $19.95 But then I went nuts: 2005 Bodegas mas Alta, “Artigas”, Priorat, Spain - $33.95 65% Grenache, 35% Carignan, Robert Parker 91

Classico and Valpolicella, the best of each you can afford within your budget... Since you’re hosting a tasting party with numerous bottles, why not do both an Italian and non-italian pairing!

to it to “soften” the wine. The only Chianti I have ever tried is Chianti Classico in a local Italian restaurant-wasn’t impressed, so I am hoping all of you can enlighten me!! I have a friend that I am planning a...

of seafood spreads... as long as the wine is good it will hold up glass after glass, IMO. Also, re: good whites or reds being cheaper, IMO a fantastic “cheaper” red wine is good Cali zinfandel, say in the mid to high...

Superiore, Pieropan ($25.55) 70% garganega, 30% trebbiano. Waxy pear with a hint of vinyl. Rich but a welterweight, packing fruit and minerals and a refreshing acid bite. Long, creamy finish. Delicious. >La Rocca 2004, Soave...

Just picked up a bottle of the Chateau St. Jean 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon for $9.99. I was blown away by the complexity, structure, and fruit in this wine. Superior value at less than $10.00....could easily stack up against $20...

Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina ($14, #677567) 2005 Fattoria di Basciano Chianti Rufina, Italy ($14, 68163) 2005 Volpaia Chianti Classico, Italy ($23, 953828) 2005 Tedeschi Valpolicella Classico Superiore Capitel dei...

a personal favorite here), would be a valpolicella superiore. Failing to find a satisfactory bottle of any of these, if your wine vendor has a particularly nicely developed cali zinfandel that would be my 3rd choice.

-fried duck breast with glögg sauce on mango risotto, which will be paired with a 1998 Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore): A stack of three rounds of red tuna tartare, each round separated by a slice of roasted red beet....

Classico Superior. Then I stumbled to a bar just around the corner from Corso Como and had a nightcap (Morin Calvados) and finally crawled back to my hotel. L’altria Phamacy was another place that has been written about...

110. Perhaps the greatest chianti classico and the greatest Valpolicella of all, both at reasonable prices (for what they are) and part of the thick volume which he presents. They compliment his oversize, bound menu which is an...