Some Favorites at the Tre Bicchieri Tasting

Every year Gambero Rosso holds its “Tre Biccheri” (Three Glasses) tasting in New York.  The “glasses” are awarded in their publication italianwines 2010.  Three glasses is the highest rating that a wine can receive. Almost all of the wines that received the three glasses were present at the tasting on Feb 22. There were over 154 wines. The event draws members of the press, wine trade and the public.

Over the last few years I have noticed that the wines at the Tre Bicchieri tasting have been less international in style. There may be two reasons for this. One reason may be that the people at Gambero Rosso are giving their highest ratings to wines that are more terroir driven and therefore more “Italian tasting”.   The other may be that the producers themselves are beginning to realize that the consumer in moving away from over-oaked and over-manipulated wines.

Some of the wines listed below have been my favorites for a number of years and I am glad that they were awarded “Tre Bicchieri”.

Barolo “Sarmasso” 2005 Brezza & Figli – 2005 was not considered by some to be  a great year but this Barolo has all the true Nebbiolo characteristics.  I tasted it last May and it has gotten better.

Barolo “Elena” 04 Elvio Cogno– the tradition of excellence continues  here with Nadia Cogno and her husband Walter Fissore.

Walter Fissone and Nadia Cogno

Barbaresco Asili 2005 Bruno Giacosa- One of the great producers of Barbaresco.

Coevo  2006  Cecchi– a Super Tuscan that tastes like a real wine- made from 50% sangiovese, 20%merlot, 20% petit verdot and 10% cabernet sauvignon.

Andrea Cecchi and his wine Coevo

Verdicchio dei Castelli Jesi Cl. Riserva 2007 Bucci – white wine aged in botti– large oak barrels. One of the best white wines of Italy.

Bradi Alte 07 Livon made from chardonnay, sauvignon, picolit and moscato giallo and it all works.

Torgiano Rosso Vigna Monticchio Riserva 2005(Rubesco) 70% sangiovese and 30% cannaiolo. I have been drinking this wine since the 1973 vintage.

Faro 07 Palari –   Made from Nerello cappuccino and mascalese and also old vines of nocera, acitana, tignolino galatena and calabrese in small amounts- may be the best red wine made in Sicily.

Faro from Sicily

 

Montefalco Sagrantino 06 Perticaia                     and

Montefalco Sagrantino “Chiusa di Pannone” 04-Antonelli San Marco

On a recent trip to Montefalco, these two Sagrantino’s were two of my favorites and they still are.

Filippo Antonelli tasting his Sagrantino

Trento Giulio Ferrari, Riserva del Fondatore Brut 2000 Ferrari- this is the best Champagne method wine made in Italy.

Valdobbiadene Grave di Stecca Brut 08 Nino Franco – another great sparkling wine from one of my favorite prosecco producers

There were many more wines that I liked but I am off to Sicily and Piedmont and will add to the list after I return on March 12th.

You can follow my adventures tasting La Barbera in Piedmont at www.barberameeting.com/it   (become a FB fan of Barbera Meeting) and at www.barbera2010.com starting on March 7th.