Mark SquiresDec 1, 2024
This '99 Brunello is a great example of why I like to age wines. Silky, it is caressing and sensual. It was a bit hard when young, but finesse and focus rule today as time has helped make it balanced and more harmonious while keeping its bright demeanor. It is youthful but nuanced, a perfect food wine, everything in the right place. It seems great today, but it's still on the upswing. Well done. #Wine
#winesofitaly #brunello #tuscany
Mark Squires May 9, 2024
This '99 Brunello is a great example of why I like to age wines. Silky, it is caressing and sensual. It was a bit hard when young, but finesse and focus rule today as time has helped make it balanced and more harmonious while keeping its bright demeanor. It is youthful but nuanced, a perfect food wine, everything in the right place. It seems great today, but it's still on the upswing. Well done. #wine #brunello #winesofitaly
Mark Squires Mar 19, 2024
Attended Slow Wine today, put on by @colangelopr at Eataly N Y. Mostly Italian producers, but also some others. For instance, @oskar_bynke was pouring Wiemer (FLX) and Standing Stone. Then, Hank Zona from @thegrapesunwrapped appeared. Who is the bigger star? 😁 And Dave Pittard of @buttonwoodgrove and 680, also in FLX. Oskar (2022) and Dave (2021) had real nice Cab Francs, btw. Nice tastes, nice event. More Italian wine later. Cheese. Lots of cheese. #wine #winesofitaly #cheese
Show threadMark Squires Dec 4, 2023

2 of 2
The Allegrini ($45 not too long after release) in a very different style (doh!) smelled older, but came around nicely. It is not as fresh or as young as the Mocca, but it still is lovely, with surprising elegance for the category, but full-bodied and mouth-coating. Drink up.

Overall, pleased by the Italians. 🇮🇹 The wines, I mean. 😁 Forza Azurri. #wine #winesofitaly #amarone #barbaresco @moccagatta @allegrini

Mark Squires Dec 4, 2023

This Northern Italian duo was NOT drunk together, and yeah, the regions have zip to do with one another. Deal with it.

The Mocca 1999 Cole was gorgeous. Fresh, crisp, elegant and focused, this precise red was easily drinkable now, but vibrant. On release when I tasted this, it was fierce. It needed time. $52 near release.
1 of 2, continue for Allegrini

#wine #italy #winesofitaly

Mark Squires Oct 14, 2023
From Sette Ponti in Tuscany, this 2006 Super Tuscan has proven to be a great value. Even today it is only around $30. Showing fine complexity, a touch of slate and some Bordeaux-like nuances, it drinks perfectly today. Good depth, fine focus. It is firm enough and structured enough so that it might age some more, but there is no real reason to do so. #wine #winesofitaly #winesoftuscany
Miguel NoguerasApr 5, 2023
Tonight’s victim: #Ruffino #Reserva #Ducale #Oro #Chianti #classico #wines #winesofitaly
Show threadMark Squires Feb 25, 2023

@micchega Italy is a great source for non-French grapes as some of those have definitely spread to the new world. A Vermentino from Barboursville in Virginia just won the Governor's Cup prize in its category. From Northern Italy, Jamesport on Long Island makes a terrific Lagrein. Lieb there makes a Teroldego. Wölffer Estate on Long Island makes both Tocai Friulano and Trebbiano.

You don't have to rely just on Italia, though. Lots making Albariño, like Bedell on Long Island. How do you feel about Riesling not really being French despite Alsace? 😁 Finger Lakes is centered on that.

Now, sourcing these from your location--can't help there! 😢 #wine #winesofitaly

Mark Squires Nov 22, 2022

Why Having A Cellar is a Good Thing,or lessons my students wish they paid attention to when I taught an intro wine course. Part I.
Ok, so as I get old, knees and back hurt and I can't play tennis any more. Surgery coming. There is a consolation. My cellar has gotten older and wines I've painstakingly collected and cellared have often reached a perfect place. On the left, the 2001 Urz Wurz, a two-star. Deep, rich, yet not very sweet, and fresh as a daisy. The '99 Donnhoff is a different beast, laser-like precision and a core of acidity. Also completely fresh. I bought a lot of 2001 Rieslings. They will outlive me!

The Moccagatta is in a perfect place, mature and harmonious, but firm. The last bottle of this I decanted for some time. It doesn't need it and it didn't help it. Here, I pulled the cork for an hour, then pour. Beautiful, fresh and lively with a core of acidity and the wood pulled in.

(Liking the longer posts)

#wine #riesling #barbaresco #winesofitaly #winesofGermany

Mark SquiresNov 17, 2022
Two lovely mature Rieslings, both completely fresh and youthful. The heavier weight Auslese is a **. The Spatlese has beautiful acidity and precision. The Barbaresco was in perfect shape to drink. It didn't really require any decanting. In fact, considering that I decanted the last bottle I had of it, I think it was better without decanting. Cellaring wines becomes a bigger advantage when you get older. 😁 #robertparker #wineadvocate #winesofItaly #winesofGermany #riesling #wine