Tancredi by Donnafugata - treat yourself to an amazing holiday in Sicily

Dear Wine Lovers,

How are you today? Here in Milan Autumn is coming and our kitchens, the courses and their ingredients are changing. This is the right moment to taste, for example, a good salad of Porcini mushrooms maybe with a fresh beef tartare of Piedimont's Scottona... that has been my today's lunch and now, I don't know why but I'm still hungry. I've finished my lunch 3 hours ago and I can't help but think about all the marvelous scents and sensations that good food has given me.

Ok Angelo, you're here to talk about wine, this is not a culinary-spot!

Sir, Ma'am, today I'm really proud because I'm bringing you hand by hand in my origin land, my lovely and awesome Sicily! Who doesn't know this wonderful Italian region? Oh, I miss my Sicily too much and, for now, the only way to put a foot on the Sicilian soil is to drink a Sicilian wine.

When you open a bottle of wine, one of the best things to do, is to try to imagine all the work behind the bottle, imagine the vineyard, the grapes, the landscapes immerse in the morning fog of the spring. I think that wine is all of this, not only taste but a story, a movie, a dream.

Ok, now I'm deeply moved, I'm taking a Cleenex and...

This wine that I'm going to introduce you is one of the first red wines that I've really appreciated in my life. A very good friend of mine, a rare person who has changed my life, and not for this "wine-reason", named Mauro, has given me the opportunity to discover this product and today, after 10+ bottle and vintages tasted, I'm glad to present:

Tancredi by Donnafugata

All the power and the amazing notes of Sicily, a blend of Nero D'Avola grapes (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon, really well done from the famous Donnafugata company in the Contessa Ermellina D.O.C. area.

The sun of the magnificent Sicily gives the Nero D'Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon an amazing colour with sensations of cacao, licorice, Arabian spices and obviously mature red fruits. But I can't do an organolectic exam of this wine, I can only suggest you to find this wine and try it as soon as possible. Sip and dream.

Good quality-price ratio, just 18-20 € (retail suggested price), for one of the best traditional reds of Italy.

Are you still there?

Thanks for your affection and I hope to meet you soon here, on Wine Lovers Corner, next week.

Enjoy wine, enjoy life.

Angelo D'Alessandro

thedeliciousworld@gmail.com

Ribolla Gialla Vinnae by Jermann - Smile... summer will never end!

Dear Wine Lovers,

I'm happy to find you here again.

I'm not a fan of white wines, the followers of this blog know that, but sometimes I find on my footpath some really interesting white wines and today I'd like to speak about one of my favorites.

I love champagne, I love our Franciacorta "sparkling-bubbles-super-wines" and some Italians Prosecco so I don't understand perfectly the white wines, it's my fault, I know, but when I can choose what will be the favorite match with my seafood, for example, I usually get bubbles :).

For my personal culture, happens that I try some white wine or that some friend invites me to do that and today I'm very happy to share with you this product:

RIBOLLA GIALLA VINNAE by JERMANN

Jermann is one of the best wine producers of our country, from Friuli Venezia Giulia region, on the Collio hills. They produced some of "kings-wine" of the world, like the famous and fabulous "Capo Martino" or "Vintage Tunina".

This "VINNAE", Ribolla Gialla grapes based (with just a little bit of Tocai and Riesling), is a really young, fresh and "funny" wine. Full-fruity flavor, I really enjoyed this wine three times in the last month, the classic white wine that everyone should have in our cellars, just for aperitif or some unexpected happening with friends.

The autumn is at the door so this is the right moment to drink this kind of wines because in a couple of week we can start with all our lovely and power impenetrable reds!!! (In reality, I've never stopped).

Just a note, regarding my last review, on my U.S. excursion in Napa Valley... and talking about "whites", I've loved another product, same winemakers of the "fab-cab" mentioned, Estate Sauvignon Blanc Tres Hermanos by Wolf Family Vineyards, unfortunately available only in US, UK and Japan, one of the best white (for my palate) ever.

Now I have to go, there is a "never-tasted" Pinot Noir that is waiting for me, it sounds like a "blind-date" will it be a loving date?

Enjoy life and live like: EVERY DAY IS FRIDAY!!!

Angelo D'Alessandro

thedeliciousworld@gmail.com

PS: this review is dedicate to my very good friends Sophie & Ella!

Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon by Wolf Family Vineyards - a wine of the heart... a rare product from rare people!

Dear Wine Lovers,

I'm back and thanks a lot for your e-mails received during the summer break.

Yes, I've got a lot of “bullets in my gun", new product tasted, old “friends" and so on... but today I'm going to tell you about an exception for this blog.

I know, this is an Italian wines blog but I absolutely have to write about an incredible experience done a couple of weeks ago a lot of miles away from Italy.

Also this year I've had my U.S.A. reinvigorating-trip. You know, I'm a "US-addicted" and I go there every time I can. A lot of miles driven, a lot of amazing landscapes and a lot of special people met. I love American people, I love their pragmatism, their bravery, their power and their affability, oh yes, I love that country.

My last trip has been a very very lucky trip, especially during my "Napa Valley" week, when I've had the honour to meet two really rare people that I'll never forget, Jane and Kathryne.

Today I'm very happy to talk you about one of the best wine that I've never tasted in my life, only for that I'm doing an exception and I'm very glad to introduce you to (drum roll):

Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon by Wolf Family Vineyards

Oh my gosh, you can't imagine how many sensations are held captive in this wine, I can define it: "a dream in a bottle".

All the power of Cabernet Sauvignon has been emphasized by a long peaceful sleep in almost all new oak barrels. Amazing purple, brilliant and impenetrable red colour, explosive inkling of mature red fruit at the nose, mature Californian plum, home-made cherry jam and toasted spices. At the palate is really gorgeous, muscle, intense, warm and with an unforgettable long finish.

What kind of experience my wine-friends, I've tried this wine about ten days ago but now, while I'm writing this review I'm yet enjoying all the sensations of that tasting-date, it was a stunning wine encounter that I'll never forget.

This wine, and especially the people who are behind this wine, have enriched my life-journey and I'm really honoured to have met them.

God bless Sant' Helena :)

Angelo D'Alessandro

thedeliciousworld@gmail.com