Vino e Cucina d'Italia

The passion of Vignaioli Morelino di Scansano

by Neil Duarte

Lovers of Italian wines know of Tuscany. To the southwest lies the less well-known Cantina Vignaioli del Morelino di Scansano, a cooperative of approximately 150 growers, producing nearly 2.5 million bottles of wine a year. Neil Duarte visited recently.Here's his report.

Madonna di Como

Madonna di Como 2010 Dolcetto d'Alba ($14.99)

Very dark blackish-purple at the center shading to garnet, then clear at the very edge. Good, characterful Dolcetto aromas, blueberries and blackberries, and earthy moist clay. Fresh and bright on the palate, tart blueberries with a distinct edge of tannic astringency. Dark berries, a whiff of maraschino; a mineral note and a touch of lemon zest linger in the long finish. Good snap and structure and a discreet 12.5% alcohol level make it food-friendly.

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Merlot holds its own

by Richard Fadeley

If you are a fan of merlot, you may have been feeling a little left out of the wine buzz. "Maybe you feel your preferences are a little outdated, and that you should be drinking something a bit more upscale, a little harder to pronounce, a tad more nuanced," writes Richard Fadeley. But you can relax, he says. Merlot is America's most popular wine. His panel recent held a blind tasting of 15 merlots. Here are the results.