White Wine Selections

Pinot Grigio:

A very popular, light-bodied, crisp wine that matches well with seafood.

  • 203. Bottega Vinaia, "Trentino" 2006 $35
  • 204. Tramin, "Alto Adige"2006 $38
  • 202. Castello Banfi "San Angelo", Tuscany 2006 $42
  • 201. Santa Margherita, Alto Adige 2006 $54

Chardonnay:

A dry wine that has fruity aromas and flavors. Not "oaky" like US version.

  • 211. Coppo "Costebianche", Piedmont 2004 $42
  • 213. Coppo "Monteriolo" Piedmont 2002 $94
  • 462. Vallarom 2004 $38

Arneis (Barolo Bianco):

A dry to medium-dry wine with a rich texture. It is full of herbaceous aromas and almond flavors.

  • 221. Bruno Giacosa "Roero" Piedmont 2005 $58

Gavi:

The most interesting expression of the Cortese grape grown in Piedmont. Gavi is fruity and aromatic, occasionally filled with mineral notes and a tangy, citrus finish.

  • 226. Banfi "Principessa", Piedmont 2005 $32
  • 225. Marchesi di Barolo "Le Lune", Piedmont 2005 $37

Vernaccia di San Gimignano:

Generally a fresh white wine with a slightly oily texture and an almondy flavor. It is considered Tuscany’s best white wine.

  • 232. San Quirico, Tuscany 2005 $30 

Soave:

An enormously popular wine that hails from northeast Italy. A very consistent, easy to drink, crisp, dry wine.

  • 235. Bolla "Tufaie" Classico 2005 $31

Other Italian White Wines

  • 253. Botromagno Gravina 2004 $29
  • 250. Feudi Di San Gregorio "Falanghina" Bianco, Campania 2005 $43
  • 461. Greco Di Tufo, Antica Hirpinia 2005 $43

Red Wine Selections

Valpolicella:

This wine is made from a blend of Corvina, Rodinella, and Molinara grapes. Valpolicella is noted as a full and fruity red with some acidity.

  • 301. Ripassa, Zenato Superiore, Veneto 2004 $57
  • 303. Allegrini, Vento 2005 $30

Amarone della Valpolicella:

This wine is the most famous of Italy’s dry dried grape wines. Its grapes are selected from superior whole bunches which are dried or raisined in special drying lodges or chambers. Amarone, amply structured and long on the palate, is a rich, dry wine that ranks among Italy’s most authoritative red wines.

  • 310. Bolla Classico, Veneto 2003 $88
  • 311. Zenato Classico, Veneto 2001 $124
  • 309. Sartori Classico, Veneto 2002 $82 

Dolcetto:

These wines are soft, round, fruity, and fragrant with flavors of liquorice and almonds.

  • 315. Prunotto "Alba", Piedmont 2005 $40
  • 316. Marchesi Di Barolo, Madonna Di Como 2005 $43

Barbera

  • 321. Coppo Camp du Rouss 2004 $44
  • 468. Barbera D'asti Supeiore 2004 $41
  • 323. Panta Rei, Contratto 2004 $57 

Barbaresco:

This powerful red wine based on the Nebbiolo grape is grown around the village of Barbaresco in the Piedmont region in north west Italy.

  • 333. Giuseppe Cortese, Piedmont 1999 $82
  • 332. Prunotto Piedmont 2001 $87
  • 469. Villa Ilaria, Piedmonte 203 $66

Barolo:

The most powerful and dramatic expression of the Nebbiolo grape. A garnet hue; complex and expansive aromas of plums, dried roses, tar, and liquorice.

  • 342. Fontanafredda, Serralugna D' Alba 2000 $119
  • 340. Marchesi di Barolo, Piedmont 2001 $109
  • 341. Michele Chiarlo, Piedmont 2003 $94

Chianti:

Chianti is a very dry wine that, like most Italian wines, tastes best with food. It often has an aroma of cherries and sometimes violets.

  • 351. Ruffino "Aziano" Chianti Classico 2005 $32
  • 355. Nozzole, Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany 2003 $60
  • 352. Ruffino Riserva Ducale Classico, Tuscany 2003 $54
  • 358. Castellare, Tuscany 2003 $47 
  • 354. Ruffino Riserva Ducale Classico"Gold",Tuscany 2001 $87
  • 465 Castello Di Bossi "Bacci" Classico 2001 $57

Taurasi:

This outstanding wine of southern Italy is produced from the Aglianico grape near the city of Naples. Taurasi is a full-bodied, tannic wine and considered one of the great, long-lived red wines of Italy.

  • 370. Taurasi "Radici" De Vesuvio, Campania 2000 $79

Rosso di Montalcino:

This wine is considered a "baby" Brunello because it is also made from a superior clone of the Sangiovese grape. However, unlike Brunello, which must be aged for four years, Rosso can be released after ageing only one year. This is a more medium-bodied wine with balanced acidity.

  • 375. Castello Banfi, Rosso Di Montalcino 2004 $51
  • 376.  Il Poggione, Rosso Di Montalcino 2004 $64

Merlot:

Deep color, full body, high alcohol, and low tannin are the characteristics of this wine. The aromas and flavors can be plummy or sometimes chocolatey.

  • 381. Santa Margherita "Versato", Veneto 2003 $50
  • 380. Falesco Merlot della Umbria 2004 $41 

Brunello di Montalcino:

This wine is considered one the greatest, long-lived red wines in existence. This stalwart cousin to Chianti is an intense, concentrated, tannic wine that ages gracefully.

  • 402. Castello Banfi, Toscana 2001 $104
  • 403. Col D'Orcia, Toscana 2001 $94 

Cabernet Sauvignon:

The world’s most renowned grape variety for fine red wine.

  • 410. Santa Margherita "Lison-Pramaggiore", Veneto 2004 $35
  • 412. Castello Banfi "Tavernelle" Montalcino 2003 $99
  • 414  Sant Elena 2000 $42

Super Tuscans:

These wines are described as the new class of superior wines labeled vino da tavola. These wines use a blend of grape varieties, such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sangiovese, and cabernet franc. Each wine has its own distinctive blend of grape varieties.

  • 420. Antinori "Santa Christina", Toscana 2005 $26
  • 423. Banfi "Centine", Toscana 2005 $27
  • 421. Frescobaldi "Pomino Rosso", Toscana 2003 $59
  • 449. Rienzi "Rosso" Toscano" 2003 $52

Other Italian Red Wines

  • 451. Taurino Salice Salentino 2001 $27 
  • 463. Cubardi (Red Zin) Primitivo Salento 2002 $55 
  • 464. Argiolas, Korem 2002 $76
  • 471. Scanavino L'Imperatore Lannghe Rosso 1999 $89
  • 472. Lacryma Di Christi Rosso, Campania 2004 $35

 

Sparkling Wine Selections

Champagne:

The most famous sparkling wine of all is champagne, the archetypal sparkling wine made in northeastern France. Champagne, with its two champagne towns Rheims and Epernay, was the first region to make sparkling wine in any quantity and historically the name champagne became synonymous with the finest sparkling wines. According to the Institute National des Appellations d’Origine (the regulating organization for French wine), for a sparkling wine to be called champagne, it must come from the Champagne region in France.

  • 104. Piper Heidsieck Brut NV $69
  • 102. Moet et Chandon Brut Imperial NV $79
  • 101. Moet et Chandon Cuvee Dom Perignon 1998 $198
  • 103. Perrier Jouet Fleur de Champagne Brut 1996 $139

Italian Sparkling Wine:

These wines are made using the same basic method as French champagne, much of it from the same grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Italians also produce a medium-sweet sparkling wine called Asti Spumante. Unlike champagne and other sparkling wines labeled Brut, Asti Spumante is not nearly as bone-dry and is much lighter in alcohol.

  • 110. Zardetto Prosecco, Veneto $31
  • 109. Martini e Rossi Asti Spumante, Piedmont $32
  • 106. Mezza Corona Rotari "arte italiana" Brut, Trentino $34 

Captain's List

501. Prunotto "Barolo" Bussia 1999

Enticing floral, wild berry and tar flavors that mingle attractively with the supple, well-integrated tannins.  Medium to full bodied, it fills the palate with smooth, silky texture.  $130

502. Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2001

This bright, blood red wine, medium bodied moderately oaked and mildly tannic.  Cherry tomato, brown spice and mushroom.  The bright, vibrant acidity make for a crisp, fruity finish.  $110

505. Castello Banfi, "Summus Sant'Antimo 2003

A blockbuster red wine.  Shows an intense blackberry character offset by hints of wet earth.  It's full in body, with full, mouth puckering tannins, yet a sweet and fruity after taste. $115

508. Frescobaldi-Mondavi "Luce", Toscana 2003

This is a beautifully rich and smooth Super-Tuscan wine produced from the vines of Marchesi di Frescobaldi with the imagination and architecture of Robert Mondavi.  $150

509. Allegrini "Amarone della Valpolicella" 2001

A rich and full bodied, intense and elegant wine.  Deep purple in color with a bouquet full of dried stone fruit. $110

511. Tenuta San Guido "Sassacaia", Toscana 2003

A intense blackberry and cassis aroma, offset by notes of smoke and spice.  A palate of lush concentration underscored by fir, ripe tannins carrying into a long, elegant finish. $262

512. Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia, Toscana 2003

Deep, rich color.  Big, deep, chocolate, spice, clove and nutmeg nose.  Plenty of toasty oak. $200

513. Antinori, "Tignanello", Toscana 2003

Intensely fruity and complex on the nose, with hints of wood full-bodied, rich and comlex in the mouth with exceptional structure and a lengthy finish. $119

514. Pio Cesare "Barolo" Piemonte 2002

Intense, glossy garnet red with faint, varnished orange reflections with Elegant scents of withered violet blackberry jam and spices.  $120

515. Gaja "Sito Moresco" Piemonte 2001

This wine is a complex wine with aging potential yet is still accessible.  Ruby red color.  Fresh fruit aromas of blackberry and black currant are complemented by intriguing notes of violet and mint.  Intensly flavored silky and well delineated.  $148