85 Fattoria di Basciano Toscana Rosato 2018
$11 Rich, with strawberry, raspberry and watermelon
flavors. Starts out fruity, finishing dry. Drink now. 1,500
cases made, 500 cases imported.—B.S.
ITALY
Other
93 Terredora di Paolo Taurasi CampoRe 2008
$85 An enticing nose of cigar box and tarry smoke draws
you into the glass of this brooding, traditional-style red,
with dense, fine-grained tannins forming a firm, full-bod-
ied frame for the dried cherry and raspberry fruit, red lico-
rice and lavender flavors. Drink now through 2028. 500
cases made, 50 cases imported.—A.N.
91 Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Caroso
Riserva 2013 $30 An elegant red, featuring supple tan-
nins finely meshed to flavors of ripe cherry, candied black rasp-
berry, sandalwood and loamy earth. This is fresh and focused,
medium- to full-bodied, with a lingering, spice-laced finish.
Drink now through 2027. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
33,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.—A.N.
91 Lis Neris Vino d’Italia Tal Lùc Cuvée Speciale
NV $105/375ml The color of burnished brass, this
creamy sweetie is exotic and distinctive, with hints of
cardamom, bergamot and lemon wax lacing the baked
apricot and date flavors, while citrus peel acidity provides
a soft balance. Accents of butterscotch candy and grilled
nuts linger on the rich, mouthcoating finish. Verduzzo
and Riesling. Drink now through 2023. 150 cases made,
15 cases imported.—A.N.
91 Terredora di Paolo Fiano di Avellino Campo-
Re 2015 $35 An expressive version, medium-bodied
and well-spiced, this knits bright acidity to a round,
creamy profile of nectarine, blood orange peel, grilled nut
and lime blossom. A tangy streak of saline drives the
mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2025. 1,083
cases made, 75 cases imported.—A.N.
90 Binomio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva
2015 $52 Lightly juicy and well-knit, this medium- to
full-bodied red layers creamy tannins and oak-tinged hints
of spice and mocha with ripe black currant, licorice and
dried herb flavors, while a tangy mineral note shows on
the finish. Drink now through 2025. 1,500 cases made,
250 cases imported.—A.N.
89 Famiglia Cotarella Umbria Marciliano 2015
$50 A fresh, balanced, medium-bodied red, with light,
taut tannins framing an accessible mix of ripe black cur-
rant, graphite, rose hip and herbed olive flavors. Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2024. Tasted
twice, with consistent notes. 1,200 cases made, 500 cases
imported.—A.N.
89 Marotti Campi Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio
Classico Riserva Salmariano 2015 $22 The sleek
acidity is well-knit to a subtle, earthy underpinning and
delicate flavors of poached pear, candied lemon peel and
orchard blossom in this lithe, light-bodied white. Drink
now through 2022. 1,000 cases made, 250 cases
imported.—A.N.
89 Ocone Aglianico Taburno Apollo 2015 $17
A loamy note of fresh earth and a tarry undertow form a
minerally base for the plumped cherry, wild sage, graphite
and licorice flavors in this balanced, medium-bodied red.
Drink now through 2024. 3,000 cases made, 90 cases
imported.—A.N.
89 Villa Sandi Extra Dry Valdobbiadene
Prosecco Superiore NV $21 A round, creamy Pro-
secco, balanced by a firm spine of acidity and offering
well-knit flavors of ripe Honeycrisp apple, pastry cream,
candied lemon peel and ground ginger. Smoke-tinged fin-
ish. Drink now. 1,271 cases imported.—A.N.
88 Podere Castorani Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo
Cadetto 2018 $18 Fresh and floral, with wild straw-
berry and peach skin flavors framed by light, mouthwa-
tering acidity and a stony undertow. Drink now. 4,500
cases made, 850 cases imported.—A.N.88 Cocci Grifoni Rosso Piceno Superiore Vigna
Messieri 2013 $25 Loaded with wild sage and cigar
box aromatics, this herbaceous, medium-bodied red offers
tangy black cherry and dried cranberry fruit, while chalky
tannins firm the finish. Montepulciano and Sangiovese.
Drink now through 2021. 1,750 cases made, 400 cases
imported.—A.N.88 Illuminati Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Ilico
Riserva 2016 $24 A fresh and balanced, medium-
bodied Montepulciano, with light, sculpted tannins fram-
ing the black currant, anise, smoke and sage flavors. Drink
now through 2021. 11,666 cases made, 1,000 cases
imported.—A.N.
88 Montecappone Rosso Piceno 2017 $15 A
balanced, medium-bodied red, featuring light tannins and
dark, brambly flavors of black currant and mulberry fruit,
with hints of herb and cocoa powder. Drink now through- 3,333 cases made, 250 cases imported.—A.N.
88 Terredora di Paolo Coda di Volpe Irpinia Le
Starse 2018 $19 A lively, light-bodied white, with a
fresh, woodsy waft of spring blossom and notes of peach
skin, Asian pear and ground ginger. Drink now. 2,166
cases made.—A.N.
87 Cocci Grifoni Rosso Piceno Superiore San
Basso 2014 $18 Black tea leaf and spice accents lead
the way in this tangy, light- to medium-bodied red. Trim
tannins firm the red currant, cranberry and orange peel
flavors. Drink now. 4,500 cases made, 600 cases
imported.—A.N.New Releases: Italy / New Zealand87 Falesco Chardonnay Umbria Tellus 2017 $16
A fresh and balanced, light- to medium-bodied Chardon-
nay, with a hint of smoke underscoring the Asian pear,
lemon sorbet and chopped hazelnut notes. Drink now.
6,667 cases made, 4,500 cases imported.—A.N.87 Montelvini Extra Dry Prosecco NV $14 An
easy-drinking Prosecco, with lime granita, star fruit and
white peach flavors, set in a fresh, balanced and lively frame.
Drink now. 30,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported.—A.N.
87 Terredora di Paolo Falanghina Irpinia Corte
di Giso 2018 $19 A creamy, light-bodied white, with
a fresh and easy-drinking mix of green pear, almond blos-
som and lemon pith. Stone-tinged finish. Drink now.
8,333 cases made, 1,260 cases imported.—A.N.NEW ZEALAND
Pinot NoirLARRY MCKENNA
Winemaker95 Escarpment Pinot Noir
Martinborough Kiwa Single
Vineyard 2017 $65 Fragrant
and robust, this red combines power
and finesse, with an overwhelming
amount of detail. Flavors of black
pepper, mahogany, hops, sandal-
wood, blackberry and plum are
joined by accents of Earl Grey tea,
cedar and baking spices. The tan-
nins have muscle, but there’s an
amazing sense of harmony and polish on the long, intri-
cate finish. Drink now through 2033. 250 cases made, 50
cases imported.—M.W.SEPT. 30, 2019 • WINE SPECTATOR 93http://www.mudhouse.co.nz enjoy mud house wine responsiblyShare a taste for adventure
“INTENSE AND FOCUSED, OFFERING A LIP-SMACKING,
TANGY EXPRESSION OF LEMON-LIME, PASSION FRUIT AND
GREEN APPLE FLAVORS. VERY JUICY ON THE FINISH.” —M.W.WITH OUR HIGHLY AWARDED SAUVIGNON BLANC