Pretty, delicious, silky.
Tollo is a co-operative based in Italy's mountainous central Abruzzo. They make a wide range of wonder approachable wines. all from growers and estate vineyards around the region. The MO was aged 24 months in oak cask and then additional time in bottle. This 2016 is so youthful despite some maturity--a delicious wine, it offers appealing notes of cherries and lilacs, licorice and sweet coffee, leather, charred orange peel and pomegranate. Silky and fresh on the palate is develops into vanilla, sweet spice, cherries and chocolate flavours. It's a pretty wine with good persistence.
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 5th, 2022

Rustic, berries, classic.
A delightfully rustic red from the Adriatic Abruzzo region of Italy, the Zaccagnini doles out a bouquet of roses and violets, vanilla liqueur, chocolate, cherries and vanilla. It's a medium-bodied food wine with flavours of sour cherry and small red berries, cedar, tobacco and earth. It's has classic provincial character and bitter finish making it perfect for game, red pastas, hearty stews and soups.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 23rd, 2021

Expressive, fairtrade, savoury.

This fairtrade red is named six hats for Citrusdal Wines' belief that terroir is more than just soil and climate, but people too. The six hats stand for sustainability (at the core) but also partnership, change, dignity, potential and equity - the focus of fairtrade products.
It presents aromas of wild brown forest berries, iodine, tealeaf and fleur de sel with smoked meat and toasted spices. Excellent fruit expression impresses on the palate - oodles of fruit roll across the tongue. Substantial, savoury and salty with a lengthy and balanced finish.
Pair: game meats, roasted eggplants, portobello mushroom burgers or pretty much anything beefy and grilled.

©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 11th, 2016

This fairtrade red is named six hats for Citrusdal Wines' belief that terroir is more than just soil and climate, but people too. The six hats stand for sustainability (at the core) but also partnership, change, dignity, potential and equity - the focus of fairtrade products.
It leads with Maraschino cherries and pepper then rolls into roasted baking spice atop savoury, meaty aromas. The palate is savoury and spicy; a mix of red and black fruit is rounded out with peppery spices, bittersweet cocoa and roasted coffee flavours. Fresh and fairly smooth and good with game meats or pretty much anything beefy and grilled.

©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 23rd, 2013

Intense, rich, creamy.
With zero dosage, this muscular fizz (made from Pinot Noir) offers aromas of creamy pears. lemon meringue and roasted hazelnuts with and a girdle of oxidative and umami notes. The palate is equally potent; marzipan, lemon curd, forest fruits and wild honey. It has a rich and creamy palate, a textural wash and a tangy, pithy finish. Lengthy and rich with rare concentration--a true treat from this historic house.
Founded in 1867 by Giuseppe Contratto, Contratto1867 is known as the first sparkling wine house in Italy. It was acquired by the Rivetti family of La Spinetta, in 2011.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 7th, 2017