Italian Wine Month here at Binny’s isdrawing to a close French Wine Month is on its way but Idon’t think it’s too late to point out a few great values from ItalyI’ve been lucky enough to taste lately. These wines all representgood everyday values, and are in good enough supply that you shouldbe able to actually find a few bottles to try.

Five Italian Reds For Cheap

2004 Guadagni Arielle $9.99

 This Tuscan red shows a pretty, light,perfumed nose. On the palate it is autumnal in nature lighttannin supporting soft fruit. Compared to the younger wines at thistasting, the Arielle shows a lot of grace.

2007 Guadagni Chianti $7.99

 The Chianti is the younger yet bigger siblingto the Arielle. The nose is immediately deeper, with a big herbalquality. Less intricate but more powerful, with big tannins, this isan inexpensive Tuscan red built for aging, or enjoying now with foodlike hearty cheese.

2004 Silvio Grasso Nebbiolo d’Alba $15.99

 The main focal point of this fantasticvalue is the tannins rough, almost sandy, or jagged like adistorted guitar. The good red fruit shines through on the nose, andis present on the palate, but only under those massive, grippytannins. It’s still quite youthful. Available in somewhat limitedquantities.

2007 Valle RealeMontepulciano d’Abruzzo Vigne Nuove $12.99

 An interestingnose with hints of crème brulee floating just above blueberry andpepper. I suspect there’s an amount of residual sugar; the VigneNuove is heavy and thick and almost sweet, sort of like a littleamarone. While there are some tannins, it’s softer and easy to drink.The real beauty in this great value is in the nose.

2007 Morgante Nerod’Avola $16.99

 Another wine thatcatches my attention with an interesting nose showing brighterfruit than I expected (comparing this to the 2006 Colosi Nerod’Avola, which I found underwhelming, heavy and maybe a littlebaked…bleh) with a meaty, gamy spiciness from my childhood mydad’s venison summer sausage. On the palate is big fruit, healthyamounts of earthiness and BIG tannins. From my scribbled notes:WOW.

And Just for the record

 I’m a pretty cynicalguy when it comes to inexpensive Italian reds. Maybe I’ve just beenexposed to too many imbalanced cheap Italian wines with low fruit andhigh acidity. So when I say that these are good values, and are worththe time and money, I actually mean it.