Guest Author - Jim Fortune
Last June, I was looking around the web, doing some research for a possible future article on wine web sites and I found a web site where you could select a country and a price range and sort the wine list from low price to high or from high price to low.
I found these two Sicilian wines from the same vineyard and they were both value priced. Frankly, I am amazed that any value wines can be found in Europe given the low value of the dollar in relation to the Euro. Maybe I am getting these wines at this price because the inventory was purchased back when the dollar was worth something.
I have had a few Sicilian wines before and they left me thinking there must be better than what I had. I have had Californian wines that left me wishing I had bought something else too. Bad Cabs, Bad Merlots, Bad Chards, you name it and I have had it Bad. Since I am always looking for value wines, I thought if I got the chance to try some value priced Sicilian wines I would try them again when the time came. Maybe I am a sucker, but I know you have to kiss a few toads to get the prince.
I recently had the great opportunity to taste a couple of value priced wines from the Feudo Arancio Winery. This winery is located in - TA DA!! Sicily, Italy.
The first wine we enjoyed with grilled salmon. This Sicilian red was a Pinot Noir. The color really struck me as it was a very dark red. And the first sip definitely had a spice and berry flavor. As with most of the wines I drink, I did not let this one breathe. I opened it up and poured. It was very enjoyable and one I will buy again in the near future when I shop online. Wait until I get a few bottles of the wine and let people who think they know Californian Pinot Noir have a taste. It's going to be fun when I ask them whereabouts in California they think the wine is from!!
Feudo Arancio
2006 Pinot Noir
Sicilia IGT
13.5% $8.99
Feudo Arancio Winery
You can take a look at the front label of this wine right here: Feudo Arancio Pinot Noir
You can take a look at the back label of this wine here: Feudo Arancio Pinot Noir
The second wine I enjoyed from the same winery we had with baked chicken. The wine was crisp and fresh and had a taste of pear. This wine was also very enjoyable and one that is worth your time looking for to sock away for a month or however long you think you can hold out before drinking it all.
Feudo Arancio
2007 Grillo
Sicilia IGT
13% $6.99
You can take a look at the front label of this wine right here: Feudo Arancio Grillo
You can take a look at the back label of this wine here: Feudo Arancio Grillo
As I said, I purchased the wine in June. I have been storing them in my wine cellar until the time came for a taste test. I saw that last month the Wine Spectator featured the 2007 Arancio Grillo and gave it an 86.
I think you would enjoy either of these fine wines and suggest that you try them for yourself.
Until next time, let me know what is on your mind, and how you are doing, O.K.?
Jim Fortune - Bella Online Wine Guy
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