When buying Italian, I generally buy from Tuscany and Piedmont, but Bice Restaurant in San Diego offers such a broad list that I want to try something new. Can you help us select a couple reds and a white? The list is attached.
My wife and I like classic, restrained reds…aromatic with good acidity. I’m a big fan of Montevertine, Mayacamas from 70s & 80s, classic Pessac-Leognan BDX. Don’t care for Cab-heavy Italians.
Keep the bottles under $100 as the other couple isn’t huge into wine.
Maybe the Taurasi. I can’t vouch for the particular option on this list, but it’s worth a try if you haven’t had the “Barolo of the South.” It will need some air in advance.
As others have already said I am not fond of this list. Still I think you could do worse. In your shoes I would do two whites and two reds each from the same region.
Whites
Terredora Greco di Tufo
Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina
I really like both these grapes and both these producers but not had either of the specific vintages on the list.
Reds
COS Nero D’Avola
Firriato Etna Rosso
Some great wines coming out of Sicily these days. COS usually impresses but again I have not had this bottle. I don’t know the Firriato but believe that many of the Etna’s are underpriced for the quality so would take the chance.
The Vinosia is a nice wine but more international in style. Did not know that the 2007 was even released yet and these usually need a few years after release. The 2004 was nice in 2011 but would have been better with 2-3 more years. Could be a good option if main course is beef and if as suggested it can get some air.
If you wanted something sparkling to start, the Bellavista Brut is nice. The Pinot Grigio Livio Felluga would likely alter your image of that much maligned grape. The whites from Terredora are worth trying.
The challenge with the reds is that they are almost all too young, while the few with some age are over priced. Travaglini Gattinara 2007 might show well if they can get it into a decanter when you arrive. Sagrantino di Montefalco, Terre de Trinci, 2006 could be a good choice. The Colpetrone may be too modern for you.
If it were me, I would probably keep the first 2 well below $100, then spring for the Barolo, Elvio Cogno, “Ravera”, 2007. It will be young, but should still drink well with some air.
All in all, that is a very diverse list. Your best bet might be to just get recos from the Som there. It does depend on what you’re eating. The best wines on that list are distinctive and flavorful. They will not necessarily go with everything.
Agree with everything (but have tried the Terredora and like it a lot). Also Planeta’s La Segreta Bianco is nice. It’s mostly grecanico as well (the same grape as in Greco di Tufo), but that one is a blend (60% Grecanico, 20% Chardonnay, 10% Viognier, 5% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Fiano). Pieropan is also my favorite Soave producer (doesn’t say that much), and the Soave Classico is a good example of the style (although not at the same level as Calvarino from them).
If you like ripasso as a style Zenato’s Ripassa is also rather nice. One of the best buys, though, might just be Rubrato Aglianico from Feudi di San Gregorio. A red wine with some power for a lowish price, and certainly worth it. I haven’t tried the Sagrantinos on the list, but I tend to like them. Worth a shot, I’d say.
Apart from that you might want to tell the person in charge of the list to proof read it. Quite a lot of spelling mistakes.