Monica Larner

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Monica Larner

Italian Editor Monica Larner reviews Italian wines for Wine Enthusiast Magazine and has lived in Italy on-and-off since age 11. Currently based in Rome, steps away from the Colosseum, Monica visits every corner of Italy in her red Mini Cooper to report on the wine, food and travel highlights of her adopted home. Her books include In Love in Italy (Rizzoli) and Living, Studying and Working in Italy (Henry Holt), and she is now writing a guide to traveling in Italy in the slow lane. Monica is a sommelier with the Italian Association of Sommelier (AIS) but her passion for wine finds roots in Larner Vineyard, the family-run vineyard and winery in Santa Barbara county. She returns to California each year for harvest, pruning and tractor driving.

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Masciarelli 2005 Villa Gemma Montepulciano (Montepulciano d'Abruzzo)

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Price $100

Villa Gemma is a flagship wine for Abruzzo that underlines a specific quality-minded winemaking philosophy that makes this Italian region so exciting and full of surprises. The wine is dark and superconcentrated, with amazing intensity and generous layers of mature berry fruit, spice, tobacco, used leather and polished river stone. It is smooth, firm, dense and… — M.L. (6/1/2012)

Feudi di San Gregorio 2004 Piano di Monte Vergine Riserva Aglianico (Taurasi)

Cellar Selection

Price $65

This vineyard-designate Taurasi Riserva is probably one of the biggest, boldest wines produced in Italy. It opens with an inky black color and intense aromas of black fruit, toast, spice, espresso bean and bitter black chocolate. The jackhammer tannins are steady and firm, and there’s a long tail of prune and black fruit on the finish. — M.L. (6/1/2012)

Feudi di San Gregorio 2008 Serpico Aglianico (Irpinia)

Cellar Selection

Price $83

Serpico is a bold, larger-than-life wine, with beautiful aromatic intensity and notes of black fruit, espresso and crushed granite. Some 18 months of oak aging adds elements of dark spice and smoke; and the wine shows firm tannins and a long, polished mouthfeel. It’s very elegant and should withstand many more years of cellar aging. — M.L. (6/1/2012)

Umani Ronchi 2008 Pelago Red (Marche)

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Price $90

A beautiful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano and Merlot, Pelago is a landmark wine for the Marche. It’s soft and lushness, with an underlying firmness. Flavors of rich chocolate and black cherry ride long on the finish. This wine can age for 5–10 more years, or it can be consumed now. — M.L. (6/1/2012)

Falesco 2007 Marciliano Red (Umbria)

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Price $45

Vintner Riccardo Cotarella’s fantastic Cabernet-based Marciliano (both Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc are present) opens with an intense bouquet of red fruit, blackberry, oak spice and chocolate. The ripeness level is spot-on; and the wine leaves a smooth, soft sensation in the mouth that’s followed by firm, age-worthy tannins. — M.L. (6/1/2012)

Tormaresca 2007 Torcicoda Primitivo (Salento)

This lavish wine boats fine winemaking. Its beautiful flavors of plump cherry, leather, chocolate and tobacco are backed by soft tannins and a rich, round mouthfeel. This should pair with meat or pasta. — M.L. (6/1/2012)

Illuminati Dino 2007 Lumen Riserva Red (Controguerra )

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Price $70

This high-end blend of Montepulciano (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon shows the best of winemaking in Abruzzo. This is a poised and confident wine, with defined aromas of ripe blackberry, leather and polished mineral. The tannins are plush and velvety; and the wine definitely delivers a very long and determined finish. — M.L. (6/1/2012)

Umani Ronchi 2007 Cúmaro Riserva Red (Conero)

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Price $45

Cúmaro Riserva is a gorgeous wine that offers rich notes of ripe fruit and chocolate, followed by leather, tobacco and exotic spice. Its smooth chocolate richness that sets this wine apart. — M.L. (6/1/2012)

2009 Venge Bone Ash Vineyard

Venge’s superb 2008 Bone Ash was a tough act to follow, but this 2009…

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