A memorable wine of Sangiovese. Certainly active and alive VA, Brett and reduction on the nose and palate. On its own, a tough one to drink, but with food, suddenly the word "complexity" and "depth" show up that compliments foods with olives, anchovies, and umami. At Francescetta 58 in Modena

About as clean and flawless an Italian wine I've ever had. If this came from my backyard in Sonoma, I probably couldn't tell the difference. Modern winemaking and perhaps unexpected from an Italian winemaker. To me, this is coastal Sangiovese, without much barrel time and may not see any wood. Probably too pricey for its simplicity. At Francescetta 58 in Modena

My favorite wine in the group of three tasted at Francescetta 58. Ribolla Nera is the grape, indigenous to the region. 24 months on oak and 6 months in bottle before release. It offered both mouth feel and depth, without massive amount of funk and the overused terroir language for masking flaws. This was just solidly made wine with character.

At Francescetta 58 in Modena

Imperatore Veritas Trebbiano blend from just outside of Bari. Outstanding wine. Depth and breadth and it was in low light, but I'd say some extended skin contact or rip-roaring color from a French barrel. Based on drinking this wine from Imperatore, I sought out others from the winery during my stay in Lecce. At Cucina Mamma Elvira

Imperatore Decumano 2013 is Primitivo and it’s another winner. Fragrance in the nose is bay leaf and dried sour cherries. The mouth is full-bodied with finish. To be consumed by itself or with pasta (which I had it with) or any meats, it will hold up, and shine with lamb. I believe this wine would give any top-line Zinfandel in the US competition with its full bodied mouth feel, elegance and aromatics.

Imperatore Sonya 2014 is Primitivo. Plenty of pepper, bramble, spice and dried cherry on the finish. I drank this wine over a couple days with everything from spicy pasta to cheesy pizza. It’s a Monday through Thursday wine, with higher acid than it’s higher end counterpart, the Decumano.

Piece San Stefano, 2013 Lippo was an easy drink. Good acid, a rustic edge and agreeable wine. Merlot and Cab Franc, had plenty of front and mid palate but without much carry. At Osteria San Giorgio, Lucca

Tenuta di Valgiano 2013 Pelisero was paired up with the entire meal at Twinside in Bologna

Val di Suga Montalcino. Good acidity and course edge, not overly fruity, more rusted edged than refined, but a good drinker with roasted chicken. Night one, we had the wine with salumi and cheese, again, agreeable wine with a wide variety of foods it seems.

The wine was local, a Sangiovese, Cab, Merlot, Syrah blend from 2013 from Calafata. Paired well with everything, soft tannins, good mid palate and 16eu a bottle. Imagine spending $16 on a high quality bottle of wine in the States at a restaurant...not really possible. Restaurant Manzo, Lucca

Calafata Levato di Gronda. A simple drinker while I waited for my table. I had their red wine the last time I was here, so it was time to give the white a try. At Manzo in Lucca

Vallee D'Aoste, Grosjean 2015, Pinot Noir a good drink with a wide variety of foods, value for the price on this Pinot when compared to so many in the States. At Punto in Lucca

Red Wine was a Sangiovese 70/Merlot 30 from Lucca, Libente Azienda Agricola Valle Del Sole. The merlot took the acidic edge off the wine and rounded out the corners. A pleasant wine for $16 and shows the benefits that merlot can bring to Sangiovese. At Manzo in Lucca

Red Wine. Light and easy drinker, probably a red wine that could go with chicken and fish, provided they were heartily prepared. This is a revisit from last year with the recent vintage.

Some initial green quality, but with lively fruit that all but muted any downside in the wine. Opened up nicely and was the perfect pairing with roasted chicken with rosemary and fennel and the truffle butter. The label is so busy with narrative, I bought it solely on label.

Armentario, Castel del Monte Nero di Troia, was more bramble and spice, with an edge of cooked fruit, but not overbearing. At Enoteca Mamma Elvira

Castel Serranova, Vallone 2012 was more fruit forward on the nose and seemed to work well with the beef meatball, which leads me to believe it was higher in alcohol than Armentario. At Enoteca Mamma Elvira

Tenuta Serranova, Vallone Fiano, 2015. It was a drinker, with some reasonable body. I had it with cheese and salumi. I think I paid about $10 for it and it’s worth about that. Simple. The Fiano blended with Chardonnay seem to be complex

A Rose wine, a half bottle of the stuff, accompanied my meal. Leone de Castris 73 anniversary Five Roses 2016 Rosato to be exact. Solid wine for my afternoon lunch.

This was pizza wine, night after night. Simple, easy drinking wine without any cooked or raisin fruit on the palate. Around 5eu a bottle.