Italy's best wines according to Wine Spectator

Ten Italian wines made the 100 most exciting wines list from Wine Spectator and I'm very pleased to see Barolo (and therefore nebbiolo) taking out the top spots. In age when Amarone seems to be all the rage, it's good to see something more subtle and classy being appreciated from Italy.

Pio Cesare has made number six overall and is the top Italian drop on the list. Given that, I suspect the list is very much based on the most exciting wines available on the US market; and while I think they could probably get most Barolo there, Pio Cesare could be knocked out of that position by other Barolos, too.

Off the high brow talk of the wine that made the list, the other great thing is that a lot of the wine is not particularly expensive. In fact, all the wines are estimated at being below 100 USD apart from one. The list below was kindly compiled by Blog from Italy.

So, the Top Ten Italian Wines in 2008 according to Wine Spectator are:

According to Wine Spectator, these were the most exciting Italian wines of 2008:

1. Pio Cesare Barolo 2004 ($62) – Position in Wine Spectator world ranking: 6

2. Aldo & Riccardo Seghesio Barolo Vigneto La Villa 2004 ($65) – Position in world ranking: 14

3. Sette Ponti Toscana Oreno 2006 ($110) – Position in world ranking: 15

4. Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate Riserva 2004 ($63) – Position in world ranking: 22

5. La Massa Toscana 2006 ($28) – Position in Wine Spectator world ranking: 31

6. Firriato Nero d’Avola-Syrah Sicilia Santagostino Baglio Soria 2006 ($28) – Position in Wine Spectator world ranking: 50

7. Fattoria di Felsina Chianti Classico Berardenga 2006 ($17) – Position in Wine Spectator world ranking: 51

8. Attems Pinot Grigio Collio 2007 ($19) – Position in world ranking: 70

9. Suavia Soave Classico 2007 ($19) – Position in world ranking: 75

10. Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Castello di Nipozzano Riserva 2005 ($25) - Position in world ranking: 76