Arnaldo Caprai 2007 Umbria IGT Anima Umbra (Rosso)

(80% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo.)

Medium dark-cherry color.

Smell of big bowl of cherries and peaches, underneath that some leather.

Fruity explosion of dry cherry flavor, accompanied with a good earthy/leather taste.

Reading the cepage on the label, you might assume this to be an Umbrian Chianti wannabe. While it can easily serve as an earthy robust accompaniment for pizza or spaghetti, it's not limited to that sort of thing, it is, in fact, a very good medium-bodied match for medium-to-full-flavored food at $16.99/bottle.

Arnaldo Caprai 2008 Grecchetto dei Colli Martani Grecante

Medium straw color.

Rather full smell of honey, apple, melon.

Flavors of apple and melon, honeyed texture.

Very good medium-bodied bottle for $18.99. The last decade or so has seen some amazing advances among Italian whites.