301590 Sat Feb 25 15:57:30 -0800 2006 11 34 Wine 0 1682675 A HUGE bottle of this is selling for $5.99 at a local independent grocery store here in Naples (Wynn's, which has a great wine selection) and I'm curious to know if anyone on the board has tried this Italian wine before I go buying an enormous bottle...I know can google comments but am partial to chowhound feedback, if any. Thanks in advance. Sat Feb 25 15:57:30 -0800 2006 0 Val 1 1682677 It is fine, not going to knock your socks off but even if you hate it you are only out six bucks Sat Feb 25 16:24:08 -0800 2006 1682675 0 Sugar the Cat 2 1682681 It's fine for sitting around with friends, eating snacks or appetizers and yacking. It is about its usual cost, I think. Sat Feb 25 17:25:47 -0800 2006 1682677 0 fai jay (fai jackson) 1 1682698 It was a house wine here in LA at a very well respected Italian restaurant on the westside. It's not great but drinkable, though on one occasion I had a bottle that I had to toss. Sat Feb 25 23:48:04 -0800 2006 1682675 0 Bruin2 1 1682751 This was my first experience of this wine, and it so impressed me with its simple, generous character that I've been encouraged to try other labels and bottlings. It will never be great, but like so many other Italian reds it's a good, friendly food wine, and pleasant just to drink in company. I never had a bad bottle from Citra, but then my dealer (Nashville Wine & Spirits) was good about buying from reliable sources - a lot more demanding than Trader Joe's seems to be. Mon Feb 27 01:14:19 -0800 2006 1682675 0 Will Owen 1 1682883 I had a very unforgetful experience with a 1.5L bottle of Citra Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. I could not get the bleeping bottle open. It took me a half an hour with various corkscrews till finally I had to core the cork out and strain the wine. The wine tasted awesome. Full bodied. Pale oak taste. Excellent, especially for $6.99 (NY). I purchased a bottle the following year, the bottle opened easily, and the wine was a huge disappointment. I guess it's hit or miss. Tue Feb 28 22:05:46 -0800 2006 1682675 0 Cheese Boy 1 1683861 Hey man this wine is excellent value for your money, I bought a bottle and wasnt sure if I was going to like it, as the cost was so cheap my first thought was its gonna be crap, but I was wrong, Im glad I tried it. This wine passed my taste test, which is simple, when you take the first sip it leads to another and before you know it the glass is empty, then the bottle is empty. When this happens you know you've just drank a good decent wine. This is very good dinner wine and I was impressed with the structure, good acid and smooth tannins with a hint of spice and interesting touch of complexity for a wine this price. Honestly Ive drank more expensive wines that didnt taste as well balanced as the Citra Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. You cant go wrong with this wine at that price. Wed Mar 15 13:12:50 -0800 2006 1682675 0 fat bastard 2 1683876 We share the same tasteing criteria...a very good and decent vino....thank's Wed Mar 15 14:45:42 -0800 2006 1683861 0 gudeatz 1 4813203 The Wall Street Journal wine gurus thought it is great. From the Jpys of Jug Winews Citra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2007 (Italy). $10. We really enjoy this wine, which was a favorite in a tasting of jug reds several years ago and also in a broad, blind tasting of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (which is a great bet in general, by the way). It has a dark color that looks rich and serious, with some minerals on the nose. The taste is blackberries and blueberries, with good tannins and some body. Too many jug reds seem heavy to us, with unidentifiable tastes and plenty of creamy, vanilla wood stuff. Summer is an uncomplicated time and we like uncomplicated wines that taste like fresh fruit—and this one does. But its extra depth means it’s perfect with a rare burger off the grill or a big, thick steak. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204621904574244103180757152.html#mod=article-outset-box Sun Jun 28 13:34:27 -0700 2009 1682675 290841 Dutch.Oven.Guy 1 4813881 Citra 1.5L wines are literally my family's everyday wines. We have them on their own and with meals. They are wines with wonderfully simple character that can compliment food. I think too often that here and elsewhere wine is given an honorific position on the table; when maybe at times it should be allowed to have the same significance as the salt and pepper. Sun Jun 28 19:47:16 -0700 2009 1682675 26180 Chinon00 2 4817077 Citra.........good for cooking..........acidic, no balance and no fruit.........sorry guys but I have been in the Biz for 30 years and I would give it a miss. Mon Jun 29 22:57:23 -0700 2009 4813881 192955 wineman3 3 4817475 "No balance and no fruit" Ok. We just finished off the Trebbiano D'abruzzo last night with a ground turkey ragu and it hit the spot. And as I stated earlier I literally want a wine sometimes that very simply compliments the meal (i.e. good acid, pleasant fruit and earth and minimal oak [if any]). I don't expect to linger over Citra in the same way I wouldn't linger over the butter that I put in my bread; but it does serve a purpose. Now would I order or buy Citra while celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary? No, but for cheap literally everyday wine I don't have a beef with it at all. Tue Jun 30 06:32:10 -0700 2009 4817077 26180 Chinon00