Unexpectedly, good friend and Vias Wine pimp Rudy Basile dropped in on Irish T and I this past Tuesday with a terrific foursome of Italian wines:

Damilano Arneis DOCG 2011.  Grade=Outstanding.  Previously reviewed.  Still an awesome white wine!

Broglia Gavi La Meirana DOCG 2011.  Grade=Amazing.  A stunning white wine!  100% Cortese.  Mineral with green apple skin, lime zest, chayote and pear.

Pecchenino Dogliani San Luigi DOCG 2011.  Grade=Amazing.  All Dolcetto from the new DOCG from Piedmont, this delicious, well-made red is loaded with bright red raspberry, plum and boysenberry fruit, dried herbs, charcoal and tobacco.

Elvio Cogno Barolo DOCG 2006.  Grade=Amazing+.  Still youthful, this classic style of Nebbiolo shows off bold tannins, black currant and dark plum fruits, black olives, pepper, rosemary and cedar smoke.  Full-bodied and tightly-wound, this has a lot of life ahead of it.