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Italian Reds
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Italian Reds |
| Stop by on saturday for a great line up of not- so-traditional wines from Tuscany. We’ll have five examples of Sangiovese, the traditional Tuscan grape, blended with Cabernet, Merlot and even Syrah. Called Super Tuscans, this style of wine started in the 1970’s as a breakaway from the restrictive regulations of the DOC system in Italy. The style caught on. Super Tuscans now range in price from inexpensive to exorbitant. Come see what five winemakers do with this non-traditional blending. It is also a chance to test your palate identifying the different varietals. Cory Van de Ven will be on hand to talk about the wines. |
| 2005 Castello di Meleto, Rosso Toscano-$10 |
| 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot Grown in the Tuscan hills at 1100 feet, the Castello di Meleto has intense aromas of fruit with hints of cherry and small berries. With medium structure and great balance, this Rosso is pleasantly fresh with soft tannins that are well integrated into the alcohol component. It has a sweet finish with a good persistence. |
| 2004 Renzo Masi Erta e China -$11.50 |
| 50% Sangiovese, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Masi family has been making wine for three generations and currently produces a wide range of wines from the area of Rufina. The Erta e China their non traditional super Tuscan, is aged 14 months in a combination of French and American oak. Inky dark garnet in color, it shows bright reddish-purple glints against the light. The Erta has aromas of currants, dried cherries and spice, and more fruit than oak despite its long stay in wood. Juicy, snappy black fruit flavors follow and lemony acidity; clean and lingering, with a long, fruity finish. |
| 2004 Solo Maremma, Micante-$17 |
| 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon The Micante is a relatively new project from the owners of Fattoria Le Pupille, made from the vineyards situated in the sweet hills of Castiglione della Pescaia, Scansano and Magliano in Maremma. The wine is intensely aromatic with densely packed cherry, red plum and cassis all wrapped in toasty oak lightly dusted with cocoa. |
| 2005 Argiano, Non Confunditur-$20 |
| 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 20% Syrah. Non Confunditur is full-bodied with soft-tannins and has a long lasting finish. The inherent sweetness of the Merlot acts as a bridge between the firm earthiness of the Sangiovese grape, the spicy blackcurrant of the Cabernet and the warm red fruit of the Syrah. The grapes are fermented in separate tanks in order to preserve their individual characteristics. Before blending, the wine is aged several months in both second year French barriques and the traditional large Slovenian oak casks in order to soften the tannins and to harmonize the different flavors of each grape variety. The result is a generous, round red wine with nice aromas of currant and generous fruit flavors. |
| 2004 Rocca di Frasinello, Poggia alla Guardia-$24 |
| 15% Sangiovese, 45% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon Rocca di Frassinello is a partnership between Paolo Panerai, owner of Domini Castellare di Castellina, and Baron Eric de Rothschild of Domaines Barons de Rothschild. The wines are produced in a region called the Maremma, former marshlands along the Tuscan coast southwest of Florence. In the center of the Maremma, between Bolghieri and Scansano (home to the Morellino di Scansano DOCG), the soils were found to share characteristics with those of Chianti and Montalcino, but with temperatures that push ripening three to four weeks earlier than in those regions. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, the Poggia alla Guardia has a dark ruby garnet color with spicy and meaty dark fruit aromas. On the palate it is silky smooth and exhibits lovely blueberry and blackberry fruit flavors with notes of clove and loam. It has excellent structure, good acidity and grip on the finish. |