2019 Famiglia Castellani Chianti

Well it's Sunday and I am ready to turn my attention to cooking and sipping a nice glass of wine.  As I've had in mind what I am making for dinner, since it has an Italian flair, I thought it appropriate to open a nice bottle of Chianti.  Tonight, I've selected a bottle of 2019 Famiglia Castellani Chianti that I recently picked up from Wines Till Sold Out and their case sale, so you know it was a good value.  This wine is made to the more historical blending standards for Chianti, including the addition of some white grapes, and is a blend of Sangiovese (85%), Canaiolo (10%) and Ciliegiolo (5%).  So, let's see how this classic from Tuscany is tasting!

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with great clarity, as you might expect from a Sangiovese heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, light floral notes of violet, tar and a bit of sweet cherry.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that eases a bit as it transitions to some notes of dried herbs and earthy peat midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are still a bit tightly wound, providing for a rather brief dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant example of a nice, easy drinking Chianti, which was also a solid value at just $12.50!  This wine would pair well with a wide range of Italian dishes, from hearty pasta and risotto to baked Branzino.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some Italian herb crusted chicken breast along with some fusilli primavera.  Cheers!

2017 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Friday!  I am doing a quick dinner and glass of wine before my rehearsal this evening for the production I am in at the Elkhart Civic Theatre.  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2017 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out,  I reviewed the 2010 Vintage several years ago, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, just as you might expect from a nice Sangiovese based wine.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, oak, cherry and eucalyptus that bring the earthy notes of Tuscany to your mind.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe cherry fruit that evolves to some earthy notes of tar, tobacco and oak, before returning full circle to some notes of cassis on the finish.  The tannins are subdued, providing for a very pleasant, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant drinking Chianti, and a value at just $13!  This wine would pair well with a variety of Italian dishes, from risotto to hearty pasta, cured salami to classic hard cheeses.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a classic linguine carbonara based on a new recipe I tried tonight.  Cheers!

2012 Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Well, it's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making to see how it's developed along it's journey. Tonight I've taken a couple of cheats on my decade, first I've selected a Brunello, which by Italian law must be aged in barrel for six years, and then in bottle a further six months before release.  So, such a wine is already 65% of the way to a decade on release day!  Second, I recently bought some of this wine from Wines Till Sold Out, so I let them do a little of the aging for me!  The 2012 Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese Grosso (another requirement of Italian law), and Brunellos are usually just hitting their stride at the 10-year mark, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with nice clarity, just as you might expect from the varietal.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with aromas of dried flowers, ripe cherry and plum, with hints of vanilla and anise.  Take a sip and you're immediately transported to the Tuscan countryside, with layers of dried herbs, ripe cherry and some earthy notes of tobacco and graphite, which ease into some black pepper spice and a hint of thyme midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight at first, but gradually open up for a velvety mouthfeel leading into a smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant and easy drinking Brunello that is just hitting its stride. This wine would pair well with classic Tuscan dishes, such as Bistecca Alla Fiorentina, pappardelle with a traditional ragu, ribollita, or a simple platter of salami and cheeses.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Trader Joe's Cacio e Pepe ravioli with carpaccio truffle cream sauce, the spice of this wine is a perfect foil for the richness of the truffles.  Cheers!

2006 Belpoggio Brunello di Montalcino

Well it's the first Saturday in May and that means it's Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I reach back into the cellar to find some wine that's at least a decade from it's original vintage and tonight I have one that just came together with my dinner tonight.  I am a big fan of great Italian wines, and of course the granddad of them all is Brunello, that carefully crafted Sangiovese that works it's magic with almost any traditional Italian cuisine.  And since I maintain that a nice Brunello really doesn't start to sing until it's at least a decade old, I've decided to open a bottle of 2006 Belpoggio Brunello di Montalcino.  Now I let this one decant for about 90 minutes, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a wonderful garnet color in the glass with a tinge of amber along the edges.  The nose is classic Brunello, with aromas of anise, blackberry, spice box and some earthy notes.  The taste is remarkably fruit forward, with a rush of candied cherry, strawberry and a hint of thyme, but then it seems to be a bit tired midpalate, as it transitions to some earthy mineral notes of tar and peat.  The tannins are soft but well integrated, making for a long, soft dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's wonderfully developed, but the weakness midpalate was a drawback.  This wine would pair with any classic Italian dish, from Bistecca alla Fiorentina to classic pasta with hearty red sauces.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a dinner that started with a trip to Eataly in Chicago last Monday, where I picked up some fresh squid ink tagliatelle, which I am tossing with some mussels simmered in olive oil, garlic, San Marzano tomatoes, oregano and basil.  The classic briny seafood mixture is just perfect with this earthy wine.  Cheers!

2006 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Saturday!  And of course this being the first Saturday of a new month and new year, it's Cellar Saturday, when I get to dig out a bottle to enjoy from the cellar that's at least a vintage 10 years ago!  Tonight, I've decided to finally open a bottle of Brunello that I've had in my cellar for a number of years (after all, you know you can't really enjoy a Brunello until it's at least 10 years old!), the 2006 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino.  So after decanting, let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a beautiful purple garnet in the glass, with just the faintest hint of brown along the edges.  The nose is replete with aromas of leather, plum and violet, with just a hint of pepper spice.  The taste brings be back to late summer in Tuscany, with a bright rush of ripe plum and currant up front, that transitions nicely to some notes of dried herbs and just a hint of mint midpalate.  The finish is wonderful, with elegantly structured tannins that provide for a wonderfully long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a wonderful Brunello that's just starting to come into its own (it will no doubt improve and evolve with additional years in the cellar).  This wine would be a perfect complement to a variety of classic Tuscan dishes, from pasta fagioli to tagliatelle al tartufo to a classic bistecca fiorentina, and of course I'm going the latter route tonight, enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap and broccoli rabe sauteed with garlic and olive oil.  Salut!

2010 Spalletti Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Monday!  I just got back from the gym and now I'm cooking dinner, and what goes better with cooking than a nice glass of wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2010 Spalletti Chianti Classico Riserva that I bought recently during the Wines Till Sold Out "Cheapskate Marathon" which is always a favorite event!

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass with great clarity as is typical with a nice Chianti.  The nose is pure Tuscan Sangiovese, with earthy aromas of leather, smoke and peat over a fruit foundation of ripe plum and blackberry.  The taste takes be back to a lunch of Tuscan Toast I had in Florence back in 1995, with some ripe blackberry and plum at the outset that transitions effortlessly to some notes of peat and nearly Bordeaux style funk midpalate.  The finish is very nice, as many mass produced Chianti have a very lackluster finish, but the tannins on this wine are well developed, providing for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice example of a quality Chianti at a value price of just $15!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Parmesan crusted walleye with lemon garlic butter, wild rice and some haricots verts almondine!  What could be better with a nice Tuscan red than a mild fish married with butter, garlic and Parmesan?  Cheers!

2000 Tenuta Greppone Mazzi Brunello di Montalcino

Well, it's the first "Cellar Saturday" of 2014 and tonight we are going back 14 years to a wonderful wine from Tuscany, the king of Italian wines, the 2000 Tenuta Greppone Mazzi Brunello do Montalcino! This particular wine hasn't been in my cellar very long, as I bought it from my new local wine merchant a month or two ago. And as an added bonus, today I bought a new aerator and decantor set that I got to try out on this wine!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass with a tinge of brown around the edges, as is typical of mature Brunello. The nose is a lovely combination of floral notes, lavender, and spice along with rich leather and black licorice so typical of a nice Brunello. The taste brings me right back to Florence, with great fruit flavors up front, blackberry, currant and cherry cola that transitions to some lovely mineral notes of dusty limestone and a sweetness that goes beyond the fruit. The tannins are elegant and well structured leading to a long, smooth dry finish. 

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's simply delicious and although it was $51 it wasn't much more that a newly released Brunello, but it's ready to drink today!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my own version of Bistecca Florentine, with a big cowboy cut ribeye grilled rare along with some asparagus, leeks and Brussels sprouts grilled in olive oil and a simple arugula salad. So yummy!  

2011 Il Giglio Chianti

So, my second wine blog from Prague features an Italian wine, the 2011 Il Giglio Chianti which I bought from a wine store at the mall for 190 Kc (about $10.50).  What was I doing at the mall you ask? Especially when you are on vacation in a lovely European capitol?  Funny you should ask, it seems last night I did something in my sleep and knocked my glasses off the night stand and the frames broke.  At first I thought a screw came loose, easy fix, but no, it was broken where the lens fits to the frame.  So my helpful front desk clerk, Pavel directed me to an eyeglass shop in the mall that was open today!  It took most of the day to fix them, but I have them back now and can see, but boy do I need a glass of wine!

This wine is quite typical of the lighter bodied Chianti being produced so widely now, so the color is a light ruby throughout, with very little opacity.  The nose is somewhat alarming with a robust aroma of wet dog or wool, but when that dissipates there is a strong aroma of berries and spice so typical of Tuscan wines.  The taste is surprisingly fruit forward, with a burst of fresh fruit, strawberries, ripe plums which transitions easily to a good bit of peppery spice midpalate.  The finish is somewhat abrupt, but still pleasant as I could see myself enjoying this one on a sunny patio over an afternoon.

Overall, I would rate this one a 7, if only for the wet dog on the nose, but once you get past that it's a really easy drinking wine, and I certainly can't complain about the price!  Tonight I will once again be pairing this with nothing since I'm enjoying this as an aperitif before heading off to dinner.  Tonight it's more traditional Czech fare at the Olympia Restaurant, so follow me on twitter if you want to see the meal!  But for this wine, it would be perfect with Italian dishes like a pasta with red sauce, or some grilled Italian sausage, as the fruit would really balance out the spiciness of those dishes.  Tady je na jiný dobrý den v Praze!

2008 Cantina del Grifone 1967 Toscana

Tonight I need to relax!  I've returned to work which is always a challenge after being out for more than a week for the holidays.  Why is it that holidays are always so much work?  I long for the days when I was a kid and it was all waiting, then opening presents, eating till your heart's content and then someone else was there to clean up the mess!  At any rate, tonight I am enjoying a nice little bottle of Tuscan wine that I picked up at Trader Joe's over said holiday break, the 2008 Cantina del Grifone 1967 Toscana, a nice blend of Sangiovese (85%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) and Syrah (5%).

The wine is a very nice, rich ruby color in the glass, exhibiting the proper characteristics of a Sangiovese blend.  The nose just starts speaking Italian to me, scents of anise, oak, and the spice section of my local Italian market (so what would that be, perhaps some oregano, basil, rosemary and thyme?).  The taste is fairly smooth and well balanced, nothing that makes your heart skip a beat, some ripe fruit on the front end, intermingled with some floral notes leading to a hint of tart cherry midpalate, and a smooth dry finish with a bit of cocoa powder.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7, not because it was such a spectacular wine, but because it was just a fantastic value at only $6!  Trader Joe's has a lot of wines in this price range, and I find many of them to be worth considerably less, but this one is a new favorite!  Tonight I am pairing it with a bit of linguine with some homemade red sauce, the perfect accompaniment to a nice value Tuscan red!  Cin cin!

2010 Mazzei Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana Rose

So summer is starting to wind down a bit, at least it's been a little cooler over the last few days, and I was planning to have some seafood for dinner, so what better way to enjoy a nice Rose?  After all, roses have been such hot commodities this summer, 2012 has practically turned into the summer of rose!  So tonight I opened a nicely chilled bottle of 2010 Mazzei Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana Rose, say that three times fast!

This wine is a lovely rose made from half Sangiovese and half Syrah that displays a lovely pinkish orange hue in the glass.  The nose is a variety of fresh strawberry, citrus and fresh grass.  The taste is remarkably dry, with barely a hint of sweet fruit, such that you might think you were drinking the red version had it not been for the color and temperature!  The taste is wonderfully bright and crisp, with flavors of orange and pear, with a short, but firm finish.

Tonight I paired this wine with perhaps the perfect dinner, starting with a fresh arugula salad with Tuscan spiced olive oil and balsamic vinegar, then some pan seared sea scallops and rigatoni with fresh pesto made with basil I picked this afternoon.  The dryness of the wine really offset the sharpness of the balsamic in the salad, but it also complemented the richness of the scallops and really set off the freshness of the pesto.  Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7, particularly at the price point - I bought this one for $9 from Wines Till Sold Out!  So enjoy the late summer with a wonderful rose like this one, you'll be glad you did once the cool Fall weather sets in!

2007 Tenuta Vitanza Volare Sangiovese di Toscana

Happy Friday the 13th!  I hope it wasn't too scary, but even if it was a nice glass of wine at the end of the day can do wonders.  Tonight I am enjoying a wine that's a bit off the beaten path, the 2007 Tenuta Vitanza Volare Sangiovese di Toscana, a lovely classic Sangiovese from Tuscany.  Now this wine is not your average Sangiovese, but is actually a somewhat hidden gem.

Now for those of you less familiar, the Brunello di Montalcino is perhaps the king of all Italian wines, and as you might expect, there are a lot of regulations to ensure the King is protected from potential impostors.  The first rule of Brunello is that it must be made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, and in fact there was a big controversy regarding a few producers that had their entire 2003 vintage seized because of allegations that some foreign varietals were included in the wine.  The second major rule is the aging, which requires a minimum of 2 years in oak, and an additional 4 months in the bottle before release.  Now most regular Brunellos are released 50 months after harvest, while the Riservas are released a year later.

Now a Rosso di Montalcino is made in the same way as Brunello, but does not require the extensive aging (it is only required to be aged 6 months in oak and total aging of 1 year before release).  Often this helps producers with cash flow, by producing a wine that can be sold earlier, and it also helps provide an outlet for less than ideal vintages.  Now the most important thing to remember is that violating any of the rules for these wines can result in fines, prison, and worst of all, destruction of a winemaker's reputation.  All of which brings us to tonight's wine.  This wine was basically made from the same grapes as Brunello, but the winemaker apparently had his reasons for not wanting to comply with the rules of Brunello and decided instead to simply offer the wine as a plain old Sangiovese!

The wine itself has a wonderful bright ruby color in the glass, and the nose is so reminiscent of a nice Rosso or Brunello.  We have lovely aromas of leather, vanilla and oak, with a hint of ripe, sweet fruit.  The taste is fruit forward, with flavors of black cherry and plum, followed by a warm, peppery spice midpalate, transitioning effortlessly to the bright tannins that provide a long, dry finish.  I certainly won't oversell this as a baby Brunello, but man, this wine is richer and much more complex than any run of the mill Sangiovese!

This really is the best "generic" Sangiovese I've ever had, and the fact that it was on sale for only $12 makes this a super bargain if there ever was one!  Overall I would rate this one a solid 8, with room to improve as it matures.  I bought this wine at G.B. Russo's, my favorite local wine merchant who is actually the sole sponsor of my evening activities, since I bought the wine and the Tuscan pizza I'm enjoying it with.  The pizza is a lovely crust, with roasted peppers, prosciutto di parma, and crema di toscana sauce.  I added a few leaves of fresh basil as well, but the rich flavors of Tuscany are the perfect complement to this wine.  Cin cin!

2005 Vitanza Chianti Colli Senesi

Another hot summer day, and since I just went to the gym I figure I should reward myself with a lovely porterhouse, and what could go better with a nice steak than a nice bottle of Chianti?  So tonight I've opened a bottle of the July selection from my office wine club, the 2005 Vitanza Chianti Colli Senesi.  Now you might be asking what makes this wine different from the typical Chianti, and that's a good question.  This wine is produced from grapes grown in the hills outside of Siena, so it tends to be a little more rustic, but definitely the genuine article, not unlike the people there!  The vineyards there are somewhat lower yielding, and the Sangiovese grapes grow in smaller bunches, resulting in more concentrated fruit flavors and higher tannins.

The wine itself has a deep ruby hue, with lighter red along the edges.  The nose presents a wonderful combination of leather, cherry, licorice and a bit of earthy spice.  The wine is wonderfully fruit forward with concentrated flavors of ripe plum and cherry, giving way to a bit of rustic earthiness and smoke midpalate.  The well structured tannins provide for a long, silky dry finish that's perfect for drinking at sunset, but still won't detract from a great meal!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, particularly given the bargain price of only $10 (thank you G.B. Russo!).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with the aforementioned porterhouse along with a few sweet potato fries to round things out, a perfect dinner that is just a small reminder of the Bistecca a la Toscana that is so wonderful just outside of Florence!  Though admittedly mine was a tenth as thick as the genuine article. Cin cin!

2008 Bonizio Sangiovese di Maremma

Tonight I'm enjoying a bottle of my office wine club's latest selection, the 2008 Bonizio Sangiovese di Maremma!  You know how much I love wine and my wine club buddies, so this is bound to be something fun.  Now many of you are probably already quite familiar with the Sangiovese grape, the foundational grape in so many wonderful wines of Tuscany, from classic Chianti to the king of the hill, Brunello di Montalcino.  Well, unlike a typical Sangiovese, the Sangiovese di Maremma comes from the southern and western section of the region, where a combination of the warmer climate and red soil provides for a more robust varietal.

Unlike a typical Tuscan Sangiovese, this wine is somewhat more fuller bodied, presenting a deep, brooding garnet color in the glass.  The nose is an interesting combination of ripe plum and sour cherry with hints of smoky herbs and anise.  The taste is somewhat fruit forward, with ripe berries, black cherry and cassis, yielding to licorice midpalate and finishing with bright tannins for a nice bit of tartness at the end (however, it's essential to note that letting this wine breathe a bit will diminish the tartness of the tannins significantly, leaving you with a smooth, almost creamy finish).

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7, it's very pleasant for what it is, and an unbeatable bargain at only $8!  Though I'll have to give a downgrade for not having a natural cork, but I can overlook that on occasion.  Tonight I am pairing it with a little linguine with some Italian sausage and arrabbiata sauce.  The initial fruit and hint of sweetness plays wonderfully against the spice of the red sauce, so well I have an urge for a second helping!

2007 Monte Antico Toscana

What a lovely evening, nice and cool, clear skies and a beautiful sunset...it's just too bad I've been busy as all get out today!  Work, then the gym for an hour, then I stopped to pick up a chicken burrito for dinner from the local Qdoba (see not every day is a gourmet feast!) and now I'd just like a nice glass of vino to relax before I start all over again tomorrow!

So tonight I've decided to open a bottle of what I consider a very wonderful everyday wine.  Not a spectacular, special occasion type wine, but a nice wine that comes at a price that doesn't have you filling out mortgage applications should you decide to have more than a bottle a week!

The 2007 Monte Antico Toscana is a nice blend of mostly Sangiovese with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that seems to give this wine a little more body than a typical Sangiovese.  The wine itself is medium bodied, with a nice bright ruby color in the glass.  The nose is filled with ripe fruit and leather, with a hint of sour cherry.  The taste is somewhat earthy, with tart fruit flavors, giving way to a strawberry jam flavor midpalate, and then some nicely structured tannins for a smooth dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7, with a half point deduction for the screw cap (you know how I love my corks!).  It's a lighter style that goes very well with take out Mexican food, or just sipping on the patio after a long day. I think I bought this at my local supermarket for just $7, so again, how can you complain?

2004 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino

Another fine wine from our "Best of" wine tasting, and I can think of no better wine to post about on Christmas Eve.  After all, Christmas itself seems to go so well with Italian food and red wine, so what's better than the classic heart of Italian wine, the greatest wine in Tuscany, and arguably the greatest wine of Italy, Brunello di Montalcino!  This wine, the 2004 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino is a very nice example of this classic Tuscan great, and I can tell you I was not disappointed in the least!

The wine has a garnet color in the glass with a hint of rust color along the edges.  The nose was somewhat "woodsy" which I guess is my technical term for a combination of moss, oak, cedar, earth and tobacco all swirling around.  The taste had some tart cherry, and mild acidity and a subtle spiciness that made for quite a backbone on this wine.  I found the wine itself quite dry, but the mild tannins made for a very smooth finish.  As the wine for the heart of Tuscany, this wine would pair well with many hearty Italian dishes, or if you're bold enough, Bistecca alla Fiorentina!  For those of you unfamiliar, Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a Tuscan style steak about as big as your torso (I exaggerate, but these are big thick steaks) grilled over a wood fire, but if you don't have any 4-inch thick steaks handy, a nice 2-inch thick Porterhouse will do nicely!

This wine was simply delightful, and I would rate it a solid 9, perhaps higher but for the price (this one will set you back in the $30-40 range).  Even so, if you happen to find some online or at your local wine merchant, I suggest buying a bottle or two to enjoy with family and friends.  Tutti a tavola a mangiare!