Time flies, there goes 2010…another year older for us but it will also be another vintage older for the bottles that we savour! Positive wine talk! If the festive drinks are special treats, bubbles or old vintages, what then shall be next on the list?
As for me, one of the wines that have caught my attention within the past 30 days of 2011 is an Italian Brunello. Brunello di Montalcino is an area around Tuscany, Italy also famous for the Chianti wines where Sangiovese is the famous local native grape varietal. Some may argue that Sangiovese based wines lack the mid palate in a wine’s personality. Hence, blends are often used in Chianti. Ironically, Brunellos are always and surely 100% Sangiovese! But what often makes them round with charming personalities?!?
Answer: They are made with Sangiovese CLONES unlike the native Sangiovese found in Chianti!
The wine that swept me off my feet last January was:
Agricola San Felice, Campogiovanni Il Quercione Riserva 1999 (Brunello di Montalcino)
Tasting Notes: A beautiful nose of dark cherries, blackberries and earth which flows on to the palate with great intensity and lively acidity, again with dark cherries and red berries plus a touch of iodine before ending dry with earthy and austere tannins.
Mama Mia~!
Perhaps, I have a question for all you noses….how would you like to describe your wines?
Think about it…
Always trust your PALate, it’s your PAL!
Salut!
