Central Italian

Bet Shalom Wine Club Tasting Notes, February 12, 2022

Bianco di Ampeleia 2019 $26.99: Trebbiano 90%, 5% Ansonaco (aka Ansonica or Inzolia, found mostly off the Tuscan coast on the island of Giglio, and also in Sicily), and 5% Malvasia. “Sliced apple skins, pears and cedar, medium to full body” - James Suckling

Lamole Di Lamole Chianti Classico 2016 @ $24.99: 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Wine Spectator: ripe black currant and black cherry flavors, augmented by notes of iron, tar, wild Mediterranean herbs and pine. Rich, dense and balanced, with the structure to age. Fine length. https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/chianti-wine-tuscany/

Tenuta Arceno Chianti Classico Riserva 2017 @ $31.99: Sangiovene. Blackberries, blueberries and other blue fruit. Some stone and pine-needle undertones. Energetic and fresh for the vintage. Medium to full body and a vivid finish. - James Suckling. Winemaker notes: The aromas are dominated by ripe raspberry fruit and candied apples, followed by floral notes and nutmeg. The powerful nose gives way to an elegant balance of expressive fruit. The palate follows with tart cherry pie, red licorice, and sweet tobacco. A long finish shows hints of cedar and cypress.

Villa Antinori Pian Della Vigne Rosso Di Montalcino 2018 @ $24.99: Sangiovese. Wine Enthusiast: Aromas of wild berry and a whiff of ground clove form the subtle nose. On the fresh palate, notes of vanilla and star anise back up a juicy core of Morello cherry while polished tannins give smooth support. Wine Spectator: Black cherry, blackberry, Mediterranean scrub, iron and tobacco flavors prevail in this dense, meaty red. Assertive tannins grip the finish for now.

Ridolfi Brunello Di Montalcino 2015 @ $39.98: 100% Sangiovese. Winemaker notes: Pale ruby colour with garnet reflections. Supple red fruit expression on the nose, light incense note on the palate and gently savoury drive. Lively acidity in perfect balance with sweet and refined tannins. Long mineral and salty finish.

MONTALCINO WINE: Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.

The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.

Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.  - wine.com