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When I look at wine lists in Italian restaurants, it’s tragic that the Chiantis are are so damn expensive. Even for the lowest “Chianti” classification (what’s this?). I simply refuse to pay $40 restaurant pricing for something worth $15. So the other night, feeling the urge to spend more wisely, I ordered something a little different to pair with my savory red sauce, a Rosso di Montalcino. Read more: Wine review: Il Poggione 2008 Rosso di Montalcino
A blend of seven red grapes with Cabernet Sauvignon predominant, the hand-crafted, loving quality completely shows through this wine. It’s like Blackstone opened up the sandbox for winemaker Gary Sitton to play in. With the 55% Cabernet, he adds Malbec for fruitiness, Cabernet Franc for earthiness, Petit Verdot for depth, Tannat (an obscure grape originally from the south of France) for tannin structure, Merlot for softness and Petite Sirah for a ‘lil color and dark fruit flavors. The result is a lovely, full-bodied sexy wine layered with black cherry, sweet vanilla, a smidge of cocoa, blackberry and earthy tobacco. Supple tannins, balanced acidity and long, fruity finish of oaky black cherry. If you like Cabs, this might be a good change of pace. Snoqualmie is owned and operated by the fine folks who bring us Columbia Crest and Chateau Ste. Michelle wines in Washington State. Per their corporate mantra, this is a good value wine that’s well made but there’s one added benefit to this brand: Snoqualmie practices sustainable and organic grape growing. Read more: Wine review: Snoqualmie Naked 2008 Merlot Columbia Valley Tuscany is home to Chianti, likely the most famous wine region on the planet. The straw baskets have been discarded for sleek bottles and modern winemaking went mainstream here about 20-25 years ago. Santa Cristina, made by Italy’s Antinori wine family, is most definitely part of this modern revolution yet still maintains a traditional Chianti style. Read more: Wine review: Santa Christina 2009 Chianti Superiore Proving that Petite Sirah is on the way up in the wine circles, J Lohr is confident enough in this grape’s popularity to produce a single-vineyard offering — from the warm growing region of Paso Robles. Read more: Wine review: J Lohr 2008 Petite Sirah Tower Road Paso Robles Dry Creek Valley grows some of the best Zinfandel in California and Quivira lies in the middle of it all. When I visited their biodynamically-farmed vineyards in Sonoma County a few years ago, I was pretty awed with everything they produced. Read more: Wine review: Quivira 2008 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Melissa Stackhouse, a fantastically talented Pinot and Chardonnay winemaker, was recently promoted at Kendall Jackson (who owns La Crema Winery) to Pinot Noir Winemaster for all of Jackson Family Wines. I’m not surprised since her gorgeous creations continue to overdeliver for the price. I’ll be watching to see if they remain as good without her daily oversight. This Pinot is divine. Read more: Wine reviews: La Crema 2009 Monterey Pinot Noir and 09 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast Located southeast of Sacramento near California’s eastern edge, Lodi Valley isn’t romantic, sophisticated wine “country” (yet), but it’s got the hip enviro edge. Lodi is so serious about the health of its land, growers there formed a trade group, Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission (LWWC), which in 1992 laid down its environmental imperatives in a farming manifesto, “Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing.” Thus the 181 Merlot was produced from grapes exposed to less pesticides. Read more: Wine review: 181 2008 Merlot Lodi Valley (California) In Europe, gender equality in the wine world still hovers in the Middle Ages, but strong-willed females have made progress. In 1975, Maria Martinez, a warm-hearted yet tough survivor, began her wine career in Spain’s Rioja region. After only four years of working in the cellars, she earned her spot among the esteemed winemaker ranks, and has since been crowned “the Queen of Rioja” as the head winemaker at highly respected, 135-year-old Bodegas Montecillo. There are days when blind wine tastings (link) slap my ass and call me Sally. Like when a stereotypically derided wine brand like Glen Ellen actually represents well in the glass. It’s not a tempting bottle to reach for from the samples rack on a random weeknight, so blind was the *only* way to assess it without prejudice. Read more: Wine review: Glen Ellen 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietor’s Reserve California |
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