In some ways it seems as though Italy has taken a back seat as Australia and Spain have gotten a lot of great press in the last 3-5 years. Now with the 2005 Bordeaux release, Italy has continued to fly under the radar. But in my mind, Italy was one of the first wine producing countries to really step up and improve the quality of it’s wine in the 90s — and there continues to be a lot of very high quality Italian wines on the market. Many of these wines are modern, but with more old world characteristics than you will find in Australia for example (don’t get me wrong — I also appreciate new world style as well). Not as big and extracted — not as much candied fruit — but that will fall out of favor at some point.
This is one example of what Italian wine is capable of — a beautiful wine and a superb example of Italian Sangiovese. You know this is Italian from the moment you get the nose — good fruit, some must and forest floor. On the palate — great structure, balance, acidity and soft tannins give way to berry, cocoa, minerals and oak — and 2001 was cited as the best vintage ever from this estate.
Rated 94 by both Parker and Wine Spectator — you can currently find this wine at Wine Exchange for under $40, about $20 less than retail. As many wines from different countries and regions become more and more alike, this is a great example of a distinctly Italian and Tuscan wine.
100% Sangiovese di Lamole (a naturally low yielding clone of Sangiovese) from 70 year-old vines grown at 1,350 feet above sea level with west-southwest exposure. The juice is macerated with the skins for approximately 12 days. Daily manual punch-downs ensure greater concentration of flavor and tannins. The wine is aged in Allier, Vosges, Nevers and American oak barriques for 12 months, and refined in bottle for six months. Still young but showing well in its youth, this wine will surely show well for the next 10-12 years.
Recommended.
