We are so into Italian!! So,
Sunday evening we had "the family" over for a little SuperTuscan dinner. Kept it simple with a
Mediterranean mixed grill. That is, I grilled off eggplant, summer
squash, zucchini, onions, and peppers to serve with 3 different sausage
and marinated lamb loin chops. The pesto orzo with just picked baby
yellow heirloom tomatoes was a nice accompaniment. However, this menu
was just the backdrop to focus on three new SuperTuscan red
wines I have recently stocked in the store. I had tasted each one
separately before I purchased, but now was my opportunity to line them
up side-by-side for comparative tasting with Renee's cuisine. What a
treat! Except for the person responsible for washing the Riedel
crystal stemware, isn't it a grand sight to see 3 glistening globes at
each placesetting? Of course, the
wines performed beautifully. Let me entice you with
descriptions....for you too, might want to have "the family" over for
Sunday supper. Are you listening Vittorio, Bruno, Angelo, and
Stephano....?
I know most of you are Napa
Valley Cabernet/blends loyalists...and I remember my roots too! So
don't think for a moment that my enthusiasm for Tuscan
Cabernet/Sangiovese/Merlot blends is sacreligious. I just want to
share the bounty with you! First a note to those of you who think only
wines from the Sangiovese grape are made in the Tuscano. About 30
years ago, some rebellious producers tired of the legal restraints
required to make Chianti decided they could make a better wine if they
adopted some of the "unconventional" methods and grape varietals used
in Bordeaux. Soon, this trend to produce a "better" wine spread
throughout Tuscany and the SuperTuscan
was born. Historically
many of the finest wines produced in Tuscany are dominated by Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot with the other Bordeaux varietals taking minor
roles. Recently, in back-to-back years (2000 and 2001), the Wine
Spectator selected SuperTuscan wines as its #1 wine of the
year. The 1997 "Solaia" (#1 in 2000) is a blend of 75% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc. The 1998 "Ornellaia"
(#1 in 2001) is composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon with some
Merlot and Cabernet Franc typically in the blend. The legendary
"Masseto", produced by same Lodovico Antinori is 100%
Merlot. "Sassicaia", the original and most famous of all of all
SuperTuscan wines is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet
Franc.
....Anyway, my notes on
the three SuperTuscan wines; "Saeculum", "Ardingo" and "Sammarco"!
1999
Riseccoli "Saeculum" is a blend of 60%
Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot aged in 100% new
French oak. Very dark and opaque, this wine's super endowment was the
seductress of the evening. Full bodied, but with a soft lush mid
palate. A dark, sweet cherry kiss that lingered on. Great
promise!.... Sophia Loren in 1970! Food? Who cares!! Only 600 cases
produced. - $64.95
(RP 93, WS 93)
2000
Andrea Costanti's Cabello "Ardingo" shows the
strength and greatness that Merlot can acheive in Tuscany. Blended
with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine has a great future a head of it,
but you will have to be patient. A young "black stallion" of a wine!
Big, muscular, dark and brooding! Powerful and intense! Whoa Boy! -
$45.95 (RP 93)
1999
Castello dei Rampolla "Sammarco" is a classic
SuperTuscan in the making! The 1985 vintage is still considered a
reference point for SuperTuscans. The 1997 is a modern day benchmark
(WS 97). The 1999 "Sammarco" is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with an
underpinning of 15% Sangiovese. Currently, tightly wound and closed
like a new bud, the wine still displays its lineage and potential for
greatness; dense and darkly colored purple, aromas of cedar box, maduro
wrap and spice. A pure expression of rich, but lilting black currant
fruit. Perfectly balanced to age successfully for at least another
twenty years. - Should be $92.95
- NOW $74.95 (RP
93)
ORDER ANY QUANTITY OF
INDIVIDUAL BOTTLES OR SAVE AND PURCHASE 3 BOTTLE SETS (ONE BOTTLE
EACH) FOR $175.00 PER
SET.
ORDER NOW BY REPLY EMAIL OR
TELEPHONE. ALL ORDERS WILL BE CONFIRMED BY REPLY EMAIL WITH INVOICE #.
(RP) - Robert Parker, The Wine
Advocate
(WS) - Wine Spectator
Ciao!
Enrico(#449-0632)Stumpf
The Wine Consultant
8039 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 721-WINE (9463)
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