2010 Rosso di Montalcino, La Fortuna ($20)
In and around the town of Montalcino, one of Italy’s most revered grand wines is grown and made: Brunello di Montalcino, which can age beautifully for decades and more! It is made from a local type of Sangiovese. Now, most consumers don’t have decades to wait for their newly-purchased Brunello to mature…so the producers also offer a baby-brother wine from the same kinds of grapes. It is called Rosso di Montalcino. Please note: I’m not always a big fan of the younger same-grape brothers of big red wines, such as the Nebbiolo d’Alba made from the famous grape that provides long-aging Barolo. But sometimes these producers get it right…as they did with this delicious wine. Medium ruby-garnet in the glass, not too dark. The fruit veers towards cherry candy…but there’s a hint of the complexity that Sangiovese develops with age (something a little cheese-like?) Thankfully, it is not big and bold…but it’s not wimpy either…a great compromise wine! Silky feel, very little of the Montalcino tannin you’d expect, wonderful acidity.
Wine4Food
I tasted it a lunch last week run by Tuscan cheese and prosciutto producers…it was terrific with all those tasty things. It was even better with Cesare Casella’s lunch menu…from Pappardelle with Pecorino Toscano and Meat Sauce, to Casella’s marvelous Braised Pork with Stewed Beans and Mushrooms. These matches made me feel that almost any meaty pasta, or soupy meat stew, will be glorious with this Rosso!!
Wine Discount: 15% OFF ( for a limited time)
We are running a holiday special for 15% OFF ALL wines in our shop through December 31st (enter TASTE15 at checkout). Free delivery on orders over $100 in Manhattan and over $500 in the tri-state area. It’s a great time to stock up for holiday parties!
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