WTN: Dig the Tig

[Jenise]

...a grave.


2008 Tignanello

Not much nose. On the palate, heavy, reductive, gritty. Not oxidated but it tastes like that could be around the next corner. Not at all what Tig should be, and recent notes on CT are very positive. We managed to guzzle it down with a homemade pizza but it drank more like a pedestrian barbera than a hallowed sangiovese. (And yes, I'm the original owner of this bottle.)

Hi, Jenise. Frugal person here did a quick search and found current pricing to be $84-$140 for the 2008. Your experience does not sound like the QPR was there.

There are so many nice Tuscan reds. One of my favorite regions; Italy is part of my cellar strategy FWIW. Recently bought my first Gran Selezione, Bibbiano 2015 Montornello. Apparently Bibbianos are 100% Sangiovese. Found at LWS for $33.

And Hi to all! My first post on WLP! Hope you have a great Sunday!

[Jenise]

Hey Pat, you made it!

Current vintages of Tig run about $100, which is debatable QPR even for good bottles. It's a wine I love; I picked these up at Costco back in the day for about $65 ea but haven't bought any more recent vintages. I still respect it but I'd rather drink Felsina for a lot less. This particular bottle can't be judged on the usual merits though, it was flawed in some way. Certainly wasn't TCA, didn't taste cooked, cork was pristeen--no idea what was wrong with it but let's hope it was just this bottle and my remaining bottle is fine. I'll open it soon--if it's a good bottle, it should be singing. If it isn't then that points to a custody issue somewhere upline from me and let's get it over with.

[David M. Bueker]

Welcome aboard Pat!

Definitely sounds like a duff bottle Jenise. Too bad.

That being said, I will take 2 Felsina Rancia over 1 Tignanello.

[Robin Garr]

... And Hi to all! My first post on WLP! Hope you have a great Sunday!

Hi, Pat! Glad you made it in!

My most memorable Tignanello was a few years (more than a few back), when I did a feature story for the newspaper where I then worked, having the owner of a very fancy restaurant craft me a $150 burger. The burger was amazing, hand-chopped prime beef topped with a slab of foie on a house-baked brioche bun and lots of trimmings. The owner got into the spirit of things (also viewing the publicity as a plus) and threw in the Tignanello. It paired nicely with the, er, burger.

[Jenise]

Robin, that would do it! My most memorable Tig? In Rome, a little Trattoria. We had just ordered linguine vongole, and only then spied the Tigs on a back shelf. $35/bottle. So to hell with convention, we drank Tig with our clams. Both were divine, even if not perfect for each other.

[Robin Garr]

Sounds like a great non-match, Jenise!

I do have to wonder what the Italian servers thought, though.

Like what David said, probably a duff bottle.

I had one a couple of months ago and it was great!

Hmm. Felsina not available, at least for now in my area. Other ideas in same price range?

[Jenise]

Like what David said, probably a duff bottle.

I had one a couple of months ago and it was great!

Good data point. Cross your fingers for my other bottle!

[Jenise]

Hmm. Felsina not available, at least for now in my area. Other ideas in same price range?

There are lots of good chiantis, unfortunately I don't keep up with the category and since Italy was over 1,000,000 labels it would be impossible to guess what's available where you are. Felsina's very well known and highly respected by geeks (obviously), though, so it shouldn't be hard to find.