75%Sangiovese; 15% Sagratino; 15% Merlot 13.5% ABV; $16 at A.G. Ferrari (an awesome small Bay Area chain of Italian delis) Served with one of my favorite "bachelor suppers" a baked potato with tomato sauce and this great rich, sharp Wisconsin knock off of Parmesan that I frankly like more than almost any Italian Parmesan I've tried (the SF Chroni had an article on this cheese last Friday)
Inky purple, with nice dark ruby notes. Definitely some sharp acidity in the nose, with red plum wafting into my untrained nasal passages.
On the palette, definitely a hit of acid from the Sangiovese. Also, some rustic leather/tobacco notes, which becomes more noticaeable as the wine breathes. Not a real strong oak presence-maybe as this is a lower level wine for the producer, he doesn't feel the need to lash it with the barrels? . Definitely black cherry and plum flavors-the merlot? A little bitter and acidic at the same time on the finish. The Sangio definitely really, really dominates this wine-it tastes like a Chianti with some rounded notes from the merlot. Am not familiar at all with Sagratino, except from a very nice tasting of the Colopino in Nugget Market. Hope I like the splurge 25th Anniversary wine from this producer wshen I open it.
A nice refreshing red wine. It might go better with red meat, but it was very handy Another example of good Italain food wines-I wonder, though, if Italian reds remain a bit of an acquired taste for some Americans. The acidity is very notiiceable.
A quite solid ***. Have to remind myself: "Drink two glasses-it's a weekday." Try it again tomorrow night with pasta and Italian sausage.
Second Night. Same dinner, as I forgot to defrost the sausage
Stoppered overnight with the cork at room temperature (60 F or so)
The wine has changed a bit-I wonder if the Sangio is less dominant now?. Definitely more "rustic" tonight, with savory and bitter notes on the finish. Definitely a fuzzier finish. I still like this, it's just "different" and interesting. Much less bright cherry/acidity. Still ***???