Fossacolle Rosso di Montalcino 2007

The more I drink wines from Montalcino in Tuscany, the more I like them. This is not a bad thing save for the fact that most of these wines are Brunello di Montalcinos that often retail for $75 and up. Fortunately not all Sangiovese based wines from this region are expensive Brunellos, and every so often you can find a Rosso that is a great wine and a great value. The Fossacolle Rosso di Montalcino 2007 is just such a value.

Fossacolle is a very small producer in the village of Tavernelle in the south of Montalcino. There were only 500 cases of the 2007 Rosso produced, and their entire estate is only about 10 acres. Family owned and operated by Sergio Marchetti and his family, Fossacolle is a very young winery by Italian standards. Their first Sangiovese vines were planted in 1984, and they started producing Rossos shortly after that with their first Brunello vintage to come in 1997. Althought they don't have the hundreds of years of history that so many Italian producers have, their results show no lack of experience.

The Fossacolle Rosso di Montalcino 2007 is a deep, intense red color in your glass. The bouquet brings cherry and plum fruit with notes of vanilla bean and herbs. In your mouth, dark cherry fruit dominates the flavor profile. The wine is medium-full in body with solid tannins and a very nice finish for a Rosso. This Rosso could very well put some lesser Brunellos to shame in a direct comparison.

At a price in the low to mid $20's, this wine is an outstanding value. A versatile food friendly wine, this can be enjoyed with aged Italian cheeses, grilled meats, or Italian veal dishes. Although it can be hard to find, it is well worth it if you can get a bottle.

Cheers!

Castello del Terriccio Tassinaia 2005 IGT Toscana

In recent weeks I have been reviewing a lot of inexpensive value wines in the $15 and under price category that give you great bang for your buck. A couple nights ago I had occasion to bring out something a little nicer from my cellar that was in a little bit higher price category. The Castello del Terriccio Tassinaia 2005 retails for about $45, which definitely takes it out of everyday value territory, but I'm here to tell you that for my money, this wine still delivers outstanding value.

The 2005 Tassinaia is made entirely with estate grown fruit at Castello del Terriccio in the northernmost part of the Tuscan Maremma just twenty short kilometers from Bolgheri. This is Super Tuscan territory where many of the best Italian blends are made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese. The 2005 Tassinaia is made from 34% Sangiovese, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 33% Merlot that are aged separately in French oak for 14 months and then blended and bottled. The winemaking process is guided by consulting oenologist Carlo Ferrini. Ferrini has become a bit of a celebrity winemaker, but he is very unique in his belief that he will only work with nearby Italian wineries where he can be an estate consultant as opposed to a flying winemaker who shows up once a year for a few days. All his clients are in driving range and he visits them often and spends as much time in the vineyard as he does in the winery. I have to say that I like his approach.

In your glass the 2005 Tassinaia gives you wonderful aromas of blackberry, cassis, and black cherry laced with bell pepper and herbs. On the palate you get more great black fruit flavors similar to the nose along with some plum. The wine has a very pleasant full body and beautifully soft tannins (note that this is after 3 hours in decanter). The finish is fantastic and long with some very subtle earthiness and herbs to go with the fruit. To sum it up in one simple word, this wine is delicious! It's hard to believe that this is actually a second label to Castello del Terriccio's Lupicaia.

As far as value goes, this is relative for everyone and what they are comfortable spending on wine, but I believe that at $45, the 2005 Tassiniaia gives you great value for your money. Its certainly not for everyday, but its well worth it when preparing a nice meal at home. I had this a few nights ago with rosemary scented lamb chops with a port wine mushroom reduction, and they were wonderful together. It would also be great with a nice steak or grilled venison. So go ahead and splurge for that special occasion at home, or bring a bottle of Tassinaia to your favorite restaurant that allows you to bring your own and pay a reasonable corkage fee. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Cheers!

Fossetti Rosso Toscano IGT 2007

It's not very often that I get truly excited about a bottle of wine that retails for $9.99. This Fossetti Rosso Toscano bottled by Mocali in Montalcino is one of those value wines that has me quite fired up. Mocali is better know for the famed Brunello di Montalcino, but this bargain Rosso made primarily with Sangiovese and some Canaiolo outperforms many Brunellos and Chiantis that cost much, much more.

Very dark purple in the glass, the nose is filled with aromas of intense cherry fruit with other dark berry aromas and some very subtle leather. The wine is fruit forward in style and very approachable at a young age. This is a 2007 Rosso that is absolutely ready to drink now. In your mouth you get the same intense cherry flavors and other dark berries that are so pleasant on the bouquet. The body is medium-full with rather mild acidity for a Sangiovese, and the tannins are very smooth. Aside from maybe wanting a little more acidity, this is already a very good wine; however, it is the long finish that really sets it apart from other value wines from Tuscany. This wine just keeps providing pleasure for your taste buds well after you swallow a sip.

As far as value for your money goes, this is about as good as it gets. At $9.99 a bottle, go out and buy a couple cases. This is an absolute steal.

I enjoyed this with some pasta and sausage with red sauce, but this would also pair very well with with grilled meats or a good aged Italian cheese.

Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino 2007

This excellent wine comes from the region of Montalcino, which is famous for its high powered and high priced Brunello di Montalcinos. This Rosso from Uccilliera is a fantastic wine that will give many Brunellos a run for their money.

In your glass the wine has a beatiful medium red color. The bouquet is full of rasberry and plum with just a hint of cinnamon. The wine has a medium-full body with a very pleasant acidity and soft tannins. Flavors of red cherry, sour cherry and plum are abundant. This had incredible fruit flavor for a Sangiovese and a smooth, lasting finish.

Overall, the Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino 2007 is an outstanding wine. It outperforms many Brunellos which are 2 to 3 times the price. It definitely delivers a great value for its $25 price tag. Highly recommended!

Pair with pasta and marinara sauce, Parmigiano Reggiano, cured Italian meats, or veal.

Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005 DOCG

This is a very good wine from a region of Tuscany that is not quite as well known as some of its famous neighbors. Just about everyone is familiar with Chianti and Chianti Classico, and many are familiar with the region of Montalcino and their esteemed Brunellos. For reasons I can't quite figure out, the region of Montepulciano has neither the familiarity of Chianti among casual wine drinkers nor the status of Brunello di Montalcino among those who are a little more serious about their wine.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wines are primarily Prugnolo Gentile, which is a clone of Sangiovese - the main grape in Chianti, Chianti Classico, and Brunello di Montalcino. The DOCG requires that all Vino Nobile must have at least 70% Prugnolo Gentile, and they also allow smaller percentages of Canaiolo Nero and other approved varieties. For those of you who want to know even more about Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, see this link: http://www.vinonobiledimontepulciano.it/vinonobiledimontepulciano.en.php#leuve

This offering from Avignonesi is comprised of primarily Prugnolo Gentile with small amounts of Canaiolo Nero and Mammolino. The color is a medium red with a small hint of rust normally seen in older wines. With a swirl of the glass, you get beautiful black cherry aromas with a mild cinnamon accent, with much of the same on the palate. This is a beautiful expression of Tuscan wine and the Prugnolo/Sangiovese grape.

At a retail price in the mid $20s, you get quality that is similar to many Brunellos which retail for well over $50.

Enjoy this great Tuscan red with roasted meats, grilled game, or a great Parmiagiano Reggiano.