8-19-13 Word On Wine Tuscany Old and New!
Greeting Italophiles! Mary and I continue to sample some really interesting Italian wines and this week we move north from Umbria to Tuscany. This week we review two wines from Montalcino a Super Tuscan and a classic Brunello!
1)2010 Lucente. 75% Merlot and 25% Sangiovese. If you think Merlot doesn’t belong in Tuscany you, my friend, are right! In fact if you grow Merlot or other non indigenous grapes your wine gets labeled as table wine! However, some enterprising Italian wine makers wanted to use grapes like Merlot and produce high quality wines in Tuscany. Hence the term Super Tuscan. Frankly Lucente was pretty super! This had a very bold fruit forward New World personality. This was fabulous with the amazing pasta we had at Frank’s Pizza and Pasta with our various spouses. More on Frank’s later. If you are looking for a good quality new/old world wine try this one.
2)2008 Castelgiocondo Brunello. 100% Sangiovese. $67. Yes I realize this is expensive but Brunello di Montalcino is one of the great wines of Italy. This was a wine of great complexity with many layers of flavor. There were fabulous tannins, a great long finish and solid fruit. Yes it’s all here and yes you have to pay for it! Not for everyday (not on our budgets) but for those special times.
Now…A few words on Frank’s Pizza and Pasta 6620 Bel Air Road. http://www.frankspizzaandpasta.com/
Nestled between a Sally’s Beauty Supply and a rather humble liquor store Armando at Frank’s is doing amazing work. If you are looking for really great, simple solid Italian food check them out. Mary, Kevin Kati and I walked out of there very happy. Meanwhile check out our show!
