Il Bastardo Sangiovese 2008

i have to admit, i bought this one solely because of the name and the label. and the price was right too. selling for about $8, this tuscan wine is actually quite nice. the nose had some cherry and blackberry, a little earth and some light spice notes. the palate had most of the same, with blackberry and cherry flavors and just a little earth. the tannins were medium and the finish was long and fruity. this is a good pizza or pasta wine, especially at this price. this won't knock your socks off by any means. it is a fun, easy drinking every day table wine.

Rosso di Montalcino 2006 Il Poggione

i had this wine at a little italian called place tre angelina in white plains new york where i dined with the comely brunette. the wine is a sangiovese and left us wanting more. the nose was very floral with roses coming through. there was also nice white pepper and soft cedar notes and as the wine opened up, i got a strawberry aroma. the taste was wild berries, highlighted by raspberry, with floral lavender tastes and anise. i got the anise taste early and that seemed to changed into a softer, woody flavor. the wine had great structure and smooth, silky tannins. i enjoyed this with a salmon dish but this would also go well with pasta with meat sauce and grilled meats. sells for about $20.

Bolla Sangiovese di Romagna 2007

this sangiovese was purchased recently at the local grocer for about $9. i was looking for food wines that went with colder weather foods, stews, hearty soups. gave this one a try. i mentioned how sangiovese tends to lean toward the tar like taste after aging in oak. this one maybe didn't spend as much time in oak, because it was more fruity than anything else. the nose was black cherry and a little bit of leather. the taste was raspberry and black cherry with some hints of anise. and it was very tight and very tannic. even after pouring a glass, swirling and leaving it sit for almost an hour, it was still very tight and tannic. overall impression was mediocre and i'm not sure if more time in the bottle would benefit this one.

Burnet Ridge 2004 Super Tuscan

back to another outstanding wine from burnet ridge. this is the first time i have tried this wine from chip emmerich. this is 78% sangiovese and 22% of chip's purple trillium blend, which is an excellent wine all its own. the nose was plums, vanilla, and a really nice herbal note. the taste was very complex, with blackberry, licorice, cedar and and some floral notes. i'm sure this wine would pair well with food, but enjoy it by itself first. the tannins were medium and the wine got more complex as it was exposed to air. long, excellent finish and well worth the $25 price.

Ruffino Fonte al Sole Toscana 2006

the comely brunette and i enjoyed this super tuscan with some italian fare recently. there was an interesting nose on this wine of cherry and spice and something earthy. it was almost a little barnyard like, in a good way. the palate was cherry, followed by earthy, woody flavors that reminded me of cedar. this wine is not 100% sangiovese. it has some merlot in it as well and this really makes the wine a little softer in the mouth. very nice long finish. overall, it went very well with our meal and is worth a second look, especially at the nice price of about $8 a bottle.

Col D'Orcia Brunello Di Montalcino 2001

my sister shorty has travelled a bit and recently was in italy. she had some bottles shipped back to the states and this was one she shared with me recently. the grape is the sangiovese, which is very fruity when young, but aged in barrels for some time as this wine is, the grape takes on an earthy, almost tar-like characteristic. if you like this sort of thing, this wine would be your style. on the nose, cherry, mushroom, wet leaves, and the promise of a really interesting flavor. on the palate, i was not disappointed. cherry flavors followed by the distinct licorice or tar flavors. the tannins were a bit strong still and the wine was even a bit thin. it could easily spend more time in the bottle and get a whole lot better. the wine retails in the states for about $42-47. if you want a wine to lay for a few years, this would be on my list. thanks for sharing shorty!