Carpineto Dogajolo 2005 & 2006

In case you were wondering what exactly our name means... this post explains it all. This is a wine we picked up at our neighborhood liquor store for a meager $9. We've had it before, so we were looking forward to giving it some thought. We popped the cork, took a sip, and were simply puzzled. This was not the wine we've had before?!?! Well, it just so happens that we still had the empty bottle from the last time we had the wine. After some quick label sleuthing, we realized that the old bottle was a 2005 and this new bottle is a 2006. Seeing this as a great opportunity for a side by side tasting, we ran out and grabbed the last 2005 bottle they had at the liquor store. Here are the results...

EXPERIENCE

We tried the 2006 first. The nose is weak, but you can tell the wine is going to be relatively bitter; the first taste follows suit. There is not much of anything when the wine hits your tongue, and then all you are left with is an intense tart bitterness. There is really no fruit taste to this wine at all, just a dry finish that leaves you reaching for a glass of water.

The 2005 is the wine we remembered. There is a hint of bitterness in the nose, but there is also a more complex, fruity aroma that is missing from the 2006. The first taste is starkly different; this is a much more balanced wine. There is a slight berry flavor and a smooth texture, both of which are missing from the 2006. The finish has a similar bitterness, but is less dry and much less harsh. Rather than make us wish we just had water, this wine makes us wish we had more.

VERDICT

2006 TASTES CHEAP while the 2005 is GOOD AND CHEAP. This is a great example of how different two vintages of the same wine can be. If you can find the 2005, pick up a couple of bottles; if not, skip 2006 and hope for a better vintage in 2007.

FACTS

Carpineto is based in the Chianti Classico region on the coast of Toscana; however they have several estates throughout the region. The grapes for this wine come from their vineyards near Chianciano and Montepulciano. Dogajolo is their "super-tuscan" blend made up of 80% sangiovese and 20% cabernet sauvignon. Though it is not labeled as such, according to Carpineto's website this wine is classified IGT. The website also notes that the two grapes that make up this wine are harvested and vinified separately, then later combined in small wooden casks.