La Selva Rosso Maremma Toscana 2008

Another bottle, this time red, that we picked up after our tasting at La Selva.

EXPERIENCE
A mildly tart nose. Good balance of fruit, tart, and acid on the tongue. The finish is just the slightest bit dry with a little bit of the pepper you'd expect from sangiovese. Overall a really pleasant drink, very balanced and clean.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP - Another wine from La Selva with quality well beyond it's price. This bottle sells for $10.99 (under an alias) here in the US. This is a "super-tuscan" quality wine at an everyday price. All of the wines we've had from La Selva offer really clean and clear flavors with plenty of depth. You'll kick yourself if you only buy one bottle.

FACTS
La Selva's Rosso Maremma Toscana is classified IGT and is a blend made from sangiovese (60% I believe), malvasia nera, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon. Grown and bottled near Magliano in Toscana, all of the grapes are organic and minimal sulfites are used. You can find this wine in the US at Pasanella and Son labeled as "Pasanella & Figlio Rosso" - both in their store and online. Hopefully Pasanella, or perhaps La Selva themselves, will have more of their offerings available here soon!

Cantine Colosi "Rosso" Nero d'Avola 2006

This Nero d'Avola came highly recommended from the trusted proprietor of our neighborhood liquor store. We got it for a mere $13, and from the looks of a quick Google search you may be able to find it for less.

EXPERIENCE
Synthetic cork isn't our favorite way to start a bottle, but it doesn't always spell disaster. The wine has a soft, pleasant aroma with small amount of alcohol. The first taste has a nice 'jam' flavor, slightly sweet, and a bit watery in the beginning. That leads to a full fruit flavor in the middle and ends with a very light dryness. The full body of fruit in the wine is the essence. You are left with the middle of the wine in your mouth not the beginning or end. Very well balanced throughout.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP. We can't stop picking this bottle up, and apparently neither can anyone else in out neighborhood; the liquor store sold out their original stock and had to order a second round. Its surprisingly full for a Nero d'Avola and more surprising for only costing $13. Once again with this wine, pleasant flavor and balance prevail!

FACTS
Cantine Colosi is located on the isle of Sicilia in Italy. Their "Rosso" 2006 is a Nero d'Avola and thusly made entirely from the nero d'avola grape, the main grape of Sicily. Our friend at the liquor store told us this wine gets its full flavor from aging in oak. It is classified IGT.