Querciabella Chianti Classico 2008

Not going to lie... we know this is going to be good... with so much chianti out there and so much information available, know before you buy!

EXPERIENCE
Cork smells like dark chocolate. The nose is full of aromas... a light earthiness, a slight sweetness, prominent notes of vanilla and black berries, and sweet almonds at the end... it compels you to drink, though we resist the urge to guzzle. The first taste is tart, with a prominent sour fruit and acidity. As the wine opens the tartness balances and a faint peppery finish emerges. The nose continues to open and reminds us of licorice spice. A medium bodied, full flavored chianti, with plenty of depth throughout the tasting.

VERDICT
GREAT VALUE - $35 is not bad for a great bottle of chianti, and you'll be hard to find one of this quality for much less. Complex, balanced, and easy to drink... what more could you ask. A very different wine from the Fontodi we've had, and trying them both speaks volumes about the endless variations Tuscan winemakers get out of the omnipotent sangiovese grape.

FACTS
Querciabella is located in Greve in Chianti in central Toscana. Their 2008 Chianti Classico is classified DOCG and is made from 95% sangiovese and 5% cabernet sauvignon. The wine is aged (before blending) for up to 14 months, and rests in the bottles for at least 3 months before it's release. Querciabella is a biodynamic winery (a.k.a. organic) though the wines won't be labeled as such in the US. Check out their website for more info.

Grattamacco Rosso 1988 & 1989

The two oldest wines we've tasted for this site... side by side... scurred?

EXPERIENCE
1988 Cork smells like cherry cola with some good olde funk. The nose is cherries and sherry. First taste is a lot lighter than expected; tart and the finish is soft. Definitely needs to be decanted (as is always the case with wine this old), the flavors are harsh at first and begging for some air.  As the wine opens the nose becomes more raisiny, and the wine becomes less tart and develops a cocoa finish. The wine becomes fuller bodied and the balance evens more and more with time decanted.
1989 Big differences right off the bat... Cork is more floral than cherry. The nose is funky, earthy, and dark - very much like a truffles and black pepper. First taste is sweet and smooth, more balanced than the '88 at first. As the wine opens it becomes closer to the '88. Holds strong with the balance. There is a fruit and raisiny quality showing as it opens.

VERDICT
SHELL OUT if you've got the capital and the cojones for one of these. One of these bottles will set you back around $75-$100. Yes, that is a lot... but aside from being great aged wines, these bottles have historical value. Grattamacco was one of the originators of the ever popular "Super Tuscan" category, dating back to their first vintage in 1978. Both of these wines offer a look back to the roots of perhaps the foremost region in contemporary Italian winemaking.

FACTS
The 1988 and 1989 Grattamacco Rosso are blends of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 25% sangiovese, and 25% merlot. The bottles are simply classified "Table Wine" as they predate the advent of the IGT classification. The vineyards are located in Southwestern Toscana near the Mediterranean coast. For more information on current offerings, check out Grattamacco's website.

La Selva Ciliegiolo 2007

Our final bottle brought back from Tuscany...(sigh)... We were hanging on to this one for sentimentality sake when, while visiting with Roland Krebser (the winemaker himself!) in NY, we were ordered to drink it.

EXPERIENCE
The cork has a very light hint of fruit. The first nose has notes of truffle, dark fruit, and cherries. The first taste has a jammy cherry flavor on the tongue with a semi-tart dry finish. Medium body with a good balance of fruit, acid, and earthy tannins throughout the tasting. The cherry aroma that ciliegiolo is known for is ever present, but never overwhelming. Though we never talk about terroir, this is a great and obvious example for us. Here you have a very unique grape with strong characteristics, but the resultant wine has many of the same characteristics of La Selva's other wines and of the region in general. A great wine and lesson to be learned all in one bottle!

VERDICT
GREAT VALUE - This was one of our favorite wines from all of our Italian travels, and that memory holds true. A really unique grape made into an excellently balanced and interesting wine. Of course... you can't get it here in the US, but hopefully that will change soon. It looks like the wine sells for around 20 Euros in Europe... if you can find some, get it!

FACTS
This IGT wine is made from 100% organic ciliegiolo grapes at La Selva's winery near Magliano in Toscana in the beautiful Maremma region of Southwest Tuscano. The wine is vinified in stainless steel and aged in oak barriques for 8 months before being bottled. We have had the great fortune of being in touch with the winemaker, Roland Krebser, after meeting him during a tour of the winery. According to the man himself, his wines are meant to be drank young. So forget about sticking these in the cellar and buy a case to drink now!

Motta Giove Ciliegiolo 2008

Alongside the Motta Morellino we found this... 100% ciliegolo. Definitely something you don't see often and an opportunity to compare the pure grape to the morellino blend.

EXPERIENCE
The nose... well, frankly, it smells like cherry NyQuil. Maybe thats a bit harsh... at best cherry brandy. You are punched in the face with alcohol and cherries, and thats about it. Taste follows suit... overpowering cherries, lots of alcohol, sweet and smooth finish. It almost drinks like grappa, though the alcohol content is not high. We decanted for almost 2 hours... no change.

VERDICT
TASTES CHEAP - This bottle was around $20, and while interesting, it was practically undrinkable. We tasted this when we were halfway through the Motta Morellino, and it was interesting to really get a sense of the ciliegiolo and how it combines with the sangiovese. We've had ciliogiolo before and actually enjoyed drinking it, so give it a chance... just not this one.

FACTS
Motta's Giove is an IGT classified wine made from 100% ciliegolo. Motta is located near Grosseto in the beautiful Maremma region of Southwester Toscana. Checkout Motta's website for more info.

Motta Morellino di Scansano 2008

Always on the lookout for a new morellino, we found this wine that pairs ciliegiolo with the requisite sangiovese. Not something you see very often and certainly worth investigating...

EXPERIENCE
The nose sweet and floral with a strong scent of forrest berries. First taste is dark cherries as it hits your tongue. Light tannins and a very smooth finish. As is opens... the nose becomes more smoky and earthy, reminiscent of skins and stems. The taste and finish become more peppery with the sangiovese balancing out the cherry-like ciliegiolo. Fuller than your average morellino with well balanced flavors throughout.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP - We picked this up for $19.99 at a local shop and we'll gladly grab it again. We're morellino fans in general, but this one really stands out. The two grapes in this are almost at odds, but come together to make a really unique wine. Not a replacement for the lighter, peppery blends, but a welcomed varation.

FACTS
Motta is located near Grosseto in the beautiful Maremma region of Southwester Toscana. Their Morellino di Scansano is classified DOCG and is made up of 85% sangiovese and 15% ciliegiolo. Checkout Motta's website for more info.

Fontodi Chianti Classico 2006

The one Italian wine you can always find is Chianti, but that's not always a good thing. There is a lot of low quality Chianti out there, and the odds are against you randomly choosing a good bottle. This one is a bit pricier, but just might restore your faith in Italy's best known wine.

EXPERIENCE
Cork is light and sweet with a hint of white pepper. The nose offers an earthy cinnamon spice and a wee bit of funk. First taste is smooth yet dry on the tongue. There is a bite on the finish with some lingering pepper and a sweet, soft undertone. Well rounded overall with a nice contrast between the nose and the taste.

VERDICT
GREAT VALUE - This bottle sells for right around $30 and is well worth the price. This is what Chianti should be, a refined and balanced take on the sangiovese grape. Get some and restore your faith!

FACTS
This DOCG Chianti Classico comes from the Chianti region in Toscana. It is made from 100% sangiovese grapes and is aged in Troncais and Allier barrels for 12 months. Visit Fontodi's website for more info.

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!

La Selva Vermentino 2009

A random visit to a winery we knew nothing about brought us to La Selva, a German owned organic farm near Orbetello in Toscana that produces some of the most delicious tomatoes and jarred delights we've ever had... as well as some great wines. We first had this at a tasting with the winemaker himself, Roland Krebser, and promptly bought a bottle for further investigation...

EXPERIENCE
The nose has prominent fruit with some real depth to it - peach, pear, and honey come to mind. A medium body with just the right amount of sweetness. The finish is crisp and dry with some lingering darkness on the tongue.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP - The value here is really unbeatable. This is a great balanced and complex white that is perfect for summer. After a tip from Roland and some investigating, we found this wine in the US for only $10.99!!! Buy it in bulk!

FACTS
Made at La Selva's winery near Magliano in Toscana, this wine is classified IGT and is made from 100% vermentino grapes. Though it may not be labeled as such in the US, all of the grapes are organically grown and the wine is made with minimal sulfites. La Selva is currently not imported into the US (booooo!), but... they do a small private label bottling for a great wine store in New York City (yaaaaaay!). Pasanella and Son sells this wine as their own "Pasanella & Figlio Bianco" in their Manhattan store as well as online. Get it there while you can, and hopefully we'll see some "La Selva" in US wine stores soon!

Cantina Coop del Morellino "Roggiano" Morellino di Scansano 2008

Enjoyed this bottle in a restaurant perched on a hillside overlooking Scansano.

EXPERIENCE
Slight fruit on the nose. Medium body. Mildly tart and acidic, but with a smooth finish. Definitely on the subtle side for a morellino.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP - There are a few things we like about this wine... It's affordable (€13 at a restaurant surely translates to under $20 in the US), and it's 100% sangiovese (which is not the norm for Morellino di Scansano). The reason winemakers add other grapes to their morellinos is usually to tame the harsh flavors, so we aren't sure how they made such a subtle wine out of only sangiovese... but they did and we like it! Really unique and worth seeking out.

FACTS
This Morellino di Scansano from La Cantina Cooperativa dei Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano is classified DOCG and is made from 100% sangiovese grapes. Like all such wines, it comes from the beautiful hills of southwestern Toscana. This winery is actually a coop of growers... check their website for more info. Again, not much out there in the realm of US availability, so any help is welcome.

Tenuta Pietramora "Petramora" Morellino di Scansano 2007

The second find at Enoteca Scansanese in Scansano.

EXPERIENCE
A funky nose with plenty of oak. Nice balance of sweet and tart on the tongue with some citrus and acidity. Dry as it goes down with a long peppery finish. Well balanced with a wide range of flavors throughout the drinking.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP - €11.70 in our favorite Scansano shop means about $15 here in the US. A great price for a complex and balanced wine. 


FACTS 
Tenuta Pietramora's "Petramora" is a DOCG Morellino di Scansano made from 85% sangiovese and 15% merlot. The wine is aged in small French oak barrels for 7 months and for 3 more months in the bottle. The winery does have a website, though only in Italian... here is a Google translated link! We haven't been able to find this yet in the US, but hope to... any help?

Sellari Franceschini "Morello" Morellino di Scansano 2007

Our Italian adventure continues with a stay just outside the town of Scansano. This region, known as La Maremma, occupies the southwestern corner of Toscana, and is absolutely beautiful (while pleasantly less in the limelight than the Chianti region to the north). Here you will find some of the best peppery olive oil you've ever had, and a Vintage Knows staple red wine... Morellino di Scansano. This is the first of two offerings from Enoteca Scansanese, a great shop in Scansano with a wall full of local wines.

EXPERIENCE
A nutty cork and bold fruity funk on the nose. Tart on the tongue and very dry. Medium light body with abundant peppery spice in the finish. As it opens the flavors become slightly muted, but still bold.

VERDICT
GOOD AND CHEAP - At €15 (around $20) this wine is a great deal. Light yet surprisingly bold, it really stands out from other Morellino's that we've tried. There were only 2,801 bottles of this vintage made, so it may be hard to find. If you can find it, your efforts will be rewarded!

FACTS
Sellari Franceschini's "Morello" is a bonafide DOCG Morellino di Scansano. The winery is located near Scansano in southwestern Toscana. It is made from mostly sangiovese (88%) and spagna (6-8%), with malvasia nera, nero francese, grinto, merlot, and cabernet "in piccole percentuali per il resto" (in small percentages for the rest). Easily the most grapes in one blend that we have ever tried. The great thing about Morellino di Scansano is the variety of grapes the winemakers use... the only requirement for the wine formula (aside from growing within the certified area) is 85% sangiovese grapes. That leaves 15% freedom, which this winemaker took serious advantage of. Not much other information on the web, and availability in the US looks slim... but we will keep an eye out. Please let us know if you find it!