Sangiovese

Castello di Amorosa “La Castellana” Napa Valley, California.

Grapes 70% Cabernet, 16% Merlot, 14% Sangiovese   Facts The Universe is a strange place…. ”Oh dear…he’s getting all weird and deep on us!” Wait a minute!!! Hear me out!!! So I was pouring at a wine tasting at a private residence last week, here in Jacksonville, and I happened to be looking through their wine cellar…because I’m nosy like that. Now let me just tell you that this is one of the most INSANE…

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Saladini Pilastri “Vigna Monteprandone," Rosso Piceno Superiore, Marches, Italy.

Grapes 70% Montepulciano, 30% Sangiovese.   Facts “Excuse me…yes, hello! This is my first time in your wine store and I was wondering if you could help me. I read this review online today written by this delightful Englishman and I was hoping you know it. The wine is: Saladini Pilastri ‘Vigna Monteprandone,’ Rosso Piceno Superiore from Marches, Italy. Do you have it?”  The name of this wine doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, now…

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Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre, Veneto, Italy.

Grapes 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese   Facts Oh sure, I’d like to drink Amarone every day! But with what I consider a “decent” bottle starting at $50, and going swiftly upwards from there, my current budget just doesn’t permit those kind of extravagances. Side-note: I may get a part-time job…  So, if you’re in the same position as me (financially that is), Allegrini might have the perfect answer for Amarone-addiction you with their…

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Waterbrook Sangiovese Rose, Columbia Valley, Washington State.

  Grapes 100% Sangiovese   Facts Ok kids, so since the weather has started warming up (at least here in Florida), we can start to break-out some rosé reviews! Rosés really are quintessential “patio wines”, but some guys have a problem drinking it (for the same reason they that have a problem wearing pink) i.e. they think it threatens their masculinity. Therefore, it’s my hope in this review to kill two birds with one stone,…

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Querceto di Castellina L’Aura Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2008.

Grapes 90% Sangiovese, 10% Ciliegiolo Sangiovese [san-joe-vay-zee] is the main grape in Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Carmignano and Brunello di Montalcino.   Ciliegiolo [chee-lee-eh-joh-loh] is a much more obscure grape than Sangio, and it took a little research to find out some info! We’re all still learning, right? The name is apparently derived from the Italian word for cherry in Italian: ciliegi. Through clonal research, Ciliegiolo has been discovered to be the parent of…

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Texas-Style Chili Paired with Huguenot Cuvee de Rouge, Santa Ynez – California.

This last Monday, I had the privilege to attend my first ever Monday night football game! Suffice to say it was probably the most American thing I’ve done all year! For the first time since I’ve been living in Jacksonville, the Mrs and I decided to take a big leap of faith, and become season ticket holders for the Jacksonville Jaguar’s (whom I still insist on pronouncing JAG-U-AHHHS).  I can’t say why I thought season…

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Gary Vaynerchuk’s Daily Grape Feature – Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2007

Wine: 2007 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano  Grape: 100% Sangiovese Score: 91 Points Price: $25 MSRP   Gary’s explanation why: For all you longtime Italian fans out there, you very well know that about 10 years ago, Tuscan wines were as hot as Saved by the Bell. In the last few years, popularity has waned… not only are sales down, but prices have followed suit for many high end wines, especially in the Super Tuscan…

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Di Majo Norante Sangiovese, Umbria – Italy

Grapes 100% Sangiovese [San-joe-vay-say] The name Sangiovese is thought to come from Sanguis Jovis or “Blood of Jove” (Jove being the Roman name for Jupiter), indicating that wines were made from Sangiovese grapes even back in Roman times. Facts Di Majo Norante Sangiovese has been an easy-drinking Italian go-to of mine for quite some time now. Considering how many bottles I’ve popped open over the last few years, I thought a review was warranted. If…

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The Difference Between Chianti, Chianti Classico and Chianti Riserva

First-off, I don’t know where the above photo was taken, but once I find out I’m booking a plane ticket!!! So last night, I found myself hosting an informal wine class for a discerning group of tasters here in Jacksonville. The theme of the night was Tuscany, and so I decided to put a heavy emphasis on Chianti, as it goes without saying that it’s Italy’s most famous wine (possibly their most famous export). As…

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The Great Twitter Wine Exchange–Part 1 of 2: Caparone Sangiovese

I’m going to say we are the first to ever do this through Twitter! One of the people I have been randomly talking to through Twitter is Kevin Widmer, who goes by the obscure Twitter name of @billybuttock. The rules of our wine exchange were simple: you send me a bottle, I’ll send you a bottle. The only stipulation was that the wine had to be under $20 retail. Below is the wine I chose…

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