Jane's Weekly Wines from the Atlanta Wine School PRINT AND GO VERSION March 2nd, 2006 The Wines of Tuscany *************************************************************************************** RETAILERS WHO SUPPORT THIS COLUMN AND HAVE HAD THIS LIST OF WINES IN ADVANCE. Pearson's Wines of Atlanta, 3072 Early St Nw Atlanta, GA 30305 -- 404-231-8752 Corner Wine & Art, 1402 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306 -- 404-875-8810 Home Town Wine & Spirits, 4856 Hog Mountain Rd, Flowery Branch, GA --770-965-6058 The Colors of Wine, 2355 Cumberland Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339 -- 770-432-2828 Sigman Bottle Shop, 425 Sigman Road - Conyers, GA 30012 -- 770-929-8797 Shiraz, 675 Pulaski Street, Suite 400, Athens, GA 30601 -- 706-208-0010 Windward Beverage, 12915 Hwy 9, Alpharetta, GA 30004 -- 678-566-3301 IS YOUR WINE SHOP NOT LISTED HERE? HAVE THEM CALL 770-668-0435 *************************************************************************************** Rendo Masi, La Bastarda Bianco di Toscano 2004 Light-medium bodied dry white wine; medium pale straw with greenish lights. Aromas of lime blossom, lime-centered flavors with minerals. Clean, crisp finish. Tingles every part of the palate, and finishes long with lovely minerality all over this lime-kissed pear fruit. Almost seems to have a bit of tannin (certainly possible with white wine). Lingering. Grapes: Trebbiano and Chardonnay, vinified in stainless steel. Moderately cool, about 54 degrees, in medium-sized white wine glasses. Grilled scallops; grilled shrimp with rémoulade saujce (not too spicy); creamy seafood and fish mousses; grilled mild fish (swordfish, trout, halibut), chicken tenders in honey and whole-grain mustard; chicken pot pie Quality Wine & Spirits $10 89 ************************************************************************************* Castello di Selvole Sangiovese (I.G.T.) 2003 Full-bodied dry red wine; medium dark cherry color. Initial aromas of fresh cherries followed by aromas of dried dark fruits (but not raisiny) as it opens, flavors of morello cherry with spice, firm, but not aggressive, fruit-driven tannins. Long finish, as the tannins hang in there with you. Tasted twice. Gave it a double star in my notes the first time, and haven't changed my mind. Excellent value. Clearly Italian. Selvole, one of the oldest towns of the Chianti Classico region, dates to Etruscan days. In Slovenian oak 18 months.Grapes: Decant.at least an hour, ideally two, ahead of serving at cool room temperature, about 65 degrees, in large tulip-shaped glasses. Lets the flavor of food come through: Prosciutto, salami cacciatorini, black olives or tapanade, roasted red peppers stuffed with feta cheese, parsley and pine nuts; grilled or roast pork tenderloin, grilled lamb steak or veal chop; Fontina val d'Osta. Stuff a veal chop with Fontina and prosciutto, then grill it. We'd bet on it with roast turkey, duck and Cornish hen, too. Vinifera Distributors $14 90 ************************************************************************************* DaVinci Chianti Classico D. O. C. G. 2003 Full-bodied red wine, some residual sugar; medium dark cherry red. Evolves nicely in the glass, from simple dark cherry to dark cherry with spice, fruit sweetness. Flavors focus on red fruits, with round tannins supporting the excellent fruit. Clean, reasonably long finish, although tannins get out there ahead of fruit. Grape: Sangiovese. Decant at least an hour ahead of serving at cool room temperature in large tulip-shaped glasses. Best with well-flavored foods: Peppered dishes, steak au poivre, peppered liver pâté, peppered tuna steak; dishes with ample garlic, such as pasta salad with smoked mozzarella (Whole Foods); sausage and peppers; gingered lamb with red peppers (Whole Foods); roast or grilled mixed vegetables; baked Japanese sweet potato; grilled lamb steak; grilled veal chop (outstanding!), roast pork tenderloin or loin, raw mild cheddar Empire Distributing $20 87 ************************************************************************************* Casali di Bibbiano Casalone "Rosso Toscano" I.G.T. 2002 Medium-bodied dry red wine; medium deep purple red. Aromas of dried cranberries, slight hint of cooking bacon fat, clean dark fruits, initial touch of vanilla, but it becomes integrated into wine as it is exposed to air. Soft tannins. Long finish, with hint of dried cranberry at close. Silky on the palate. Well-knit and-balanced. Grapes: Sangiovese (70%), Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon (total 30%). Keeps well at least into second day. Very fine value. And VERY Italian. Serve cool, about 65 degrees, in large-bowled glasses. Potential keeper to about 8 years, depending on cellar conditions. Calamari, assorted black olives, prosciutto, bruschetti with tomato topping, porcini mushroom ravioli with butter, garlic-rich pasta dishes, including pasta salads, chicken cacciatore; roast chicken, Cornish hen or turkey; grilled swordfish (probably also halibut) both plain and with salsa puttanesca; braised oxtails with mushrooms (awesome!), mild firm or creamy cheeses (nothing stnky). Liquid Brands $16 90 ************************************************************************************* Riccardo Campinoti Brunello di Montalcino "Le Ragnaie" 1999 Full-bodied dry red wine; medium dark ruby red. Aromas of brown spice and dark fruits; smells Italian. Flavors of clean dark berries, with firm tannins. Good structure, acidity and fruit in total harmony. Brambly in the close, with some dark cherry. Campinoti used to own Terra di Siena, a restaurant adjacent to the Fox Theatre. Grapes (Sangiovese) come from on top of Montalcino, very high vineyards. "Le Ragnaie" references the nets used in medieval days to snare birds. Montalcino is not to be released until four years old. This one tastes very Italian. Well priced for a Brunello. Serve at cool room temperature, about 65 degrees, in large-bowled glasses. Suggest decant. Pàtés or terrines, steak and mushroom pie, grilled steak with Gorgonzola cheese, lamb and veal chop, duck (also roasted), turkey, Cornish game hen, salami, cheeses, game, stews and braised red meats, aged mild cheeses Liquid Brands $40 88 ************************************************************************************* Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo del Chianti Classico D. O. C. 1998 Medium-bodied sweet white wine; medium golden straw. Aromas of sweet dried white raisins, wet straw, nougat; sweet dried white fruits. Lovely balance with a long finish. Not at all cloying. 14% alcohol. Grapes: Trebbiano and Malvasia, dried hanging for three months before being pressed. Minimum four years' aging in small oak barrels. Gorgeous wine. Serve moderately chilled in small white wine glasses. The winner: Alsace apple tart. Awesome!!! Also rans: crème brûlée; cheesecake; tiramisu; ubriaco al Moscato (Italian crumbly raw cow's milk cheese). Nice also with creamy pâté, foie gras, or goose/chicken liver mousse Quality Wine & Spirits $36 92