Brown Bag Sangiovese Dinner

I can’t really remember, but I think last night (February 2nd) was the first time we have featured Sangiovese as a blind varietal. Sangiovese, the thin skinned grape varietal that is capable of extraordinary quality at the same time is the work horse of Italy’s red wine production being planted in 3/4 of the country’s 20 regions. Starting off the dinner we had a brief discussion on Sangiovese and its character whether it be the highly regarded and collectible Brunello, inconsistencies of Chianti, or the fruit forward soft New World wines. Dinner was served traditional family style in four-courses lended to a good evening.

The following is how things ended up when the score cards were tallied:

1st / #8 Flora Springs, Sangiovese, Napa Valley, 2007

2nd / #13 Seghesio, Sangiovese, Alexander Valley, 2007

3rd / #2 Showket, Napa Valley, 2003

4th / #6 Castello di Amarosa, Napa Valley, 2006

5th / #5 Rosso di Montalcino, Castello Banfi, Tuscany, 2006

6th / #10 Curran, Sangiovese, Santa Ynez Valley, 2005

7th / #11 Chianti Reserva, Il Valore, Tuscany, 2005

8th / #12 Chianti Classico, San Leonino, Tuscany, 2006

9th / #7 Belnero, Castello Banfi, 2005

10th/#9 Tuscan Moon, Sangiovese, California, 2008

11th/#3 Pietra Santa, Sangiovese, Cienega Valley, 2006

12th/#4 Chianti Classico, Fontodi, Tuscany, 2006

13th/#1 Chianti Classico, Castello di Bossi, Tuscany, 2000

Cheers, Ciao…

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