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Italian Wine Part 3: Tuscany & Southern Italy

Still in draft form

 The Menu:
Moussaka
Greek Salad
Amazing cheese and sausage

 The Wine:
2013 Antonio Sanguineti Vermintino IGT13% abv $14.99
Varietal: 95% Vermintino, 5% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Tuscany (Toscana, Italy). Appellation: Toscana IGT

 2013 La Quercia, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva D.O.C. 

14% abv  $22.99

Varietal: 100% Montepulciano

Region: Abruzzi (southern Italy) Appellation: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo


 2014 Garrubba Antico Sordillo Ciro Rosso Vini Nobili di Calabria DOP abv 14% $19.99
Varietal:  100% Gaglioppo (gay-L'YEE OHP-poh) 
Region: Calabria

2014 Schola Sarmenti Roccamora Nardo Rosso Negroamaro  DOC 13.5% abv $16.99
Varietal: Negroamaro More information from Wine Searcher
Region: Puglia Appellation: Nardo

2013 Schola Sarmenti Criteria Salento Rosso Primitiva 13.5% abv  $16.99
Varietal: Primativa
Region: Puglia. Salento IGT


2011 Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico Reserva  DOCG 14% abv $23.99 Varietal: Indicative blend: 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot.
Region: Tuscany. Appellation: Chianti Classico

 2013 Antonio Sanguineti Vermintino IGT 13% abv $14.99
Varietal: 95% Vermentino, 5% Sauvignon Blanc. Classic Toscan white wine. Zesty, clean & aromatic
Sardinia is well known for Vermintino. Great information here from Wine Folly
Region: Tuscany (Toscana, Italy). Appellation: Toscana IGT
(Near Grossetto)

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Tech sheet
Such a great, unique and refreshing flavor away from the everyday white. Almond notes, white flowers with hints of grass, tart fruits in the finish. The fruit dominates the bouquet. Crisp, chilled, different. Yum.

A bit light in color, body and texture. Flavors of gooseberry and apples. Reminiscent of Pinot Grigio, though slightly more complex

WINEMAKER'S NOTES:

A classic Tuscan white wine that is zesty, clean, and aromatic. A staple on the Italian coast, it is an excellent wine to compliment your table. Vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks; no barrel aging. Food pairing: Scampi with fresh herbs, spring pea risotto, and a cutting board of Italian cheeses. Alcohol 12.5%. 800 cases produced.

2013 La Quercia, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva D.O.C. 14% abv  $22.99(mohn-tay-pool-CHAH-no dah-BROOT-soh)

Varietal: 100% Montepulciano. The Wine Bible, pg 2 describes this wine as rustic, solidly built, with a soft texture and good think fruit flavors.
Region: Abruzzo (southern Italy) Appellation: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

My Tasting Notes:
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Red berries, pomegranate, cured meats, and sanguinity. Well rounded mouthfeel, structured, and balanced. A consistently good producer. 90-91.
Decanted this for an hour beforehand as it was a bit tight initially. Nice fruit on first half-- dark berries which transition to almost a cement chalky finish. This is great and I imagine this would work well with pork or fatty meat. 90/100
WHWC Staff Notes: "The riserva bottling from La Quercia is quite a step up from their entry-level wine in many ways. The full year in Slavonian oak imparts a distinct vanilla and cedar profile to the nose along with aromas of graphite, new leather, and dense blackberry compote. The palate is built on a firm foundation of grippy tannins and medium-full weight, and although it's a bit muted at present, initial flavors of dried black fruits, pencil shavings, and licorice suggest that this wine has plenty of character yet to be revealed. A serious bargain for the price, I suspect it will reach its peak in 3 to 5 years." -Matt Bayless, 9/8/17

2014 Garrubba Antico Sordillo Ciro Rosso Vini Nobili di Calabria  DOP abv 14% $19.99
Varietal:  100% Gaglioppo (gay-L'YEE OHP-poh) More information about this grape from Wine Searcher 
The best known wine made from Gaglioppo is Cirò. Cirò is a DOC responsible for fresh and easy drinking mid-weighted styles of wine, with little to no oak influence. However, elsewhere, there is experimentation with greater extraction levels and oak ageing to give wines of resonance and muscle. This approach finds affinity with Gaglioppo's late ripening tendencies and inherently high sugar levels. Librandi's Gravello is a standout of the idiom.  Gaglioppo thrives in hot and dry conditions, offering clear advantages in addition to its potential for robust and age worthy wines, as global warming threatens
My Tasting Notes:
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hauntingly-perfumed, rose-scented wines
thick skins but isn't particularly tannic.
A study done in 2010 has confirmed that Gaglioppo is an offspring of Sangiovese.  The full parentage of Gaglioppo is Sangiovese x Mantonico Bianco.
It's a great food wine that would go with everything from pizza to grilled meats
Color: intensive ruby ​​red with garnet red reflexes
Bouquet: intensive with notes of forest fruits, blackberries, blueberries
Flavor: unctuous, full-bodied with a pleasant acidity

Best served with: well-structured appetizers, red meat, sausage and ripe cheese
Serving temperature: 18 ° (64 degrees F)

2014 Schola Sarmenti Roccamora Nardo Rosso Negroamaro  DOC 13.5% abv $16.99
Varietal: Negroamaro. A principal grape in eastern Salento
More information from Wine Searcher
deep color, medium-full tannins and dark berryfruit flavors. The variety can also add earthen tones that can cross over into slightly medicinal flavors. It is mildly aromatic and can produce complex wines that show characteristics of ground brown spices such as clove, cinnamon and allspice.
Region: Puglia Appellation: Nardo

My Tasting Notes:
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Really enjoyed this bottle, nice a deep and dark in colour, wonderful aromas, medium acidity, medium+ body, fruity upfront smooth on the finish, with a nice mouth feel throughout.
Plum, dried cherry, black berry, herbal and very pleasant off-dry finish. Well balanced. Medium+ finish. Very good.
Info from Curious Wines.
Rich and dense with a medium-bodied, concentrated palate of black cherry, peppercorn, paprika and cola wrapped up in silky-soft tannins and juicy acidity. Hugely interesting, original red with brilliant balance, complexity and energy.
Would be great with grilled lamb chops in pepperonata.
Made from 100% Negroamaro grown on mature vines (30 years old) and harvested by hand. Ageing is in stainless steel only to emphasize the superb quality of the raw materials

2013 Schola Sarmenti Criteria Salento Rosso Primitiva 13.5% abv  $16.99
Varietal: Primativa. The most famous Puglian variety. Identical to Californian Zinfandel with roots in Croatia.
Region: Puglia. Salento IGT

My Tasting Notes:
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Genetically identical to Zinfandel, this delicious red varietal is known in Italy as Primitivo. Critera Rosso shows an intense fragrance of rich, dark berry fruit and subtle spice. Well structured and warm, this full bodied red has a classic Italian finish with fine chewy tannins. Blackberry and anise flavors last and last with a touch of cedar and hints of pomegranate. You can almost taste the Mediterranean landscape from this delicious wine that over-delivers on taste. It is an incredible value. Enjoy

Winemaker Notes 

This wine is made from 25 year old plants, without the addition of oak. Blueberry, blackberry with a spicy note near the front of the tongue underscored by an espresso finish. Given the value of this wine it is very hard for us to keep in stock.

 2011 Rocca delle Macie Famiglia Zingarelli Chianti Classico Reserva  DOCG 14% abv $23.99
Varietal: Indicative blend: 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot.
Region: Tuscany. Appellation: Chianti Classico. Castellina

My Tasting Notes:
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1/18/2018 -  LIKES THIS WINE:

No formal notes, but this wine is actually showing quite well considering it's age. Big cherry on the nose and quite rustic on the palate. It was enjoyable considering my low expectations.

My Tasting Notes:
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Winemaker Notes

Ruby red tending towards garnet. Rich, intense and complex. Dry, soft, gently tannic with good structure.
Uncork at least an hour beforehand, then decant shortly before serving. Serve at a temperature of 64-68 degrees F. This wine is particularly well suited to dishes of red meat, roasts and game.

Critical Acclaim

JS93
James Suckling
A polished, delicious red with blueberry, chocolate and light walnut character. It's full-bodied, with layers of fruit and round tannins. Lovely balance between fruit and ripe tannins. Very approachable now but better in 2016.
RP91
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Sergio Zingarelli represents the second vintage that this wine is produced. This is the most elaborate and robust wine in the Rocca delle Macìe portfolio. It offers an extra layer of complexity and structure that adds to the wine's momentum and staying power. Dark fruit, spice, leather and tobacco form a tight embroidery of favor and texture. The wine should evolve over the next ten years.
Side Note: One of my fellow WSET Certification 3 learners lives in Sicily and works for Tasca d'Almerita, I would like to try a wine from Tasca.

My Tasting Notes:
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