Is Tuscany Wine Super Tuscan Brunello Vino Nobile Sangiovese Bolgheri The Finest Italian Wine

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When one looks at the vast grape varietals and wines styles of Central Italy, it is impossible to not get pleasantly intoxicated with the idea of tasting these incredible wines. The Tuscan Coast´s wine making technique modernization in the past 40 years, while maintaining its old world elegance is producing some of the best wines in the world coming from DOC´s such as Bolgueri and Montescudaio, wines such as Sassicaia, Ornellaia, and Guado al Tasso have established a path of continuous recognition worldwide due to their in evocable quality. Moving inland between the hills of Florence and Sienna we find Chianti with its DOC´s such as Chianti Classico and Chianti Ruffina, the Sangiovese grape could not find a better terroir for cultivation, with states such as Castello Verrazzano and Volpia producing once in a life time wines, as it occurred with the 2001 vintage.

A close neighbor to the Chianti region is Montalcino, known for its very famous Brunello di Montalcino, a wine that begin with an old vinification method, by fermenting wine from the Sangiovese grape slowly and aging it for years in oak casks and latter in the bottle, some of the most famous states like Barbi and Fuligni are making the best wines in the world always winning Tre Bicchieri (Italian for "Three Glasses") is an award given to Italian wine that signifies a high level of quality. Lastly we have Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG with its junior being Rosso di Montepulciano, planted with clones of Sangiovese, locally termed Prugnolo and Gentile, and some local Bordeaux varieties, recently several producers here have branched out to make Super Tuscans.

Now we hear the name Super Tuscans wines from Tuscany and neighbors being thrown around, but what does it mean? Is a Tuscan red that does not adhere to Tuscan traditional blending laws for the region. For example in the Chianti region by law the wine should mostly be composed of Sangiovese in order to classify as DOC(G), Super Tuscans tend to blend local grapes such as Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot among other grapes.

I recently discovered another incredible wine from Tuscany´s neighbor Umbria, it is made from the grape Sangrantino. Sangrantino in indeed an old world new discovery. If you have not tasted a Sangrantino wine yet, you are in for one of the best treats of your life. As wine geeks when we think of Umbria and the surrounding region of Toscana, our minds automatically steer to the Sangiovese grape. Sangrantino a grape cultivated primarily in the Montefalco region of Umbria, is one of the most original grapes in the wine world. By original I mean the notes that emanate on the nose and palate are truly almost incomparable to any other black grape. A pungent bouquet of slightly bitter dried cherry, along with a rich full mid-palate, culminating with a lengthy finish translate to an unforgettable wine.

Sangrantino grape skins posses a very high amount of tannin, for this reason the Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG requires at least 29 months of aging before release. Sangrantino produces wines that are intense ruby, almost inky, red wine that turns a deep garnet with aging, exudes delicious aromas, complex flavors, youthful acidity and potent tannins which become velvety with the long fermentation.

Until the late 1980´s the wines produced from Sangrantino were dessert wines with the grape being dried in the passito style. Italian winemakers and vineyard owners father and son Arnaldo and Marco Caprai, revolutionized the grape by making dry Sangrantino, resulting in Sangrantino becoming the new cult wine in Italy, evaluated in the same ranks as some of the best Super Tuscans and Piedmontese wines.

The Sangrantino DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) was established in 1992, 10 years later in 2002 the registered plantings of the grape amounted to 122 hectares, by 2007 this number had grown to 660 hectares. Sagrantino thrives in the cool, deep, clayey-calcareous soils that abound in Tuscany.

I love it when my palate discovers the new flavors of an unknown grape, Tuscany and Umbria a region adored for its excellent Brunellos, Chiantis, Montepulcianos and Super Tuscans, also has this very unique wine to offer. If you have not been introduced to Sangrantino, I suggest you try a Montefalco Rosso DOG, a blend of Sangiovese, Sangrantino, Merlot and Cabernet. This is a great way to experience the Sangrantino grape since Sangrantino makes up part of the blend and the wines are very complex.

A 100% Sangrantino usually sells at a high price point given their recognition as Italy´s highest quality and best, an excellent way to get acquainted with the Sangrantino style of wine is to try a Montefalco Rosso such as Tabarrini 2005. The red berry and oak notes in this wine are simply spectacular, whether one is drinking the wine or pairing it with Lasagna de la Nonna, my delicious dinner last night, you are sure to enjoy your new discovery.

Nidya Garcia de Roche

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