2009 Villa Puccini Toscana

2009 Villa Puccini Toscana

2009 Villa Puccini Toscana$10 Sangiovese that’s actually good – yes, it’s possible. Medium-bodied Italian wine with a great plum nose. Fruit-forward, rich flavors. Super table wine.

Pairings: Pasta with red sauce, macaroni and cheese, roasts

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Price: $10

2007 Tolaini Al Passo Toscana

2007 Tolaini Al Passo Toscana

2007 Tolaini Al Passo ToscanaBrick red in the glass, this Italian red wine offers intense aromas of cherries, fresh dirt, leather and mocha. This full-bodied Super Tuscan tastes of ripe dark berries, anise and chocolate and offers a silky mouth feel. Long, spiced finish with light tannins.

Pairings: Grilled beef or lamb, sautéed mushrooms.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Super Tuscan Blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Price: $25

2007 Antinori Tignanello

2007 Antinori Tignanello

Sampled this beauty at a tasting last week where it was poured alongside other stars and it was super.  This wine is considered the original Super Tuscan and it remains a top Italian wine.

In the glass, it’s medium garnet.  On the nose, it’s dense, rich and oaky.  There are aromas of ripe fruit, grilled bread and mocha with hints of fir, cracked black pepper and leather.  On the palate, it’s chewy with ripe, lush berries, chocolate and stone fruits.  Slight tannins on a long, smooth finish.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $79

2004 Cantina Zaccagnini Riserva – Uber Food Friendliness

I went to a MeetUp wine tasting event on Friday night and was fortunate enough to sample over 31 wines.  The selection of wines was varied, ranging from an affordable Donny Boon Syrah to a mid-priced 2003 Chalk Hill to a couple extremely nice Super Tuscans.

I know it’s not ‘right’, but I skipped most whites in favor of the reds and found one of the affordable finds very pleasant and food-friendly.  I’m talking about the 2004 Cantina Zaccagnini Riserva.  This wine wasn’t overwhelming but had enough depth to satisfy me in a way only Italian wines can.

After so many wines, I didn’t fully trust my palate, so I bought a couple of bottles for an Italian dinner party I hosted last night.  The wine was a crowd pleaser and even features a tiny vine twig attached to the bottle (touch classier than a wicker covered bottle).  My friends who enjoy lighter reds didn’t find this wine too robust for them, and folks, like me, who like a mouthful of fruit appreciated it also.  The wine is a vibrantly purple in the glass and every sip brings about a big mouthful of peppery blackberries that ends in a dry finish.  Pairing this wine with my meat lasagna was a great move and finishing my last swallow with dark, decadent Valhrona chocolate brownies was also fitting.

The 2004 Cantina Zaccagnini Riserva is typically in the $14-$15 price range, but I was able to find it on sale for $11.99 at Wine Library.  Smart buy, solid and affordable wine.