Castellani Toscana - Sangiovese

                     

Name: Castellani Toscana
Varietal: Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2019
Price: $15.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Perfumed nose of cedar, spearmint, morello cherry, vanilla and lemon verbena. Medium-bodied with polished tannins. Spicy character with ambitious new wood. Mocha at the end. - 91

Flavors/Aromas: (Pg. 162) The workhorse grape of Italy, Sangiovese is known for its high acidity, role in the composition of Chianti, and its flavors of cherry, roasted tomato, sweet balsamic, oregano, and espresso.

My Review: With the number of remaining reviews running low, I knew it was about time I tried an Italian wine, considering they are the largest producer of the dang thing! The aforementioned acidity, particularly unusual by red standards, was the first thing I noticed upon putting the glass to my nose, along with some cherry and oregano spice. Immediately after consumption, a cherry and balsamic tartness struck me, later accompanied by a herbality that brought to mind thoughts of pasta with tomato sauce. As a whole, the wine goes down very easily, which I chalk up to the lower than usual tannins. I really think this has made me into an Italian wine fan!

Food Pairing: I had this wine with rotini pasta topped with Italian sausage and garlic sauce. Adding the Sangiovese flavor dampened the spice and brought out a deep berry sweetness that was simply delectable. It's almost like this wine and Italian pasta were meant to go with each other! My mind is blown!!!

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