Wine Focus for February: Sangiovese and Open That Bottle!

Terra del Capo
Sangiovese 2013
Anthonij Rupert
WO Groenkloof (South Africa)
Cost 88 ZAR

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Quite a contrast with the previous Anura LB which was opaque, this was pale clear red, easy to see through. Soft and smooth with a tang of acidity on the finish.

By the second glass Jo thought it had too much oak; this wasn’t apparent to me, but the back label says it spent 15 months in 500L French oak barrels. Doesn’t say the age of the barrels but 15 months seems a long time for a light wine like this. However the website says it is

produced from fully ripe grapes, picked at 24.3˚Balling. The grapes are gently crushed so that the juice is fermented dry on the skins in large oak fermenters. The grapes are then pressed and malolactic fermentation proceeds in Stainless Steel Tanks. Matured in 500L French oak barrels for 12 months, then bottled and bottle-aged for 10 months.

Not unpleasant but not one to make me rush to buy again. Would be happy with it as a house wine in a pizzeria.

Drunk to accompany Spaghetti Bolognaise & salad

The winery is Anthonij Rupert’s L’Ormarins in Franschhoek though the grapes come from their property in the Groenkloof ward of Darling, Swartland, up the west coast. Looking at the website I was surprised at the number of different labels produced. Anthonij Rupert is also in co-operation with Baron Benjamin Rothschild under a separate venture ‘Rupert & Rothschild’ producing some classy Bordeaux style wines

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2007 CONTI COSTANTI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA, Montalcino, Italy. Labeled as 13.5% abv. Ordinarily this might fit the "Open That Bottle" category as a wine for a special occasion to be shared with friends. However, the reviews on CellarTracker weren't very flattering so this didn't appear to be a wine to save for a special occasion and to share with friends. It is, however, from a Sangiovese clone so fits this month's focus.
Darkly colored and opaque and leaves traces on the side of the glass showing viscosity. While the wine seems a bit thin for a Brunello, I don't find it unappealing. I find berries, subtle herbal notes and some supporting tannins. It also has a mineral streak which helps ground it. I paired it with a lamb loin chop and baked potato. Later tried it with a few bites of Dubliner (cheddar-like cheese) and Parmesan cheese straws--not a great pairing--maybe Grana Padano cheese would be better. It was all right for my dinner at home but not worth cellaring for a special occasion.

Ok, so here's a sort of a diss on an Alexander Valley Sangiovese.
Calif., Alexander Valley, Field Stone Estate Vineyard, Lucio's Block, Sangiovese, 2009
Very ripe and dark and less acidic than one would expect even from a California Sangiovese. Tasty wine, if you think of it as a light-bodied Zin.
I took it out to Basilico, a new restaurant in the eastern part of Santa Rosa, and had an excellent dinner with a grilled eggplant, tomato and fresh mozarella salad and a huge lamb shank over polenta, both delicious.
The wine was fine, but some brightness would have made it better.
14.1% alcohol Bought at the winery, $23.75 in 2/12.

I fully intend to open the last bottle of Liano from Umberto Cesari in Emiglia Romagna. It's a "Super Emilia Romagna" rather than a "Super Tuscan but all the same it's a beautiful bottle of wine. I adore their Tauleto but can't always justify the expense.

Here is a short article I wrote on this wine after visiting the grower on my blog http://8020wines.com/wine-reviews/liano-from-umberto-cesari/ . This is my personal thoughts on wines and it has to be a superstar to make it into my list according to the Pareto Principle.

I hope it's ok to post about this article and please let me know if not