WTN: Luna-Decent (if pricey) Super"Tuscan"

We opened a 2002 Luna (Oak Knoll District) "Canto" last night-a Super "Tuscan" blend of Sangiovese and the usual Bordeaux varieties. It was quite nice...not sure it's worth $50 , but the wine offered very pure cherry flavor without being sweet at all, bracing acidity, a hint of savoryness. The Sangiovese definitely comes to the fore on this particular bottle, via the acidity and mouthfeel. My only complaint was oakyness on the finish, but overall a soild 88 point wine-and given my active dislike, overall, of California Sangiovese, that's a fine score! Would have been better slightly warmer and with pasta and tomato sauce. Still...for half the price, one can pick up a good Chianti Classico Riserva.

We also tasted through Amphora's lineup last night. I liked the Chardonnay, the Pinot was the extremely rich California style but still cmplex and enjoyable, and, for some strange reason, I enjoyed the jam bomb Zinfandel.

[Jenise]

My only complaint was oakyness on the finish, but overall a soild 88 point wine-and given my active dislike, overall, of California Sangiovese, that's a fine score! Would have been better slightly warmer and with pasta and tomato sauce. Still...for half the price, one can pick up a good Chianti Classico Riserva.

Our L.A.-based tasting group once did American versions of Italian varietals as a theme, and the Luna was one. Its bringer, a man devoted to Italian wines above all others, thought it would come close to 'passing' but in fact it stood out as sweeter and oakier than most. We threw one good but relatively inexpensive Italian into the mix as a calibrator, and it stood out by a mile (and took 2nd place behind a 100% sangio from Washington's Leonetti). And once we talked price, there really was no contest. The cost of the American wines was an absolute dealbreaker.

My only complaint was oakyness on the finish, but overall a soild 88 point wine-and given my active dislike, overall, of California Sangiovese, that's a fine score! Would have been better slightly warmer and with pasta and tomato sauce. Still...for half the price, one can pick up a good Chianti Classico Riserva.

Our L.A.-based tasting group once did American versions of Italian varietals as a theme, and the Luna was one. Its bringer, a man devoted to Italian wines above all others, thought it would come close to 'passing' but in fact it stood out as sweeter and oakier than most.

Well...Luna does make a basic Sangio that is only $16 or so. I'm guessing it is the wine in question, because my experience with this bottling is it is almost candied cherry sweet in character. A very common flaw, in my limited (due to avoidance ) experience

Actually, the Amphora Sangiovese last night was not too bad, either. It avoided some of the more egregious flaws.

The Reserve Sangiovese and this Canto blend are much darker and more savory than the basic bottling. I actually found the Canto more true to Sangio typicite than the straight "reserve" bottling.