Desert Wind – Sangiovese 2007

Oct 23 2009

Thinking that I had already become familiar with red wines, I was taken by surprise by Sangiovese 2007 from Desert Wind Winery.  Sitting around the table having casual conversation with two friends of mine, we popped open the bottle.  This wine, dark in color, had a scent of cherries and oak.  As I swirled the wine in the glass, the scent of berries and oak became stronger.

Taking the first sip, with an expectation of a bitter taste, my eyes opened wide.  I was taken by surprise at how the flavors of this wine reacted with my tongue.  It did not have that intense bitter taste.  Observing my friends’ facial reactions, I could tell that they were also surprised by this wine.  The taste was that of a fruity flavor and extremely smooth on the palate.  Usually red wines have a much stronger and bitter flavor that leaves an after-taste.  Not saying that the after-taste is bad, this is merely a description of how this wine coats when swiveled in your mouth.

I read the label on the bottle and it mentioned light on tannins.  What are tannins?  My friends really didn’t know, so I looked it up.  Tannins are what cause the dry flavor or the pucker of your lips when you sip a red wine.  The wine tannins come from the skins of the grape, stems and seeds.  Tannins can also come from the barrels that are used to age the wine.  Sangiovese 2007 is very light on tannins, which makes it very easy to sip and enjoy.

We could not stop talking about how delicious this wine was.  I had never tasted anything like this before. This wine would be good with just about any type of food.  I still have a lot to learn but this was a great wine.  I would definitely recommend this wine to anyone who is interested in adding a bottle to their wine rack or cellar.  Two thumbs up Desert Wind!!

Banfi Centine (Super Tuscan)

Jul 22 2009

This week I’m taking you to Italy*, where I had a Banfi Centine (Super Tuscan). This red blend consists of a 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet and 50% Sangiovese. This deep, dark red blend opened up with a sharp scent and the proximity to my nostrils resulted from a very full pour. The first notes included spice that developed into berry. The clean, tangy finish surprised me, as this blend had a medium body that set an expectation of an earthier finish.

The Merlot blends well with the Cabernet, balancing a level of sweet with a level of spicy. Add the Sangiovese and the depth of fruit and spice attempted to distract my tastebuds throughout the meal. As the volume of the wine decreased in my glass, so did my ability to evaluate it further.

An drank the Banfi Centine (Super Tuscan) ($9.00/glass) at Sorriso in Washington, D.C. She paired the wine with Pizza Prosciutto. She decided to take it easy this time around, especially since she went a bit crazy on the food last time around.

For taste, color, scent, experience and complexity, An gives the Banfi Centine (Super Tuscan) a 2.5 of 5.

*I didn’t actually go to Italy. I went to a family run Italian restaurant in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington D.C. The waitress selected the wine for me. I recommend selecting your own wine.