Wine: 2005 Col di Sasso
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon & Sangiovese
Region: Montalcino, IT
12.5% ALC BY VOL

Cabernet Sauvignon & Sangiovese, Toscana, Indicazione Geografica Tipica. The following is from the back label - 2005 Vintage Red Wine - Col di Sasso, Italian for "Stony Hill", is a cuvee of Tuscan and International grape varieties that are cultivated on the most rocky and impervious slopes of southern Tuscany. Nuances of red berry, cherry and violet are complimented by a full body and soft, elegant tannins. Col di Sassois a youthful red to be enjoyed with grilled or roasted meats, poultry, or as an ideal accompaniment to pasta.

I hear Sangiovese and immediately I think of Italy. I read an article last year that was about Italian wines and it mentioned Brunello di Montalcino. Montalcino Italy is about 70 miles southwest of Florence. When I Googled Brunello di Montelcino, I found a wine called Castello Banfi Brunello Di Montalcino which sells for about $700 a bottle. And then there is Soldera Brunello Di Montalcino 1998 that only sells for around $275 and the wines of Montalcino go down in price from there.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I found this wine bottled by Banfi, and the winery was located in Montalcino, Italy?

The wine itself has a deep purple color. Holding it up to the window, it is clear and shiny. You can see your hand pass the back side of the wine glass. Most Cabernets have an oak taste or at least an oak fragrance. Not so with this one. It is aged in stainless steel. Also, Sangiovese has been known to have a oak presence, like the wine found in Chianti. As I said about the Cabernet, there is no oak here. The wine is smooth and dry. If you are looking for a red wine that just a tinge of sweet, this is not the one. It is not at all sweet.

Note the descripton of the wine from the back label above. Red berry, cherry, or violet? I did not taste those fruits or flavors in this wine. We are having this wine with pot roast tonight. I have had this wine with pasta and also had it with salmon. My spouse had to have a splash of red wine for the pot roast that was cooking and since we already had it been opened from a previous occassion, she spashed some of this into the pan. There was only about two glasses left and since I needed to write this review, we decided to have a glass for research purposes. It was only for research - honest. You can cehck out this wine at the Banfi web site at: http://www.castellobanfi.com/wines/index.php?page=19&wine=19. This web page does not mention the 2005 vintage.

This winery is very unassuming. Note the comment from the back label "2005 Vintage Red Wine". Although it can be characterized as a young wine, it is more than just a red wine.

Since I kicked off my Wine Editor page with the 2005 Bordeaux for $13.99, you might be curious to know the price of this Italian from Montalcino is only $7.99. When I asked my best friend, tasting partner and pot roast cook about this wine and how it compared to the 2005 Bordeaux, she said this one was much better.

Until next time, let me know what is on your mind, and how you are doing, O.K.?

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Jim Fortune - the Bella Wine Guy