A Super Umbrian
N: Deep black fruit and earth. Some hints of spice and berry fruit.
P: Ripe black and red berry fruits. Well structured, with good flavor through the midpalate and an unusually long and balanced finish. Somewhat green and earthy, in an attractive way, with a touch of mild tobacco. Though it is big and ripe with fruit, it is simultaneously soft in the mouth: tannins and acidity firmly hold the fruit in place, and hardly an afterthought until the fruit finally fades away. I stole this out of a discount bin for around ten bucks — it is still a bargain for double the price.
This is a wine that is likely difficult for many retailers to sell, as it is not a heralded “Super Tuscan” and though it is made with Sangiovese, is nowhere near Chianti. In fact it is closer to Rome, in an area called Torgiano within the region of Umbria. With those facts in mind, you might be able to steal this wine—as I did—for under 20 bucks. If this wine were from a hundred or so miles north, it would be a Super Tuscan, and cost at least $40. Instead, it is a “Super Umbrian”, and even at full price, a great value.
Enjoy it with steaks, veal chop, sausage (and broccoli rabe), lamb, grilled meats, pasta with meat sauce, and cheese plates.
a-7 t-8 b-10 fc-9 v-10
(what do the numbers mean?)
