Good Cheap Wine Guide

Santa Cristina 2006 Toscana 90% Sangiovese 10% Merlot

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Here I go writing about Italian wines again but if you are at all familiar with my Wine Quests, you know I get to Italy quite a bit! At least through my wine glass. This is another wine I just really enjoy personally and enjoy having around the house for others. It’s a good cheap bottle of Italian red around $10. Online I found it at Wine.com for $10.25 (even with the weak dollar). Cheers!

What Others Say: winemaker’s notes:
Santa Cristina was originally introduced in 1946 as a Chianti Classico by Piero Antinori’s father, Niccolò. However, with the passage of the 1984 DOCG laws - spearheaded by Piero Antinori - requiring lower vineyard yields, Chianti Classico grapes became so complex and rich that they required more aging than this fruity fresh wine should have to maintain its style and character.

Therefore, with the 1987 vintage, Santa Cristina moved away from the Chianti Classico designation, and with the 1994 vintage Antinori began including 10% Merlot to the blend to add soft, open fruit nuances to the wine.

Santa Cristina is ruby red in color with purple hues. Intense fresh fruit aromas with pleasant floral hints. Well-structured, soft and harmonious. Sweet tannin and lingering fruit in the finish.

What I Thought: This is not an intense or robust wine. As a matter of fact, it has a kind of fruity light bodied taste that would be feel at home served from a colorful clay pitcher decorated with a Mediterranean sun motif and poured into tumblers. Just the same, this is a good sit back and relax red that I would never be embarrassed to have on my table. In the bottle or in a really cool pitcher.