Santa Cristina 2006 Toscana 90% Sangiovese 10% Merlot

RATING: Share with Friends

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.

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Ruffino Il Leo Chianti Superiore 2006

Rating: Serve Proudly to Guests

Grilling is an interesting way to cook for others and entertain them at the same time.  Though fairly easy with experience, even simple dining choices can cause some preparation purgatory.  Example, some like their grill-fare rare, some like it medium and some like well done.  (except chicken, where all “rare” orders are accompanied with a signed release form)  That means you need to be cooking the same entree at different speeds at the same time.  Bit of a challenge but with experience, no problem. 

What also makes grilling even more interesting is the unique “style” every back yard expert displays along with their grill technique.  There are the “big flame” guys recognized by the spray bottle handy on the deck and their missing eyebrows.  There are the “grill gadget” guys who use rotisseries, temperature tools, side burners and special  cooking utensils that all combined fit nicely into a 4 foot by 6 foot weatherproof storage locker.  Don’t forget the $5,000 “my grill is better than your grill” guy.  Then there are the plain grillin’ joes.  Grill oafs like the wine oaf.  Here is the process.  The grill gets cleaned.  The meat’s put on. The sauce is brushed or spooned on.  The meat gets turned….and there is wine.  No big production, just a lot of relaxed cooking fun. 

My 11 year old grill and I understand each other.  “We” know when the red or white is properly brown.  “We” know just how much sauce or spice is enough and when it turns to gravy.  “We” have finessed our way through fish, foul and all things red.  But… still the debate rages on regarding one issue.  “Are brats best burnt?”  Personally, brats are like hotdogs.  They need some crunch to them.  A little sizzling crack here or there adds to the experience yet a frequent debate amongst other knowing grillers remains.  To some, a properly cooked batch of brats are plump, juicy, pink and casing intact.  ”NO!” I say.  Give me some crisp.  If by some rare quirk of fate we get a little too done, then I can then smother the whole thing up with kraut or grilled peppers and onions depending upon choice.  (another debate).  Just the same, a good chianti always goes well with brats…prepared properly my way or undercooked their way…and leads to at least one common agreement.  Open another bottle.

This time we talk about a great chianti, Ruffino Il Leo Superiore 2006.  Loved it.  Slightly chilled, because the deck is hot, and served from a glass pitcher for effect.  Enjoy.

What Others Say:  winemaker’s notes:

“Color: Ruby red

Aroma: Vibrant and generous. The first, flowery impressions are reminiscent of sweet violet, followed by hints of cherry and red berries with delicate spicy tones of vanilla and cloves, due to the aging in wood. The finish is elegant and impressive with notes of nutmeg.

Tasting profile: The attractive smoothness of the taste is a result of a good balance between tannin profile, alcohol and fruity body. The length on the palate is noteworthy with fragrant fruity notes.”

What I Thought: What a beautiful world to be enjoying a chianti with friends, family and cooking out.  What could be better…well let’s talk about the wine.  I really enjoy a good chianti.  A chianti is a table wine.  It  does not need to be pretentious.  Think…many chianti bottles spend their eternity as a rustic candle holder.  A true working man’s wine.  And what a better way to work up a sweat than to grill the meal.  This wine was light, crisp (good with a chill) and still sturdy in the flavor and aftertaste.  I would heartily recommend that you serve it to guests. ..that is if…they like their brats prepared properly!

Cheers from the wine oaf.

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Giordano D’Aquino Chianti Riserva 2003 paid $7.99

Ranking: Serve Proudly to Guests!

What Others Say:  from Daquino.com With a vinous bouquet of good intensity that refines with aging, a Riserva is barrel-aged at least two years. It consists of a full, dry, slightly tannic, harmonious flavor and is best served with grilled meats, game and seasoned cheeses. Serve at room temperature and open one hour before serving.

WINE CHARACTERISTICS 

ZONE OF PRODUCTION:   Tuscany Region
TYPE OF VINES:   Sangiovese, Canaiole, Trebbiano, Malvasia
COLOUR:   Ruby
BOUQUET:   Perfume
FLAVOUR:   Semi-dry
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME:   12%\

What I Thought: Trader Joe’s sometimes comes up with marvels. (There is magic in the Hawaiin Shirt!)  Let’s see…did I like this wine ?  Well gee,  it’s from a great winemaking family, it’s Italian ( Tuscan even) and it was…$7.99!  Wow!  Probably one of my best Wine Quests ever.  The wines listed on the D”Aquni website literally are the Who’s Who of an Italian wine list.  Amarone della Valpolicella, Bardolino, Montepulciano D’Abruzza…  So what would you expect.  Rich flavor, fruitful but not fruity (does that make sense).  Good Chiantis are reported to have a cherry undertone (from what I read anyway) and be well balanced.  This one filled the tongue well and still had a bright, lighter feel like I have come to asssociate with a good Chianti.

Thank you Trader  Joes for making my weak dollar bring a fair exchange in Lira per liter or is it Euro?  Either way, enjoy!

Cheers

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Being educated in the Catholic school environment creates unique images about the Pope. At 6 or 7 years old you think of the Pope as somewhat mystical surrounded by clouds and floating inches above the floor from place to place. There is just such a reverence and aura that comes with the job. When the Pope celebrates a mass in the US, it’s on TV! That’s how big a deal this man is!  In some nations he’s better known than Oprah!

Growing up Catholic you attend a lot of daily mass celebrations. When you become old enough to be an altar boy, (yes the wine oaf was an altar boy, no I don’t have issues.) you start to associate the ceremony of the mass with things more temporal as well. Serving a mass was cool because of the candles, (can’t light those at home) the incense, (don’t have that at home) and …the wine (pour for the priests but don’t partake!) In honor of Pope Benedict’s visit I wanted to write about my wife’s, and admittedly my, favorite white wine.
The “Moscato D’Asti” wine Saracco is Italian, properly so since we are writing about the Vatican. It is estate bottled by Azienda Agricola Paola Sarocco, Castiglione Tinella, Italy. That could say “Paolo’s farm” for all I know but in Italian, it just sounds cooler.

What Others say:Winemaker’s notes:”Paolo Saracco is known as “The Maestro of Moscato” and for good reason. His Moscato is perfumed with fresh peach, pear and white flowers. A gentle sparkle brightens the fruit and a tingle of sweetness hints of candied fruits.
Moscato d’ Asti is a unique wine where the beautiful aromas of the grapes are enhanced by a crisp, nice acidity, a light fizziness and the sweetness of the natural residual sugar. The low alcohol content makes this wine a very easy, pleasant wine – perfect for finishing a meal with dessert or without food as a nice mid-day break.”

RATING: Serve Proudly to Guests!

My Thoughts: I never thought I would use this phrase, but this wine is absolutely delightful. Serve it cold on a hot evening or by a warm fire and you will get the question you crave as a host, “What is this wine!” Modestly effervescent, somewhat sweet but not too heavy and really pleasant on the tongue. You feel like you are celebrating every time you open a bottle yet at around $18.00 a bottle, it’s a pretty cheap party. I know, I know it’s not ten bucks but still definitely serve to guests!

Catholic Coffee?

Which brings me to another topic. Good coffee and in honor of the Pope’s visit what is better to write about than…Catholic Coffee. Yes, there is such a thing. I should start a GoodCheapCoffeeGuide as well. I enjoy coffee as much as wine with the obvious benefit…I can drink it in more settings, like morning staff meetings. You don’t show up to a budget review meeting with a corkscrew. (They might use it on you!) But a pleasant cup of coffee always is welcome. Besides, if everyone in the meeting is drinking coffee then you are certain to get a break really soon. So, what is Catholic Coffee? Catholic Coffee, again in honor of this post’s theme, is roasted and sold by real monks, mystic monks, yes Mystic Monk Coffee.
Mystic Monk Coffee Reading from their website,”
The Carmelite Monks are a Roman Catholic Monastery that has a great passion for Coffee as an incredible fruit of the earth as well as a way to help Catholic culture.”

So how is their coffee? I have no idea but I will let you know after my order arrives. I’ll brew it on a Sunday Morning (instead of attending church maybe?) and enjoy it on the deck reading the paper and listening to chants. Well maybe not listening to chants. That would really creep out the neighbors. Perfect for First Communion Parties though right? I’ll let you know.

Cheers from the Wine Oaf.

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Feudo Zirtari Sicilian Rosso 2004 $7.99

RATING: Serve to friends!

What I thought: I love Italian wines. Why? Less substance than affection probably. I used to travel to Italy twice a year on business (that does jade me a bit) and remembered trying wines from each little roadside Trattoria that the owners would describe as their house wine. (I know this is a Sicily wine and not Tuscany but still…cut me some slack…I’m being nostalgic.) The agent that traveled with me usually turned up his nose and complained about the jug pitcher served wine but I kind of dug it. Just like trying beer microbreweries here. You take your chances. Just the same this wine would have felt right poured from a pitcher sitting on an outside table by the roadside and tasted even better. Sure light Italian table wines go against my “reds should have character” mantra but you know what, I still liked it. Let’s do it again and serve with friends. If they turn up their nose I’ll call it my “house wine”.

from: http://quaffability.com/?p=87

What others say: “My experience with Sicilian wines has been, like the wines themselves, light but always very enjoyable. That stopped with this wine, which starts with a reasonably pleasant nose of leafy fruit, leading to simple fruit flavors in the mouth. Before the finish kicks in, some bitterness — maybe even volatile acidity? — kicks in, and then the flavors turn to shoe leather and dirt. The finish is astringent like an unripe persimmon, and the fruit drops away. Just Plain Nasty. Down the drain. Price: $5.99 Score: 0%”

Wow, that was a tough review. I bet this guy wouldn’t agree with me on best pizza either! 

Cheers from the Wine Oaf!

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