2006 "R" Sangiovese

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Sangiovese is the principal variety grown in Tuscany. Darrell Corti, a Sacramento wine merchant, recognizing similarities between Amador County and Tuscany convinced Cary Gott at Montevina to pursue this variety in the late 1970s. The grapes used to produce this wine come from cuttings of Darrel selected from one of his favorite producers. It is a Sangiovese Grosso clone that in Italy is used to produce the Brunello di Montalcino. So far I have been very happy with this variety's performance in Amador County. It delivers full flavors with great acidity and heady alcohol, and so far we have managed to avoid the mouth gripping tannins for which Brunello is renowned.

The 2006 wine has a medium purple color with deep garnet hues. The aromas are of ripe cherries and currants with a bouquet of smoky oak. On the palate, there are zippy red berry flavors accompanied by a full body. The finish has plenty of oak and hints of dark chocolate. This wine is one of my most extracted, and while the tannins are mellow by Brunello standards, the patient will be rewarded with an added measure of complexity with a couple of years of cellaring.

Varietal Composition: 100% Sangiovese
15.1 % Alc.
0.76 g/100ml TA
3.31 pH
Oak Regime: 60% American Oak, 40% French Oak
Released: July 1, 2008
213 Cases Produced