2009
Prato, Italy
So this is the only chianti I picked from BevMo!’s 33% off sale (shocking, I know). I just love a good, honest chianti. Not afraid to be a little acidic, or tannic, or a little punchy in the finish. Maybe it doesn’t have the finesse of a pinot or the bold structure of a cabernet, but chianti doesn’t care: it’s humble, it’s flavorful, it’s salt of the earth — and proud of it.
Gina’s delicious example is easy on the acidity, so maybe it’s not exactly what I think of when I hear the word “chianti,” but it’s somehow still true to its roots. Super inky, but not super thick. Juicy, ripe boysenberries and plums. Mmmm. Nice, long, leathery finish with that piquant tartness that tickles the back part of your tongue. It is literally mouthwatering. And there’s that shadow of moldy soil that echoes aftterwards, too…what a curious and tantalizing place for my tastebuds to go. It’s a journey in every glass.
Currently available at BevMo! for $17; it was a lot cheaper before February 6, 2012 — and I wish I had stocked up.
Tormaresca NePriCa
2009
Puglia, Italy
The funny name for this wine comes from a blend of three grapes–Negroamaro (40%), Primitivo (30%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). Negroamaro (“bitter black”) is a varietal unfamiliar to me until now–grown primarily in Puglia, Italy’s heel, and characterized by a particular bitterness. I definitely got that in the finish; not overpowering, but very distinctive. The Cab no doubt balances that out.
Dry and dusty in the nose, NePriCa is a beautiful, velvety scarlet with substantial legs. There’s definitely a lot of licorice up front (hello, Primitivo), a peppery center and a redolent perfume of cherries, cassis, and flowers. Very earthy and mineral-y. Then there’s that bitter finish, with just a tinge of sweetness at the very end. It’s interesting to taste a blend where each grape’s personality stands out so clearly, like instruments in a symphony. Drinks far beyond its very reasonable $10 price.