In the glass this Sangiovese is very dark, opaque and brooding.  On the nose it is perfumed with some bold cherry notes, black currants and spicy oak.  The palate is delicious folks- ripe black cherry, crispy tannins, juicy acidity and cedar.  The mid palate is stunning too with more of that juicy fruit and a shift to some red currants, rhubarb, game and cherry compote.  The finish displays a nice balance between the medium grip tannins and the acidity.  Judicious use of oak is evident as there is a touch of it on the back end but it is not obtrusive.  This is a well made wine that I am thoroughly enjoying whilst making spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread and Caeser Salad.  93 points for this $50 stunner that will drink well till 2030.  I’m going with 5 stars.  Salut….

I have sat on a few of these bottle of San Felice for a while now because they were not quite ready the last time I drank one in 2017.  This bottle is showing a semi opaque medium shade of purple in the glass.  Really nice legs are exhibited.  The nose has an earthy tone, pomegranate and cherry.  I also get cardamom.  Interesting.  The palate is far more evolved since the last time, really nice dark cherry, rhubarb and spice box. The wine exhibits a really nice acidity that is even and of the right amount.  The mouthfeel is really smooth, with a nice warmth that leads into a very delicate tannic frame.  The midpalate has more of the red fruits and some dusty earthiness.  The finish is very much a cherry affair, with the acidity and tannins really peaking into a dry, mouth puckering ending.  It’s a really delicious wine, but not quite there yet.  I am seeing evolution, with more to come.  The framework will hold this wine up for a long while, giving me time to re-evaluate over the next 10-15 years with the other bottles.  Overall I am sticking with my 93 point rating and 5 stars for this $45 Sangiovese.  Pairing with spaghetti and sausage meatballs.  Salut….

I have become more and more enamored with Brunellos and more importantly the Sangiovese grape of late.  I find it a very close parallel to Pinot Noir, which has also risen in my interest.  This particular wine is see-through and a light shade of purple.  The nose is somewhat muted but I do get some stewed cherry and not much else.The palate is quite lithe with some delicate cherry notes, a touch of cinnamon and some fruit cake.  It is very shallow on the flavor depth which makes me wonder if I have an off bottle.  The acidity is of medium strength and there are some very light tannins that appear on the mid palate.  The finish is mainly Kirsch and some mushroom, bacon and forest floor.  It gets better but I am a little surprised at the high scores from some pros versus the lower scores of others.  I am going with 88 for this particular bottle but will try another one soon to check on provenance.  Drink till 2028.  For $60 it’s a 2 star effort.  Salut….

Pretty dark red and semi opaque with big legs showing in the glass.  On the nose it’s an intriguing blend of strawberry syrup, rooibos tea and raspberry.  On the palate it gives me red fruits including cherry, strawberry and rhubarb alongside some pretty fresh tannins.  The grip of which starts at the onset and builds into a mighty teeth- coating crescendo at the finish.  Wow…. this is a wine packed with flavor, structure and is balanced to boot.  Very young, it needs cellaring or a run through the Venturi.  I’m gonna cellar the three other bottles I have, thinking there will be some nice evolution in addition to a softening of the tannins.  For now, 92 points and 5 stars for the $30 price point.  Pair this Sangiovese up with some rich stews, hearty pasta or a thick Ribeye. Drink from 2022-2032.  Salut….

I really loved the 2010 Campogiovanni when I drank it last year.  So much so that I bought six bottles of the 2012 on spec.  It got great ratings (96 WS), was priced right at $45 and delivered free.

This one shows a slight orange tinge when I poured it, which is unusual for such a young wine.  The nose is cherry, earthy funk, mushroom, oak and a trace of truffle.  On the palate it shows primal fruit flavors of cherry, leather, gorgeous tannins and a juiciness from the impeccably balanced acidity.  The tannins deserve a sentence of their own- fine grained, discrete at the beginning, working themselves squarely into the mid palate and reaching a crescendo on the finish.  Not mouth puckering, but certainly apparent, very lithe yet powerful.  They hold the wine together nicely.  The finish has an oak hint to go along with the cherry and game notes.  This wine is very young, and holds promise for many years of cellaring that will help it develop secondary notes, maturing into a great Brunello.  I can’t wait to taste the evolution, perhaps starting in 2020.  I will have to go with 93 points right now and 5 stars.  Tonight’s pairing is with a Beef Pot Roast, bathed in Petite Sirah and braised for 6 hours.  Salut….