“About Dardano- DOC CORTONA SANGIOVESE 2005”
The wine was certainly good, no major flaws or off tastes as a result of the winemaking. On that level alone, it is certainly a quality wine that can succeed in the marketplace. The first thing that struck me about the flavors is how different it is than what I was expecting. When you see Sangiovese from Tuscany, you expect something Chianti-like. This wine was a bit more aggressive than Chianti with a more plump fruit profile and a rustic earthiness. This doesn’t make it a bad wine, it just makes for a surprising tasting experience.
On the palate, it is plump and full-bodied with big fruit that isn’t subtle but certainly pleasant. I liked the rich, dark red berry flavors and the bit of brambly edge that indicate good, ripe fruit and a sense of terroir. One of the staff members here described it as “clumsy,” as if the different flavor components weren’t in synch. I think we were both describing the same thing—a wine that is in its early maturity from a new winery. I expect the wine to develop over short term cellaring and more importantly, I think that the winemaking will improve with each successive vintage. The overall impression is a wine that is somewhat rustic and raw, a style that transcends the modern trend towards international styles and homogeneity. It seems happy with what it is instead of trying to be something else (Chianti).
On the 100 point scale, I would give it a solid 89. With a little more refinement and balance, it could easily breach the 90 point mark.
From a marketing point of view, the style of the wine matches the labeling. Instead of mimicking the classic Tuscan style label, the runes and Cyrillic design on the label lets the buyer know that they aren’t getting just another Chianti. It gives the impression of something with more ancient influences which matches what I tasted. When pitching the wine to importers, I would emphasize this differentiation as it might be easier than competing against all the more familiar styles from Tuscany.
Matt
www.vinodivino.com |
“UMBRIA WINE FESTIVAL ROCCA PAOLINA A PERUGIA”
La manifestazione con circa 50 cantine umbre presenti, voluta e organizzata dall'AIS, ha riscontrato un buon indice di successo con tanti visitatori accorsi per degustare i prodotti tipici dell'agricoltura vinicola umbra.
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