Tag Archives: Super Tuscan

Wine of the week: Alberto Conti Toscana Rosso 2019

Quality Italian red blend highlights wine’s availability woes – even though it’s available

Alberto Conti Toscana Rosso bottle
Alberto Conti Toscana Rosso 2019/$8-$15

Whenever it’s renewal time on the blog, someone always asks about availability. And all the Wine Curmudgeon can do is repeat the mantra: “I try to review wines that are generally available; that is, an independent retailer in a decent sized city should be able to find it for you.”

Which brings us to the Alberto Conti Toscana Rosso 2019 ($12, purchased, 13%), which I bought at a small Dallas specialty grocer. It’s from a largish Italian producer that has been around for 150 years, but seems to be a label sold only to U.S. retailers (and imported by one of the biggest and most important U.S. importers for just that purpose).

So, no, it probably won’t be at the supermarket (though it’s listed on Drizly, oddly enough). However, the Wine-Searcher listing includes a couple of Total Wines, as well as independent retailers across the country. How is this possible?

Our old pal, three-tier, of course. Its archaic, different laws for every state, make it that much more difficult to sell a wine like this in more states. Which is a shame, since it’s well worth drinking.

It’s an impressive super Tuscan (a blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot) at a fair price. Look for long, cherry fruit, some spice and earth, and all in balanced. And there’s probably a fair amount of merlot in the blend to round off the rough edges from the Italian cabernet used in the blend.

This is red sauce wine, as well as grilled sausages. Drink it, and ponder why we have such trouble buying quality $10 wine, and hope for change.

Imported by Misa Imports

Wine of the week: Banfi Centine Red 2019

banfi centine
Banfi Centine 2019/$9-$14

Banfi’s red Centine, an Italian Super Tuscan blend, is one of the world’s great $10 wines

Banfi’s $10 Centine Italian wines have always gotten a lot of attention on the blog, often making the $10 Hall of Fame. But I never seem to give them as much credit as I do those from Falesco, another Italian producer; Tariquet, the Gascon white; or the French Chateau Bonnet red and white. In fact, I haven’t reviewed the red Centine wine in three years.

So consider this the Wine Curmudgeon’s ode to Banfi and its Centine wines. Because they deserve it.

This vintage of the red ($10, purchased, 13.5%) is not as soft as the 2017, the last one I reviewed. Instead, the Super Tuscan blend is almost herbal and earthy, with dark fruit, spot on tannins, and that wonderful acidity that is such a key to balance in Italian red wine. It’s not exactly a big wine or especially rustic; rather, there’s just some very pleasing heft to it.

In all, it’s much more than $10 worth of wine. That’s something the Centine wines (there’s also a white and rose) deliver almost every time. The other thing to appreciate? That they’re food wines – made to go with dinner, be with sausage or red sauce or the mushroom and asparagus risotto I had it with.

Highly recommended, and certain to return to the Hall of Fame next month. And don’t be surprised if it makes the short list for the 2022 Cheap Wine of the Year.

Imported by Banfi Vintners

 

Wine of the week: Banfi Col di Sasso 2017

Banfi Col di SassoThe Banfi Col di Sasso is another in the produer’s long line of quality $10 wines

Banfi’s $10 wines, even in these uncertain times, are a hallmark of consistency and quality. We’ve waxed poetic about the Hall of Fame Centine wines, and the Col di Sasso is of the same type.

The Banfi Col di Sasso 2017 ($10, purchased, 12.5%) is an Italian red blend made in the Super Tuscan style; that is, it uses sangiovese combined with international grapes liker cabernet sauvignon and merlot. The 2017 has just sangiovese and cabernet, and though the proportion isn’t listed, it’s probably more of the former than the latter.

That’s because Banfi’s red wines are typically softer than the normal $10 Italian – less tart and with rounder tannins. This isn’t a bad thing, but a house style that the company has refined over the years and that it puts to good advantage.

Look for a bit of spice, full black cherry fruit, and a clean finish. Again, this is not Chianti, with its trademark bright acidity, or a high-end Super Tuscan, plush and California-like. Rather, it’s the kind of wine for a midwinter dinner – spaghetti and meatballs, perhaps?

What better use is for a quality $10 wine these days?