Traditionally Chianti was made from a formula developed in the mid-1800s by Baron Bettino Ricasoli whose family had been making wine since the 12th century. His position was that a small amount of the white grape Malvasia added to Sangiovese of Chianti would increase vivacity, boost its flavor and make it more drinkable when young. Hidden in this notion were the beginnings of disaster! Even more trouble was ahead in the aftermath of World War II. Chianti was high in demand in the U.S., and the Italian government made funds available to growers for more plantings, but not just in the Chianti Classico area, in all of Tuscany. The result was poorly chosen areas for wine growing, inferior grapevines and diluting of Chianti by adding too much white wine. The straw bottle had become more popular than the wine!

Then - enter some dedicated producers devoted to innovative steps to make better Chianti as well as artisan wines that broke all the rules. The first was Sassicaia, made by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rochetta near the Tuscan coast in Bolgheri. It was made entirely of Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in small Barriques. The Antinori family tasted this wonderful non-Chianti Chianti and made a wine called Tignanello, comprised of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The government took notice and classified them as mere vino da tavola (table wines) because its producers did not follow the rules. The press, however, elevated them to world class status and nicknamed them as "Super Tuscans."

The success of Super Tuscans paved the way for marked improvements to Chianti's production techniques and a revision of the wine laws in Tuscany, making them more liberal. Now, however, this has given birth to a new category of wine from Tuscany, the baby Super Tuscan. Every day there is a new proprietary-named wine from Tuscany that is presented to us. Some are very good and are of great value and some sadly, are just excess juice given a label and sent to market. We have tasted our way through that labyrinth of baby Super Tuscans and have come to two conclusions. One is that there are some not so nice wines in the non-Chianti category coming from Tuscany and wonder if history is repeating itself, and two, we have selected the absolute best wines with value in this category for you. Come in and see!

2004 Norman Vineyards Zinfandel - The Classic, Califonia. Norman Vineyards is a small family -owned winery in the beautiful hills west of Paso Robles on California's Central Coast. Art and Lei Norman have been growing grapes for more than 30 years and making wine for 15. Over the years, Norman Vineyards has specialized in elegant Cabernet, Barbera, and bold Zinfandels. This week we are taking a look at the 2004 Norman Vineyards Zinfandel - The Classic. This wonderfully fruity and balanced wine is full of intense aromas of raspberry and cassis which are complimented by dusty and spicy notes. Medium-bodied, the bold blackberry flavor and creamy structure lead to a lengthy finish. This wine would pair well with grilled eggplant in a marinara sauce and also a variety of custard-based desserts. ($16.49)

2006 Mollydooker "The Boxer" Shiraz, Australia. Once again visiting us from Australia, Sarah and Sparky Marquis have brought us another great wine from Mollydooker. "The Boxer," which is comprised only of Shiraz, is incredibly powerful with tell tale purity along with gorgeous plum, black currant, rose and violet aromatics that fill your glass. These intriguing aromatics lead to explosive flavors of blackberry, licorice, and spicy sweet fruit on the palate. Super rich and opulent, this remarkable Shiraz finishes amazingly long with lovely hints of vanilla and oak. This wine could be cellared for five years, but with Mollydooker wines many choose not to wait. ($20.99)

Thursday, August 2nd (5 pm to 8 pm) Main Street Stroll Tasting

Join us Thursday during the Main Street Stroll for a special tasting of a couple of our staff favorites that are paired with wonderful edibles!

Friday, August 3rd (5 pm to 8 pm) Italian Wine Classics

2004 Brancaia "Tre," Chianti Classico, Italy. Brancaia in Chianti Classico, encompassing the two estates Brancaia and Poppi, has been owned by the Swiss couple Brigitte and Bruno Widmer since 1981. They first were recognized after winning first place at a major Chianti Classico tasting. Since then they have continued to produce exceptional wines, one of which is their Super Tuscan Brancaia "Tre." The "Tre" is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet. The grapes for this wine have been carefully selected from three different estates, Brancaia (Castellina), Poppi (Radda), and also Brancaia in Maremma (Morellino di Scansano). This wine is full of character and deep, rich silky red and black fruit flavors, giving you much drinking enjoyment already at a young age. ($24.99)

2004 Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano, Italy. Coming to us from Montepulciano, Italy we have the Poliziano Rosso di Montepulciano, a fantastic full-bodied wine. This wine is fruity with blackberry, black cherry and light mineral characters. From some oak aging, it has soft, silky vanilla characteristics. A great wine to pair with food, especially with a variety of meats and poultry. It's a great partner too for stews, pastas and aged cheeses. ($15.49)

2006 Bigi Est! Est! Est!, Italy. From the Montefiascone region within Italy's Umbria area, Est! Est! Est! (meaning "This is It") is a light Italian white with a great story. (We'll tell you the story on Friday.) Made from a blend of three varietals, this wine is pale straw yellow in color with a fragrant vinous aroma. A dry harmonious taste with a crisp, clean finish, this is the perfect wine to sip on a hot summer night. Enjoy also with an array of seafood including fresh water fish. ($9.99)

Saturday, August 4th (3 pm to 7 pm) Bordeaux- Red and White

2003 Chateau de Cazenove, Bordeaux, France. In the heart of the Margaux region, this red Bordeaux Superieur is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. With an expressive bouquet of ripe berries and underlying notes of wood, this glittering red wine is opulent in the mouth, with classy, soft tannins. For the price, it overdelivers. ($13.99)

2005 Chateau La Rame, Bordeaux, France. Chateau La Rame is among the oldest and most renowned properties in the Sainte Croix du Mont appellation of Bordeaux. The vineyards of white wine are planted to 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. However this white Bordeaux is made largely of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal, which gives us a crisp, refreshing selection with flavors of pears, citrus fruits and almonds. Just delightful. ($15.99)

email: jessica@thesavorygrape.com

phone: 401.886.9463

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