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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2005 and 2010 (based on 10 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 84.7 pts. and median of 85 pts. in 59 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by stevetimko on 4/9/2011: Decanted from a 3-liter bottle and served non-blind as the warmup. There's some nice sangiovese flavors here pretty much crushed by the oak. If there's a battle for flavor dominance here, I don't think aging will help. I think the oak has won. There's some dark cherry flavors and a nice earthiness. Short finish. The wine is still drinkable despite the oak. You get the sense it would be so much better without it. (6642 views) | | | Tasted by abi9 on 8/4/2010 & rated 84 points: A good everyday table wine. Minimal complexity with little follow-through but a perfectly good value for pizza or a simple home cooked meal. (7155 views) | | | Tasted by pixiegirl on 4/6/2010 & rated 89 points: I thoroughly enjoyed this. Notes of oak and cherry. It has a very tannic odor and I expected it to be harsh and thought maybe I had waited to long to open it. To my delight it was very smooth and I did not find that the sour cherry was overwhelming as others have. Absolutely wonderful. (7398 views) | | | Tasted by Quarked on 2/22/2010 & rated 88 points: Despite some negative reviews, I enjoyed this. Immediately drinkable, the sour cherry was not overwhelming. Very smooth. (7360 views) | | | Tasted by Msquared on 1/24/2010: We buy this often to go with our humble pasta nights at its price point. Always good. A little astringent to start, but dry and soft, and good with any tomato based pasta. (7429 views) | | | Tasted by Mig22 on 1/7/2010 & rated 82 points: Wow, not nearly as nice as the 2006. Thin, simple. The sour cherry deal in the mid-palate was way too...well sour. Need to investigate specifically where they get the grapes because for much of Tuscany, it was supposed to be a good vintage. (3321 views) | | | Tasted by wicozani on 11/21/2009 & rated 82 points: A medium ruby in the glass, with a nose of grapey cherries. Light- to medium-bodied, this features soft red cherry fruits with little or no tannins or licorice/tar that is so appealing to me about a good Chianti. Frankly, I was surprised that this was so simple based on the many positive comments I've heard about this. I'm going to stick to my go-to Chianti in this same price range. (3395 views) | | | Tasted by Alemany on 10/18/2009 & rated 84 points: Is ok... (3533 views) | | | Tasted by MarkusChien on 7/17/2009 & rated 85 points: Nice body with rich deep flavors. (3731 views) | | | Tasted by Quantum32 on 5/27/2009 & rated 87 points: Maybe I got a lucky bottle, but I was very happy with this wine. I was surprised that A) i could pop & pour and B) it was very easy drinking. I get the sour cherry, but in a good way. There seems to be a lot of bottle variation...so it might be the luck of the draw. I've been on the bad end of these situations, but this time I'm on the good end. Luckily this is available at my local store so I will seek it out again. I'll letyou know if I go 2 for 2 or if the next one is a bust. (3866 views) | | | Tasted by prexan on 4/29/2009 & rated 82 points: Deep cherry red clear color. Lost of acids cherry and goose berry. Not very approachable but very good with some pasta with a tomato based sauce that complements the acids well. (4203 views) | | | Tasted by Fearless1 on 4/3/2009 & rated 84 points: cedar, oak, rich dry fruit, chocolate, a bit acidic - overall well balanced and pleasant for $8 (4267 views) | | | Tasted by damntall on 2/28/2009 & rated 79 points: Weak. (4293 views) | | | Tasted by CaliCab on 2/2/2009 & rated 75 points: Yikes. Thin, astringent, no tannions, and acidity way out of whack. Sour, sour cherry and tart fruit. (4250 views) | | | Tasted by theplatz on 1/22/2009 & rated 73 points: Very tannic...mellowed out some after an hour but still too tannic. Tasted like a weak Meritage wine to me. Not a fan. If you do drink it, decant it for a little bit before your meal. (4165 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 1/9/2009: Sour cherry, good fake oak nose, touches of mint. (4123 views) | | | Tasted by Pinot Evil on 1/6/2009 & rated 87 points: At less than $9 a decent wine but nothing more. (4204 views) | | | Tasted by RussK on 12/30/2008 & rated 83 points: A bit thin with overbearing new oak, but certainly drinkable. (3535 views) | | | Tasted by asilber on 12/25/2008 & rated 77 points: WTF??? This is awful. This is the second time I have had it, too... and it did not impress either time. This would be, at best, good for cooking. How on earth did anyone score this above 80? Do not buy even if it is cheap, it is painful. (4232 views) | | | Tasted by Bob in NC on 12/19/2008 & rated 85 points: Nice deep ruby color. Not picking up much on the nose, just a little berry and spice. Cherry, spice, soft oak and smooth finish with light tannins. Nice smooth well balanced wine but not very complex. A great wine for the price - vg QPR. (4209 views) | | | Tasted by Davidliss on 12/16/2008 & rated 89 points: Very bright nose of red fruit and mineral. Flavors of candied cherry, cranberry, pepper and earth. A lovely wine and a great QPR. (4348 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 9/11/2008: Smells like full rich raspberry. Not very sangiovese. Maybe merlot? Good at $9. Ok at $12. (3997 views) | | | Tasted by CTAnderson on 8/26/2008 & rated 88 points: Just a joy. One of the best Super Tuscans for under $20 (4010 views) | | | Tasted by tanninbomb on 8/10/2008 & rated 83 points: Not much nose, mostly dried fruit. First taste was simply terrible -- very acidic, almost a rhubarb tartness that seemed to overwhelm anything else. Left it in the fridge overnight and had it the next night with a spicy meat pizza and it was much better, but still not really good. Strikes me as a cheap wine that is trying too hard to be sophisticated, showing up at the party with its shirt untucked, shoes unpolished and telling jokes that it doesn't even know are off-color. (3880 views) | | | Tasted by mjraica on 7/13/2008 & rated 85 points: Not bad for an $8 wine. Little fruit on the nose, but got a little bit of rubbing alcohol as well. Not necessarily the smell but the little antiseptic burn. Not unpleasant but odd. Pretty typical sangiovese on the taste but muted. Not a great wine, but a decent QPR. (4028 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Central Tuscany 2003 and 2004: A Tale of Two Vintages? (June 2007)
(Monte Antico Monte Antico) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Monte Antico Producer website2004 Monte Antico Toscana IGT__Winemaker's Notes__
The blend, albeit varying slightly depending on vintage conditions, is 85%
Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The best selections are blended and aged 1 year
in oak (80% in Slavonian barrels, 20% in barrique) + at least 6 months in the bottle, achieving a graceful
balance of voluptuous berry tones and flexible yet sturdy backbone. Dark ruby in color, its bouquet of
leather, earth, herbs, black cherries, licorice and plums is confirmed on the medium to full-bodied palate
– round, spicy, elegant, attractively fruity and extremely versatile with any fare from pasta or risotto, to
meat, fowl and cheese. Moreover, the Empsons’ judicious pricing policy makes it “consistently one of
Italy’s better values”. Food-friendly, pocket-friendly, all-around simpatico.
Vineyard Characteristics
From a selection of Tuscany’s finest vineyard sites. Terrain includes compact, v. fine-textured
limestone, at an altitude of 1,312-1,476 feet; rocky, clayey/calcareous areas, also at altitudes around
1,350 feet; and clayey/siliceous/calcareous soil
Vinification & Aging
Vinification: Soft-pressed; racked into stainless steel tanks Fermentation: At approx. 25°C (77°F),
followed by maceration for 15-20 days Malolactic Fermentation: In stainless steel vats for 7 days
Élevage: 1 yr in oak
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby color w/garnet hues; elegant bouquet: leather, black cherries, licorice + plums; medium to full
palate where ripe red fruit, goût de terroir, subtle notes of vanilla + violets harmonize and linger,
interlacing w/the soft tannins + silky texture. Firm backbone, ideal balance.SuperTuscan BlendSuperTuscan Blend refers to wines which feature a significant Sangiovese component combined with grapes not traditionally associated with Italy like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. This separates it from "Sangiovese blend" which is used for wines which are predominantly Sangiovese and combined with traditional Italian varieties. There is often confusion as many wines most famous associated with the term "Super Tuscan" like Sassicaia, Masseto and Ornellaia have no Sangiovese and are properly linked to 'Red Bordeaux Blend.'
In fact, Super Tuscan was a term coined to refer specifically to wines such as Sassicaia and Tignanello. These were wines that "fell out" of the official DOCG classification of Italian wines because they either contained grapes not permitted (international varietals such as cabernet sauvignon or merlot,) were aged differently (I.e. in barrique) or were 100% sangiovese - which was not permitted at the time for Chianti (E.g. Fontodi Flaccianello.) Forced to be classified as simply "Vina di Tavola" these wines nontheless quickly found favour in international markets and comanded prices above the highest quality DOCG Chianti Classico & Brunello di Montalcino wines at the time. The wine industry and press began to refer to these wines as SuperTuscans because of their popularity and quality, but also because of the prices they commanded. Subsequently, the Italian authorities, under the Goria Law 1992, redrew the classifications, and included the category IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) to classify the SuperTuscans.Italy Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorTuscany Tuscany (ItalianMade.com) | TuscanytToscana IGTHere is the Wikipedia entry for Toscana wine. |
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