Wine Advice

After several years and considerably more than one hundred wine reviews is our first review of a wine of nearly $ 100. Before you say you'll never spend that much money on one bottle of wine, please note that $ 100 can help you to four movie tickets, popcorn, soft drinks, and possibly be an order of nachos or two. A bottle of wine $ 100 can be quite a memorable experience. Or maybe it will not.

We begin this series with an Italian red introduced in 1971 by Piero Antinori, the head of a family famous Tuscan wine. At that time, all growers across Italy had to follow strict, detailed regulations of governmental winemaking or wine they would be denied an official classification. Many growers have felt handcuffed by these regulations, and knew they could do better wines by following their own instincts. Tuscany has been a major center of dissenting growers and wine magazine was known as a Super Tuscan, which was not official government designation. In the revolution that has taken many Super Tuscans wine and other wines of this type have a great success and make quite a price to match. And the wine regulations were updated.

In the interest of historical accuracy, was not the first Tignanello Super Tuscan. That honor goes to Sassicaia the first time in 1948 by cousins who used Antinori Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon said to have come from Chacteau Lafite-Rothschild. Because Sassicaia begins at about $ 175 we'll just try to be satisfied with the Tignanello.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are on sale at retail.

Wine Review Tignatello 2006 13% alcohol about $ 95

Let's start with the marketing materials. Description: still ranks among the most coveted and collectible wines, this is a must for any cellar. "Tig" is considered one of the best wines of Tuscany, winning numerous awards and honors in every vintage. This rich and spicy blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is loaded with blackberry, coffee, tar and hints of truffles. It should be cellared for 2-10 years, or decant for at least two hours and match Beef Wellington or roast lamb with wild mushroom risotto. And now, let me present the review committee.

Larissa B. is a childhood friend of my daughter. It is a wine and food professional who works for a local, an upscale Italian restaurant. Larissa has taught many cooking classes and catered food to attract several hundred participants. She recently visited Tuscany, focusing on its food and wine. Larissa says she prefers full-bodied wines that are rustic and not sweet. For purposes of this review I asked my daughter called Harriet. Harriet wrote: "I love wine but I drink red, especially in-box wines, so I'm the last person anyone should go to get advice from wine." Is generally not spend more $ 15 on a bottle of wine.

The meal started with lentil soup made from green, yellow, black lentils and pasta with puffed wheat and spices from the Middle East. The main course was a false-marinated steak that had been for two days in a house blend of ketchup, mustard and mustard seed sauce, Worchester sauce, Mirin Japanese and steak spice. The grilled steak was accompanied by potatoes and mixed vegetables. We finished this excellent meal with homemade apple pie. I decanted the wine about half past two before serving.

Larissa wrote: "Fruity, full, ruby color. Slightly tannic, very smooth. Much like a Chianti, lighter than most Super Tuscans that I had." Harriet wrote: "Smooth, earthy, it's good!, Unsweetened. Boise? Flavors like wine really good, not a heavy wine, kind of fruity, more spicy the more I drink."

And now for my review. At first sip wine was very, very long.