The first time I tried a Sangiovese it was the Sasssoregale Sangiovese. I was starting a job at a new restaurant and they had a wine representative come in and go over a majority of the wine list. Most of the details went way over my head, I scrambled to write down every last word I could and I retained almost none of it. What I will never forget is the first time I tried this wine, the wine rep told us that it tasted like pencil shavings. I tasted it right away and I hated it. I was very biased towards this wine, I never recommended it, as a matter of fact I tried to talk people out of it.
Then a few months later, we still weren't making any money at the restaurant and they were out of their happy hour red; so out of frugality I forced my self to gulp it down. It didn't taste as much like pencil saving as I remembered, Fruity upfront... extremely peppery. Wine can have somewhat of a general taste to most people, I feel like its subjective and everyone tastes things differently. Although the wine may have had a taste similar to pencil savings, I only tasted it because he told me I would. Now when I order this wine, I get it because of its full body and I like how the spicy notes compliment savory meals. We ran out more then once and over time I grew an appreciation for the taste, now I would say I actually like it. Now I recommend it to people who like full bodied reds, pepper and want to try something different. I'd say that more times then not people like it if they are familiar with the grape varietal or know that they like dryer wines. Its on the less expensive side in the restaurant, more importantly it widened my palate to include this wonderful grape varietal.
This a complicated wine. When you first sip it the flavors are abrupt and loud ripe fruits, leading to a mellowing, sweet spiciness and gentle integrated oak. This wine is aged in French oak Barriques, which are much larger then barrels, making the oak flavors less concentrated. I wouldn't recommend this wine for a table of beginners, most people unfamiliar with wine wont appreciate its complex flavors. I have met few women that order this wine and of the women who did order it, few liked it. That could also be because of the price or lack of familiarity with the wine. Typically this type of wine is very dry and sometimes I think women just order it because its from Italy.
Monte Antico Toscana 2014
It is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet and 5% Merlot.
This is a really easy drinking wine, pretty much anyone into red blends would probably like this. It is fruity and smooth, dry, but not too dry. I got it for $13 in the imported section of the liquor store and I was very pleased. This is that red you bring to a family gathering, those who drink wine from boxes and bottles will enjoy its functional balance of flavors.
