May 17, 2006

Next Wine Tasting

So we're due for a wine tasting....either this weekend or next. My job at the moment is to figure out what we should taste. So far, we've tried some French wines (mostly red), some Syrah and eight or so bottles of pretty lovely Cabernet Sauivignon as a group. (I've tasted many more, of course!) I am thinking we may need to go Italian this time. Maybe include some Super Tuscans, which you can read a little about here in GQ 's wine guide. This article talks a wee bit about Super Tuscans and here's an excerpt:

Super Tuscans are outlaw wines (I love this!) first created in the early 1970s by a few producers who began using grapes that were not traditionally permitted in the Chianti region. Typically, they are a blend of Sangiovese (the primary grape used to make Chianti) and Cabernet Sauvignon. If you like Bourdeaux and California Cabernets, chances are you'll like Super Tuscans.

Here's another article from Forbes that recommends 20 Great Reds under $20 and mentions Super Tuscans. I don't have a lot of tolerance for the heavy use of gratuitous click-generating slideshows on the site, but there are some interesting recommendations. But hmmmm. I am still waiting for an Italian recommendation, since the two listed in the GQ article cost $21 and $100. BIngo!

Here's one: Sedara Nero d'Avola from Morgante Italy ($16.99). Here's a link to WineLibrary, a website that lets you search by place or type of wine. I immediately found a bunch of interesting Italian wines here, including prices. More tomorrow on when and what we'll be tasting.