2001 Cianferoni Doccio a Matteo

This Sangiovese has always been a favorite of ours since the '98 vintage, it is just a little pricey @ $40 on the shelf. I bought a bottle tonight at the Wine Thief because Court wanted me to make a bolognese - as we still have 6 lbs of frozen beef in the freezer from our last Horizon Foods order - and I really do not have any Italian wine I can drink in my collection. After I went through all that Larcille and Montevertine, everything is too young.

One spirited night at BONDA with Rob Mackin, the importer, and Matt from Pasta Nostra, we tried a bunch of Italian wines, and this Chianti from Caparsa - Doccio di Matteo - translated into "Matthew's Shower". Needless to say, there were lots of jokes, and then we drank more and they just kept on coming!

Black licorice and violet on the nose, with notes of leather and touches of meaty spice - restrained fruit. Unfortunately I do not have a chianti glass, so I am using a bordeaux glass- and the nose keeps changing - closing and expanding.

On the tongue, pure delight. But descriptions for Sangiovese always escape me. Medium tannins, some berry with little to no oak. It is just good! I have to rethink putting this wine on the BONDA list.