Ciampolete Rosso Di Montalcino

From Montalcino in Tuscany comes some of the worlds best wine. Rosso di Montalcino is the cheaper compared to the Brunello di Montalcino. Some years the producers don't feel that the Brunello is good enough to name it Brunello and then they can declassify it and sell it as Rosso di Montalcno. Usually a Rosso di Montalcino is a bit lighter than the Brunellos but can be equally good depending on what one like.

Ciampoleto 2013 is a Rosso di Montalcino from producer San Giorgio. As the rules states it is made from 100% Sangiovese. The ABV is 13,5%. The colour is ruby. The nose is of spices. The taste is very good. I can feel spices, black currants and cacao. Elegant and with complexity. An excellent wine.

Montalcino is an excellent place to visit. From the town one has a good view of the outlying Tuscan countryside. Very beautiful. From the castello one can see the town very well and the castle is also very nice with a winebar/store inside.

Two rosso di Montalcino

I have had the chance to try two Rosso Di Montalcino from 2013 by producers Col D'Orcia and Castelli Martinozzi. Rosso Di Montalcino is a wine made of 100% sangiovese grown in the same region as the Brunello Di Montalcino. However it only need one year of aging before being sold, compared to the brunellos the Rosso Di Montalcino is lighter and more fresh.

I tasted the Col D'Orcia when I were down on Montalcino and this time I had time I make tasting notes. The colour is like a lighter red ruby. The taste is very good, some tannins, black currants, black pepper and cacao. I like this wine.

The Rosso Di Montalcino from Castelli Martinozzi is a new experience. It also has a lighter red ruby colour. For this wine I feel some soft tannins, black currants but also some coffee notes. Also a very good wine.

In the future it will be fun to try these producers Brunellos also.

Some fine wines from Italy and France

Wine from France I usually don't drink so much of except the Alsace region. Alsace produces may good white wines. Domaine Rieflé produces several different white wines and the one I had the chance to try is their Gewurztraminer Bonheur Convivial from 2013 is made from 100% of Gewurztraminer. The taste is of Elderberries and is very aromatic. Very good.

Italy has many different grapes and wine regions. One that produces good white wine is the Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi. Fattoria San Lorenzo has a wine called Di Gini which is made of 100% Verdicchio. It has a taste of apples and some citrus. A sharp taste so not for everyone but I quite like it.

Bacio Della Luna is a prosecco from Italy. It has a good apple and citrus taste and is quite light. Your typical good prosecco.

When in Tucany I drove by Castello Banfi which is situated in a beautiful area of southern Tuscany. For the first time I had the chance to try their wine, namely a Rosso Di Montalcino from 2013. The taste is rich and of black currant and plums and many soft tannins. This wine could probably be stored for several years before drinking. Very good.

A visit to Montalcino

Montalcino, the hill town and commune in southern Tuscany. It is a very beautiful place situated at 550 meters height.

Montalcino is famous not for the architecture or churches but for one thing. The wine that is produced there especially the famous Brunello di Montalcino.

Walking around in Montalcino one sees that it is a famous wine region. It is easier to buy wine than coffee.There are wine stores everywhere. Quite fun to see all the different producers which I cannot find in Sweden.

Going to a restaurant in Montalcino is fun since they have so much wine there so it becomes very hard to choose. Some winelists are like a bible. Very thick and despite all the quality wine not at all expensive. In Montalcino I only drank their less famous wine called Rosso di Montalcino. This wine is also very good, not as heavy as the Brunello but still very good. I had the chance to try wine from different producers like Fattoi and Col Di Orcia.

Montalcino is a fun place to visit. Good food and wine. A town with good views and it is fun to walk in. The landscape around is beautiful and there are many chances to visit wine producers if one like. Nearby is also beautiful churches like Abbazia di Sant’Antimo.

A visit to the castle of Montalcino is also highly recommended.

Nearby is also many beautiful towns. One can just drive around randomly and find such beautiful places to visit.

Already looking forward to go back.