Now that I’m back in the trenches sipping vino, I hope to continue my exploration of the Sangiovese varietal. I will continue exploring other wines as well, of course. Still, the renown and venerable Sangiovese has somehow caught my interest.

Sangiovese Grapes by Francesco Sgroi
Winemaker: Di Majo Norante
Varietal: Sangiovese
Vintage: 2012
Appellation: Terre degli Osci IGT, Italy
Price: $9.99
Notes: This southern Italian was a bit like opening an old cedar chest with mothballs in it. Those were the scents that immediately struck me – cedar resin and menthol. A dark wine in the glass, it was medium-bodied with good acidity. The tannins were quite present, verging on high. Alcohol was at 13%. On the palate I tasted rubber, blackberry, resin, menthol, pepper and woody tannins that lingered. Pretty decent, I’d say. In fact, given the tannic structure, I think it might have been a good candidate for cellaring.