"I am allergic to red wines and WU is comfortable just shipping me white wine and will alert me to some other white wines that are not regular wine club selections."
— Kevin Bulivant, Wine Enthusiast
See a slideshow from Angela's recent visit to Sono Montenidoli:The wines of Sono Montenidoli | |
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2005 SONO MONTENIDOLI, VERNACCIA, TRADIZIONALE, DI SAN GIMIGNANO, ITALY
If you really want to taste what Vernaccia is all about, this is your wine. According to the winemaker, they leave the skins in contact with the wine much longer than the norm so that the native flavor permeates the final product. I would not classify this wine as a cheap wine, but at $20, it is an incredible value. There is a lot of great winemaking born in the glass and complexity. On the nose, you can sense the denseness and integration. The citrus and mineral notes are hard to distinguish. I would drink this on its own or with shellfish. I would even dare to pair this with asparagus/artichokes. There is enough heft here to take on pork loin with soy/Asian flavorings. A great food wine and just a pleasure to drink. Organic since 1965, way before the trend was even a trend! |
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2003 SONO MONTENIDOLI, "IL TEMPLARE", TOSCANA, ITALY
Da Vinci Code fans will be intrigued by this wine. "Il Templare" is named for the Knights Templar since this area was used as a way station in the Middles Ages. It is very likely that the Knights imbibed a similar wine because the grapes that are grown here now have been growing there forever. An order given to the knights directs them to "drink wine according to necessity to defeat the cold." Each had the right to determine how much wine to drink each day to counter cold: coldness of body, coldness of heart, coldness of spirit. This wine is a blend of Vernaccia, Trebbiano, Malvasia Bianca, Semillon, Verdicchio and Grechetto. Basically, a blend from all the white grapes in the old vineyards. It is rich, complex, full of citrus elements, with nice acidity and integrated wood. It is extremely balanced, so you can drink alone or pair easily with salads to fish. So try a wine that the Knights Templar may have drank long ago for a history/literary moment or just to enjoy an incredibly balanced, rich wine. |
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2006 SONO MONTENIDOLI, VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO FIORE
For a very elegant version of Vernaccia, you must try Fiore. It is made from the free-run must that emerges from the destemmed grapes before they are pressed. It ferments in steel and rests long on the lees, acquiring character and a unique, long, round finish. |
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2001 MONTENIDOLI, SONO MONTENIDOLI, TOSCANA, ITALY
Here is a wine that you can lay down in your cellar. Personality and a fabulous food wine.
Some info from their website: |