Vino Friday Flight (3/12/10): Tuscan Sangiovese, Part 2!

Now that you had a week off to clear your palates of all the goodness of our Tuscan sangiovese, Part 1, tasting two weeks ago (although using the monster zins from last Friday may have been a dubious strategy) we are back on the Tuscan bandwagon this Friday. While the stars (their quarterback and tailback) of the Rose Bowl-bound U of O football team spend time in court Friday pleading guilty to various crimes (oh, those crazy college kids, stealing computers and strangling their girlfriends. Boys will be boys! Oh, and by the way, thanks for giving back your scholarships, jack asses), you have a day and a half to plan on your trip to Vino to taste some of the best red wine on the planet. My broken record could play again...these are amazing food wines; so much complexity for the $$, etc., etc....but the best way for you to find out why I adore these wines is to just show up and see for yourselves. The lineup is awesome, from me showing how good box wine can be (#1) to a rare opportunity to taste what The Wine Spectator chose as the #13 wine in their annual Top 100 Wines ranking this past year (the bonus-bonus). Need more temptation? Here it is:

• Vignamaggio Sangiovese Toscana from the 3-liter box
• 2007 Perrazetta Sangiovese Rosso "Sara"
• 2006 Fattoria di Petroio Chianti Classico - One of my favorite value chiantis that just keeps getting better and better!
• 2008 Rodano Sangiovese "Poggialupi"
• 2004 Ruffino Vino Nobile di Montepulciano "Lodala Nuovo"

And then to amp up the attitude:

• 2006 Frescobaldi Chianti Classico Riserva "Nipozzano" - 91 pts., Wine Spectator
• 2004 Savignola Paolina Chianti Classico Riserva - 90 pts., Wine Spectator

And then just because I can:

• 2006 Fattoria Felsina Fontalloro - 95 pts., Wine Spectator; 94 pts., Wine Advocate: "Simply put, this is a great, majestic Fontalloro!"

That'll get you out of the house, no? Just make sure you can stop by between 4:30 and 8:00 tomorrow when the corks start popping and the box wine does whatever it does. The cost as always is ten dollars with a bit of a charge for the bonuses. Of course bring your friends/co-conspirators/enablers to share the Italian love. And be sure to bring some munchable snacks. See you here! Cheers!

Taste a set of five wines during our informal drop-in tastings from 4:30pm to 8:00pm every Friday.

Mar. 12: Tuscan Sangiovese, Part 2. Some of our favorites!
Mar. 19: Vino's Favorite Oregon Pinots! Taste what's been growing in your back yard.
Mar. 26: Reds of the French Countryside. Earthy, rich, delicious values.
April 2: Big Australian Reds with the ever-entertaining importer Rob Moller.
April 9: Italy's Classic Piedmont Reds. It doesn't get better than this!
April 16: No tasting tonight! Back in action on April 30.
April 23: No tasting tonight! Back in action on April 30.
April 30: Great Washington Red Blends. Great wines from our neighbors up north.
May 7: World Wide Pinot Noir. See how the Northwest measures up!
May 14: Reds of Argentina and Chile. Not just down and dirty any more, these wines rock!
May 21: California Cabernet Sauvignon. Classics from down south.
May 28: France's Languedoc-Roussillon. Find out what terroir is all about!
June 5: Vino's Spring Fizz Fest! A great time to get fizz-ical!
June 12: Barbera's from Italy's Piedmont. Nothing goes better with summer dining than these.

Saturday Sampling (3/13/10)

After my absence last Saturday so I could dig in my front yard building raised beds, filling them and digging up the rest of my front yard by hand (and yes, I have heard of rototillers), I have decided that being at Vino pouring wine is a much wiser course of action, re: my aching back. So as I take the easy way out Saturday, I will also be pouring some more favorite beverages from 11 to 6 during our free sampling. Included will be:

• 2005 Domaine de Chatenoy Menetou-Salon - There's a reason a white wine is leading off the Saturday notice. This is simply stunning Loire Valley sauvignon blanc that is drinking at the height of its powers. The season for vin blanc is upon us, and this is without question one of my favorite wines in the store!
• 2007 Marramiero Montepulciano di Abruzzo
• 2007 Domaine Sorin Cotes de Provence Rouge
• 2006 Cash Flow Wine Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley" - Would you believe you can actually get delicious, drinkable Oregon pinot for $10.95 a bottle? I certainly didn't until I tasted this yesterday afternoon. Pretty rocking pinot for the $$, and absolutely something to grab by the case (at $9 a bottle!) for your future wine consumption!

We'll see you here! Salud!

Find us in Portland, Oregon, at 1226 SE Lexington St., Portland, OR 97202. Phone 503.235.8545 (toll free dial 1.888.922.8545) or simply e-mail vinobuys@qwest.net. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30am to 6pm (Friday 'til 8:00).