Quickies: Two Great Wines From Our Anniversary...

If you follow me, you know that I try to do full reviews, but last night was my year wedding anniversary with M.C. Ice and we enjoyed two lovely bottles that I want to mention. I didn't pay close enough attention or take enough notes to give you all the deets but these are worth a mention...

Wine #1: Cantina di Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino
Grape: Sangiovese Grosso, a finer clone of the Sangiovese that you find in Chianti
Vintage: 2005

A few years ago when I worked for a very large winery, M.C. Ice and I had the fortune to go on a wine trip to Tuscany in Italy. Our favorite stop on the trip was in Montalcino, a little medieval town nestled in the country-side that is the home of one of the greatest wines in Italy -- Brunello di Montalcino.

The huge winery I worked for bottles and sells some Brunello under a commercial label, but we had the opportunity to buy the Italian versions straight from the winery, which were different and more refined. We picked up a few bottles of Brunello, but we also got this Rosso di Montalcino, which is really just a lighter, more easy-drinking version of the Brunello (and it's about $30 less too).

It was scrumptious and a beautiful match with our Italian food. A great nose of orange peel (typical, oddly enough), rich sour cherry, and mineral, wet-rock scents were all over the wine. It was rich, it was rustic yet elegant, and it was full-bodied. Simply delicious.

Although you can't get this brand in the US, I would really recommend that if you don't normally drink Rosso di Montalcino, that you give it a try-- especially the next time you have pizza or Italian. FAB!

Wine #2: Paul Goerg Extra Dry Champagne
Grapes: 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir (it says it on the bottle, I didn't just taste that into existence!)

A few facts about Champagne that are awesome to know and will make you seem smart:

1. Champagne is a region and the sparkling wine from that region is called Champagne. Everything else is called something else (cava, sekt, prosecco, etc....if it ain't from Champagne, it's got another name).
2. Unless it's a vintage Champagne (expensive), the wine is actually a blend of vintages, vineyards, and grapes. Each "House" or producer has its own style and the winemakers work to get a consistent blend year after year.
3. If you think Champagne tastes like Chard, good job.Traditional Champagne is made from 3 grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (they press it and avoid skin contact so the juice is colorless), and a weird one called Pinot Meunier that is lesser in quality.
   
4. Champagne comes in different levels of sweetness because sugar is added during the second fermentation: Extra Brut/Brut Naturale has no sweetness, Brut is pretty dry and is the typical style, Extra Dry is lightly sweet, Sec is kind of medium-sweet, and Demi-Sec is sweet.

The wine we had was Extra Dry and went really well with the cake topper from our wedding (which held up -- pretty good, no?). Sweet with sweet -- easy to remember, delicious to eat/drink. Don't forget that when you go for the sweets at the end of the night, the bubbles are a great pairing if they have some sweetness, and the CO2 is a bit of a digestive aid, so it will actually make your tummy feel settled (at least that's what I tell myself...).

Great anniversary, great wines! Go out and get these for your next special occasion!