On To Tuscany! or Italy Continued...

So after a few amazing meals, some fabulous wines, and quite a few new friends, its was off to Tuscany on Wednesday morning. We had an appointment with San Felice, but unfortunately, had to cancel. The drink should take about 5 hours or so from Alba to San Gimignano. The road it Alba to Allesandra to Genoa (one of the most stunningly beautiful cities I've ever seen... hugs the very steep mountains that come right to the sea. Beauty + traffic + most winding roads I've ever seen + speed = white knuckle driving. It was a long road) to Liverno to Firenze, and finally down to Castellechi in Chianti where we had an appointment with Cecchi (who also would be providing us with our accomadations for the next 3 nights).

The Cecchi family started producing wine in the late 19th Century (1893), and now has 4 estates and produces over 7.5 million bottles a year. There is the one in Chianti, another in Maremma, another in Umbria, and one in San Gimignano. They have 120 hectares in Chianti and Chianti Classico. Use French oak and destem. The Cecchi Estate was selected in 1989 to help in a trial of 54 Sangiovese Clones by the Conzorzio del Chianti Classico to see the differences. The Cecchi Estate (Picture below). On to the wines... The 2006 Cecchi Vermentino di Maremma IGT "Litorale", 12.5%abv, sandy soil w/limestone, 200,000 bottles, August harvest, cryomaceration. Nice with Bosc Pear, lemon rind, stoney minerals, and white flowers. The 2006 Vel dele Rose Morellino di Scansano uses cryomaceration, harvested the first 10 days of September, matured in NFO for 5 months. Clove, jammy, bubblegum (almost Beaujolais like).

After those few was a beautiful vertical of Villa Cerna Chianti Classico Riserva - 2004, 2001, 1996, 1993 and 1981. They were wonderful, with the 1996 having a more vegetal note from the poor vintage (lots of rain at harvest). The 2001 was powerful, but slightly closed. Built for the long haul. The 2004 is incredible. But the 1981 was tremendous. Garnet to orange-brown rim, moderate intensity, tar, leather, dusty dried leaves, rosemary, stewed tomatos, very fresh and lively. m+ tannin, cinnamon stick, cigar box, violets, flowers... kept getting better and better throughout the tasting. A real gem. The 1993 had bruised cherries, toast, and was past it's peak with a bit of spearmint and pine tar. Last wine was the 2003 Sagrantino di Montefalco - a beheamoth of a wine from Umbria. 16 months FO. All black fruit and clove, with dried cranberries, tar, chocolate and cinnamon with big ripe tannins, m+ acidity. Great.

After a long day of driving, it was to the Castelli di Monteuto in San Gimignano. Our own private castle, if only for a few nights. The building on the far right was the guest house, where we stayed. A 3-story, 6 bedroom, I'm going to guess 4000 sqft guest house... overlooking the town of San Gimignano. That night two of us stayed in, went to the Coop in San Gimignano, bought some great anitpasta, and made a meal of pomodoro, Insalata di Pesci (octopus, squid, yummy!), Peccorino, Proscuitto di Parma, and a few other food items. Drank a 1999 Antinori Guado al Tasso and a 2003 Gaja Ca'Marcanda (the same from the Gaja tasting...). The Guado was a steal on the shelf... beautiful and drinking well. Also had some 2006 Monteuto Vernaccia di San Gimignano as an aperitif... great night. Lots of fun and great stories.