Colonel Jack Daniels' latest column,
"In Vino Veritas" may be found in the online Newsletter

February, 2008

We continued our exploration of Italian wines with our second month focusing on Central Italy. They produce about 20% of Italy's wine and are most well known for the reds, Sangiovese and Chianti.

However, we began with four whites. Again, as with last month's whites, we had a tie for first with 14 points. They were Montesecco Verdicchio 2005 and Fontana Candida Frascati 2006. The verdicchio is most typical of the Italian whites and is from the Marches. It is 100% verdicchio estate grown and bottled by Montecappone. The frascati is from Latium in the volcanic hills near Rome where the vines are 2,000 years old. The frascati was $13.77 for 1.5 liters, which equals $6.88 per regular size bottle and therefore edged the verdicchio at $13.77. In third place with 9 points was Memoraia Vernaccia Di San Gimignano 2006. It is a local estate grown grape in Tuscany and was our most expensive at $14.83. Last at only 2 points was the Orvieto Classico 2006 grown and bottled by Barberani in Umbria. Its cost is $9.53.

Our next session tasted the reds. There was an overwhelming winner in the La Mozza Morellino Di Scansano 2005 with 28 points. It costs $15.89 and is from Magliano in Tuscany. A very respectable second choice was Falesco Sangiovese 2006 with 17 points. It is from Umbria and costs $14.83. In third with 7 points was Sesti Monteleccio, which is also a 100% sangiovese. It costs $16.95 and is from Montacino. Slightly behind in fourth place with 6 points was Melini Chianti 2005. It was the most celebrated of our 8 central Italian wines being founded in 1705 and designated DOCG - Italy's highest grading. It is produced on Chianti's finest soils in Tuscany and made by one of Tuscany's renowned winemakers, Nunzio Capurso.

As in all our analyses, beware of labels, ratings and price. Taste by the individual is the prime-determining factor in the selection of ANY wine.

Tune in next month as we move to the north.