Monte Antico Sangiovese Red Wine 2003 Reviews

Monte Antico Sangiovese Red Wine 2003 Tasting Notes

Monte Antico’s Toscano Red is always a safe bet. It’s like putting $8 down on red at the roulette table knowing you will walk away with $16; it’s money in the bank, although that’s less than the minimum withdrawal from the ATM. Sangiovese is mostly known as the Chianti varietal, and if this fresh and fruity wine was from the Chianti DOCG then it would be called Chianti. However, although it’s produced from Sangiovese, there are no black roosters, or ‘’Gallo Negro’’, on the bottleneck’s band. No, it’s from various vineyards around the Tuscan region and it stacks up well to any true Chianti, perhaps better than some. This food-friendly wine has a firm cherry and raspberry nose with herbs and toasted oak aromas. It’s a dry, medium-bodied red with cherry and plum flavors, licorice, leather, and oak. There’s a slight vegetal note in the finish, but it distracts momentarily. The finish is brief but bright with that distinctive Sangiovese tang of acidity that enhances its suitability with food, particularly Italian food like pasta, pizza, risotto, or roasted chicken. Coincidence or good fortune? A good value wine that is reliable and resilient over the years.