Italian wines are a bit “out there” in the kosher world as there are not many options to choose from (aside from moscato ;)). However, of the options that do exist on the market there are number that are really solid picks for budget weekday quaffing wine. Below, I provide tasting notes on two wines, both of which are new to me, and that are solid wines in their price categories. Not great wine, but good table wine to be enjoyed with a midweek meal or low key Shabbos meal.
One of my favorite foods in the world is pizza, followed by pasta as a close second. Both of these wines have a nice fruity profile along with some acid and some tannin that make them enjoyable with both of my favorite rich foods. I am a firm believer that food and wine that come from similar places tend to taste best together; this is one of those kinds of combinations.
Contessa Annalissa Primitivo, 2015 $13.99
This wine is part of a relatively new line of kosher wines being made in all regions of Italy, and being imported by The River Wine. All of their wines at an entry level price point, and some of them have definitely held their own as consistent budget options. This wine in specific is made from 100% organic Primitivo grapes, which is an Italian expression of the Zinfandel varietal (the famous fruity and spicy California grape varietal). The nose on this wine is distinctly old world although not especially expressive or satisfying. The nose is faint with hints of raspberries, tart blackberries and a slight whiff of smoke. The mouth is light to medium body, with notes of fresh black plums and under ripe blackberry, with a hint of spice on the medium length finish. There are faint notes of blue fruit and dried rosemary in the background as well.
The wine is not terribly complex, but balanced and well made.
My Overall Score: B
My Value Score: B+
Siviano Sangiovese, 2014 Sicily $9.99
The nose on this wine is a little all over the place. It’s all blue fruit, clay, earth, black olives in brine and crushed herbs, with a bit of a “cooked” quality, presumably imparted from the mevushal process. The wine has a medium body and a blue fruit profile in the mouth with a strong tannic backbone. The wine has a taste almost like grilled blueberries and black olives. The wine is fairly acidic, which some may find astringent, although I find it pleasurable. The “cooked” note carries through to the palate.
I actually enjoyed this wine as it was relatively complex for a sub $10 wine, and had nice acid and tannin, but I do believe it is flawed by the mevushal process leaving some nasty cooked notes one the nose and mouth. Therefore, while I enjoyed it for myself, I can’t in good conscience score it right now. I plan to serve it at a tasting this weekend and will take a consensus view from that tasting panel and report back!
My Overall Score: N/A
My Value Score: N/A
Nice prices for weekday wine.
Thanks!