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Il Volpe Sangiovese

Il Volpe Sangiovese Wine Details
Price: $24.00 per bottle

Description: Sangiovese is the king of red wine grapes in Tuscany, used for everything from Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino. Volpe (vohl-pay [“fox”]) is a “Super Tuscan” style blend (which means Sangiovese plus a Bordeaux varietal). We use our estate grown Sangiovese and estate Cabernet Franc, individually aged in American and Hungarion oak. The 2005 is 89% Sangiovese / 11% Cab Franc and the 2006 is 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cab Franc. Volpe Sangiovese has a typical Sangiovese nose (yeasty, leathery) and palate (lots of cherry, toast, coffee and spice notes) with a bit of chocolate from the Cab Franc. Volpe is a match made in heaven with pasta, risotto, pizza, poultry, seafood, pork or a nice steak but its soft and lush for just sipping. ** Silver Medal Winner, 2006 Vinifera Wine Growers Competition **

Varietal Definition
Sangiovese:
Sanguis Jovis, the Latin origin for the varietal name, literally means “blood of Jove.” Sangiovese is one of the oldest known varietals and it is likely that ancient Etruscan winemakers cultivated it, although the first literary reference to Sangiovese was in 1722. Sangiovese is probably indigenous to Tuscany, whose most famous wine is Chianti. Chianti is a blend that currently contains a minimum of 90% Sangiovese.Sangiovese thrives in hot dry climates. Because these climatic criteria generally enhance quantity, rather than quality, it takes careful cultivation and winemaking techniques to produce really excellent wine from this grape.
Cabernet Franc:
Cabernet Franc is an accessible, spicy, herbal, dark blue grape variety that is often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc tends to be softer and has less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, although the two can be difficult to distinguish. Sometimes the French refer to Cabernets, which could mean either of the two grapes. Its typical aromas include an herbaceous and pronounced peppery nose, even in ripe fruit, and something eerily like tobacco. The Cabernet Franc ripens at an earlier stage, which gives it reason to exist in the Bordeaux area. In the Loire, where we find it a lot, it gives a clear red fresh and fruity wine.


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