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More wines available from Altesino
Pre-Arrival
Altesino Alte D'altesi Toscana Igt 1997
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$81.25
Big and rich. Loads of crushed raspberry aromas, with toasted oak and coffee highlights. Full-bodied, with a solid...
Pre-Arrival
Altesino Borgo Altesi Igt 1997
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$54.72
Intensely plummy, with ripe fruit and floral aromas with lots maraschino cherries. Full-bodied and soft, with lovely...
Pre-Arrival
Altesino Brunello Di Montalcino 2016
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$60.87
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has remarkably consistent integration from the nose to the palate. There are generous...
750ml
Bottle:
$64.94
A concentrated bead of blackberries and minerals pervades the nose and palate. Medium-to full-bodied with...
375ml
Bottle:
$29.67
This has fantastic intensity with concentrated hazelnut, chocolate and dark berry aromas alongside dried flower and...
More Details
Winery
Altesino
Vintage: 2011
The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines.
In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
Varietal: Sangiovese
Wines made with the round, darkly colored Sangiovese grape varietal tend to demonstrate the grape's key attributes: high acidity, moderate tannins and pale red color These grapes have been grown in their native Italy for thousands of years, and are said to be one of the key varietals which were so loved by the ancient Etruscan and Roman civilization Fast forward a few millennia, and all over the world, wineries are still growing these grapes in order to capture that renowned and flavorful essence. What makes Sangiovese so loved by drinkers and vintners alike is its wonderful ability to soak up the earthy, woody flavors of the oak barrels they are aged in, and present these in the glass alongside fresh, bright summer fruit notes. Whilst Sangiovese grapes are often blended during the fermentation process, they are also drank as single variety wines, both young and fresh, and aged and complex.
Region: Tuscany
Tuscany is probably Italy's most important and widely respected wine region, with a history which stretches back almost three thousand years, and a set of fine grape varietals which produce some of the most delicious quality white and red wines in the world. Sangiovese and Vernaccia varietal grapes are grown all over this expansive region, and the way they are handled, aged and processed varies from town to town. The beautiful hot climate of Tuscany helps these grapes reach full ripeness, despite the fact the soil of the region is generally problematic for the vintners who work there. Despite this, there is a dedication to quality and flavor in Tuscany which is more or less unmatched anywhere else in Italy, and a great mix of strong tradition and willingness to experiment and think outside the box which has been a wonderful recipe for success in the region.
Country: Italy
It isn't difficult to understand why Italy is famed not just for the quality of its wines, but also for the vast variety and range of characteristics found in the wines there. The terrain of the country varies wildly, from the lush rolling green hills and valley of Tuscany, to the sun drenched rocky coasts of Sicily, the mountainous and alpine regions of the north, and the marshy lowlands of the east. Italy really does have a little bit of everything. Combine this huge range of landscapes with an almost perfect climate for grape cultivation, and you have a country seemingly designed for viticultural excellence. The results speak for themselves, and it is clear to see that wine has become an inseparable part of Italian culture as a result of its abundance and brilliance. Each village, city and region has a local wine perfectly matched with the cuisine of the area, and not an evening passes without the vast majority of Italian families raising a glass of locally sourced wine with pride and pleasure.