Posted By Joel on July 26, 2011

Tenuta Sant’Antonio Valpolicella 2007

LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH’INTRATE’.
ABANDON ALL HOPE YOU WHO ENTER HERE.

- Dante Alighieri, Inferno

When the Italian poet Dante wrote those words opening CANTO III of his INFERNO, he could have been referring to the under $15.00 wine market: I have many times been burned by wines in that category.

That said, I can also tell you that there are real gems to be found and enjoyed for under $15.00.

There IS Hope — a fact of which I am most recently assured by a bottle of Tenuta Sant’Antonio Valpolicella 2007.

Having spent their early years looking after father Antonio’s vineyards, the four brothers Castagnedi – Tiziano, Paolo, Armando and Massimo – have guided Tenuta Sant’Antonio since 1995, quickly establishing a reputation as a respected producer of Veneto wines.

Tenuta Sant’Antonio produces its Valpolicella from 100% hand-harvested estate grown fruit. Vineyards are located in the eastern Valpolicella zone of Italy’s Veneto, situated at an average altitude of 1,000 feet with a predominately calcareous, chalky, alluvial soil.

Fermented in stainless steel for approximately 14 days.

Tasting Notes / Impressions:

Vivid ruby red color. Fragrant, incense-like aromas of cherry, smoke, hisbiscus. Good transfer to a refined and silky palate. Very balanced medium weight tannins. Finishes with a tasty note of hazelnut. What good Valpolicella is all about.

Food Pairing Suggestions:

Two things of note when pairing this wine: first, consider marrying its delicious, wonderfully balanced smokiness to a similarly smoke-y ingredient such as pancetta or bacon: pasta with crumbled bacon and peas would be superb. Second, this is one of those red wines that totally works with fish – try wild caught salmon sauced with ginger, scallion and Chinese preserved black bean. Roast chicken, pork, and cured meats will be always good when served with this wine. Vegetarians will find a toasted sandwich of melted taleggio and finely chopped porcini mushroom a delicious pairing.

Categories: $ (Under $25), Wine
Tags: Corvina