Upon opening, the wine has an old, leather and wood aroma, even on the verge of smelling spongey. Don’t let that turn you off. It’s these intense, tight aromas that let the wine evolve and linger on the nose evoking dinner conversation. Allow the wine sit for a while and come into its own and it will give you the full expression of what it has to offer. If you don’t have a decanter, don’t worry. Pour some of the Brunello into a goblet and leave the bottle open for about 15 to 20 minutes. It’s not as effective as a decanter but it’ll get the wine going.
If you plan on pairing this wine with lamb or a roast, you will find the fruit flavors come to maturity on the palate. The plum and blackberry flavors will taste ripe and juicy on the tongue. If you plan on serving chicken or ham, vanilla, leather and coffee will dominate the wine flavors. You may find a smoky sensation in the flavor profile. These flavors come from the lengthy four years of oak aging Brunello experiences.
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Before the raves continue about the Castel Gioconodo Brunello di Montelcino, let us examine what this wine is. Brunello is the strain of Sangiovese grape that makes this wine and Montelcino is a fortress town south of Siena where this legendary wine of power and longevity is made. "Castel" means "castle" in English and "giocondo" means "content", "happy" or "cheerful". The Castel Giocondo was constructed in 1100 to guard the road from the port at Talamone to Siena and is a part of the Marchesi de Fescobaldi family of estates, which has been committed to bringing the world great wines for over 700 years. After that many centuries and countless generations working the fields, vines and winery, you know the wine is going to be outstanding.
You may want to save a bit of the wine for dessert. Sounds a little crazy, a little off-the-wall but you will thank me for it later. Easter is, after all, one of the great chocolate eating holidays of the year. The chocolate you’ll be asking the Easter Bunny for this year is dark chocolate, at least 70%. The Castel Giocondo brings out the creamier side of dark chocolate while intensifying the actual chocolate flavor. If you like the lingering flavor of chocolate on your tongue, this is one of the greatest wine and chocolate pairings you will experience. Gosh, it’s good to be young again!
Top image via Tuscany Tonight; bottom image via Marchesi de Frescobaldi
Do you realize it is Easter time already? Where has the time gone? That question always ages you. No one under the age of 12 wonders where the time has gone. Instead, he or she is waiting in anticipating of the future like the next school vacation. Now you too can feel youthful again with the anticipation of what lies ahead especially if you’re planning for your Easter table.
