Considering this wine from Emilia-Romagna has been out in Vintages at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario for almost a year and there are still over 13,000 bottles of it in LCBO stores it might be fair to say it is not moving all that well. Could it be indicative of poor quality or overbuying by our fearless retailer? The LCBO is anxious to move it out as they are offering a staggering discount (for them) of $5.00 a bottle. Dearest monopoly “We aren’t worthy” refrains from “Wayne’s World” are rising throughout the province.
The wine has aromas reflective of its 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The strong cherry aromatics are courtesy of the Sangiovese but the blueberry is courtesy of the Cabernet Sauvignon. At times the nose reveals some creaminess yet at another moment there is some firmness. A bit of a chameleon.
On the palate tannins are a notch above moderate. There isn’t a gush of fruit sloshing around but you’ll note that blueberry and cherry from the nose is also on the tongue and cheeks. A well-structured wine that should be decanted for an hour prior to serving. I am tempted to say this needs another couple of years in the bottle. It is not one of those sipping wines and calls for food and I’d say a T-Bone steak would do both the wine and steak proud. A good but not an amazing wine. In the EU at the producers website the wine is selling for 25€ so the $22.95 LCBO price is a good one.
(Liano 2018 Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon, IGT Rubicone, $22.95, Umberto Cesari, Castel San Pietro Terme, Italy, 750 mL, 13.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 89/100)
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