Brunello Beauty

Although in the past Chapters we have talked about Italian wines and extolled their virtues, until now we have neglected to recommend a full throttle yet elegant Italian Red.   However, this month we remedy this situation by naming a gorgeous Brunello, 2008 Antonio Sasa Martina Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, as a Worth a Splurge wine.  I had the opportunity to taste the 2008 Antonio Sasa Martina at a great wine event hosted by my friends Rex and Michele at Ronin Wines, and I was simply blown away by the Italian beauty.  Deep tastes of blueberry and a bit of cherry and raspberry, polished fine tannins and just a mouthful of luxurious smoothness and balance with a finish that seems to lengthen with each sip describes the fine red wine.  I then sampled another glass a few months later with good friends, and I was equally impressed by the 2008 Sasa Brunello di Montalcino.  This time, my overwhelming description was liquid velvet, with a dry, lengthy finish.   The wine is multi-layered and complex.   Although I am an admitted Cab Sav fan, I think the 2008 Sasa Martina is a terrific change of pace that pairs elegantly with foods such as spicy Italian sausages or a hearty lasagna.  Although this particular vintage has not been rated, the 2006 Antonio Sasa Martina was awarded a terrific 91 rating by Wine Advocate, and to my palate the 2008 vintage measures up or exceeds that lofty rating.