A Great Domestic Super Tuscan
You do not have to go all the way to Tuscany to get a good Super-Tuscan. One of Hook and Ladder's (Cecil DeLoach's) other Labels is Tuscan Ridge. The 2003 Tuscan Ridge Tre Colline is very pleasant domestic Super Tuscan. According to the wine maker, "Just 1600 cases of this amazing single-vineyard "super-Tuscan" blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot was made from the Los Amigos Ranch in the Chalk Hill sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley. A pleasing dark ruby-red color in the glass, the wine exhibits complex aromas of black cherry, leather, toasty oak, dried herbs, intense cedar and cocoa powder, followed by full bold flavors of smooth rich cherry cobbler, stone fruit, and vanilla with oak spice. The finish is lingering, integrated and symmetrically complex." They are right, at $20 this is a good value and an excellent pairing with lighter pasta and salad. I would recommend this to anybody wanting a pleasant and not pretentious wine. A nice change. I hope more wineries start making domestic Super-Tuscans.
My Rating; 89
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