A Sangiovese Dry Red Table wine from Tuscany, Italy
Rating: 92 Drink 2009 – 2016 Cost: $160
Gagliole-s top of the line 2004 Pecchia is 100% Sangiovese. It is an elegant, understated wine with gorgeous aromatics that meld into ripe red raspberries, red cherries, smoke and underbrush. The use of oak is masterful and the wine offers superb balance not to mention a long, finessed finish. As beautiful as this wine is, the reality is that it faded rather quickly in the glass and I have some reservations as to its long-term potential, particularly given the lack of a track record. I am all for doing everything it takes to achieve quality, but this wine is priced at a level that seems overly ambitious for what is in the glass. One day the wine might merit its price tag, but that time belongs to the future. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016. These are the first wines I have tasted from Gagliole and I was very impressed. Gagliole is owned by Thomas Bar, whose family is most well known for its private bank, Julius B?r. Winemaking is overseen by consulting oenologist Stefano Chioccioli and oenologist Cesare Panti. Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200