2009 Castiglion Del Bosco

I had just about exhausted my supply of the 2006 Castiglion Del Bosco Rosso Di Montalcino when the 2009 vintage showed up on the store shelves.  The store also had a bottle open for tasting, and after sipping a glass four bottles came home with me.

The wine was a medium ruby red in the glass and wasted no time gushing out aromas of tart red cherries and Tuscan dirt.  This was just about a perfect balance between intense fruit and dry earthy flavors.  The tart cherries were shining here but the earthy tastes let one know that this wasn't just a fruity wine.  Great acid and drying tannins supported all this. 

I opened another bottle at home that night to drink with two lamb chops that just came off the grill.  They were grilled on one side and then turned over and basted with a mixture of olive oil, Dijon mustard, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme while they grilled on the second side.  They were joined by some faro cooked in chicken stock.  I added some chopped, toasted pecans to the faro after draining the remaining liquid. 

The rich, gamey flavors of the lamb and the fresh fruity flavors of the wine were near perfect together.  The earthy undertones of the wine matched equally as well with the herbs on the lamb.    Both made each other better.

2009 Castiglion Del Bosco Rosso Di Montalcino.  14% alcohol and $22 with a discount.