Grapelive Wine of the Week
By Kerry Winslow
***
2006 Casale del Giglio “Mater Matuta” Lazio Rosso IGT, Italy. (Syrah/Petit Verdot)
This Syrah based red is a rival to the best from Hermitage and Cote-Rotie, with amazing layers and complexity. It is not surprising that this beauty is a Tre Briccheri winner and is gaining fame around the world. The nose is both perfumed and earthy with violets, truffle and smoke with a touch of game before a palate filled with ripe blueberry, boysenberry and creme de cassis with hints of red and black pepper, cherry liqueur, fennel and graphite. Everything about this wine screams world class and I would rate it right up there with Guigal’s Cote-Rotie and Penfold’s Grange! This wonderful wine is a steal at its price and very unique in that is is 85% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot, as very few wines have these two grapes together, and the result is near perfection. Tasted three times, and all bottles were dead on target.
($56 Est.) 96-97 Points, grapelive
Available at www.sfwtc.com ($54.95)
***