Wine Tasting – 2003 Ferrari-Carano Sangiovese

Megan and I picked this up just over a year ago, on our first day of our 2006 Napa/Sonoma Trip. This was from the limited release tasting that we participated in, that I highly suggest you do if you give Ferrari-Carano a visit.

A bit of background on the wine –

The 2003 Sangiovese was made up of 96% Sangiovese and 4% Syrah all from the Alexander Valley. After a 10 day maceration period, the wine was aged in 20% New French Oak and 80% 2 year old French Oak for 16 months before it was put into the bottle and allowed to age for another 6 months prior to release.

My Tasting Notes –

Nose – Prune, fig, cedar, vanilla and blueberry

Taste – Leather, raspberry reduction, smelled “portish”

Mouthfeel – Big and bold, firm dusty tannins

Finish – long in length, cedar lingered until the end

This was a fantastic wine, just was we had remembered. Even though it was a 2003 and it drank great, I feel it was still a bit tight and could still go another year or two. We decanted it, and after about an hour and a half was when the more fruit driven aromas and flavors started to shine through. At around $32, it isn’t any every day drinker, but it is a really well made wine for the price.