Feudo Zirtari Rosso - Sicilia 2003
Tonights wine is the Feudo Zirtari Rosso - Sicilia 2003 ($5.99 Trader Joe's). While wondering the aisles at Trader Joe's today, fighting my way to the various delicacies, I stumbled over the stack of this wine piled about 6 feet tall. As most who buy wine at Trader Joe's know, they can find some pretty amazing buys. The trouble is if you don't go back soon enough, it may all be gone. I've heard some people buy a bottle to try in the parking lot, making it that much quicker to stumble back to the store and buy more if the wine turns out to be a gem. (If you're buying two buck chuck, you don't care about taste. Or hate your friends. Either way, who cares.)
So in this vein I am opening a bottle I bought today so I can go back tomorrow if it's really good... Property Taxes are due so I'm still relegated to five dollar bottles, instead of the $50 variety. But let's just say I'm sacrificing my palate for you. Ok?
This wine is composed of Nero d'Avola, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon, (I've linked the Nero d'Avola so we can all find out what it is...) and lo and behold there is NO OAK. Whoa! Only stainless steel and glass have touched this wine. (And probably a bunch of stinky feet, but let's not dwell, ok?)
I usually find most reds from Italy, er, Sicily, sorry, to be light in flavor unless your talking a Super Tuscan or a well aged Chianti. None of which are in the five dolla' range. But we'll see. I am always on the lookout for bargains.
Is it 5 pm yet? Ok! Time to open the bottle!!! Corkscrew please.
From the Feudo web site here are the optimum drinking Parameters:
• Serving temperature: 18°- 20° C. (64.5°-68° F.)
• Glass: large and tulip-shaped, with a lip that tapers slightly inwards so as to concentrate the wine's fruity bouquet.
I guess the ol' jelly jar is coming out!
The wine shows a nice plum color and a light nose of mostly syrah and cabernet, with slight musty notes overlaying it. (I don't know what Nero smells like so I won't include it.)
On the palate are smooth, light flavors, slightly tart and dry, with just enough tannins to say, "give me a big plate of spaghetti bolognese! I'm getting hungry now!
If you're a fan of red sauced Italian, er, Sicilian dishes and wines that are not overbearing, this wine may be for you.
At $5.99 it's a value.
Tonight's webcam capture
posted by Don Strickler at 4:39 PM
4 Comments:
Don,
I agree with your assessment of this wine. It is a nice lighter red that went well with our Thanksgiving meal. I only have one little problem with grammar. It should be 'palate' not 'palette'. Palette refers to art and palate refers to the mouth and taste. As a beer judge I see this a lot and I thought you might like to know.
palette |ˈpalit| noun
a thin board or slab on which an artist lays and mixes colors.
• the range of colors used by a particular artist or in a particular picture : I choose a palette of natural, earthy colors.
• figurative the range or variety of tonal or instrumental color in a musical piece : he commands the sort of tonal palette that this music needs.
• (in computer graphics) the range of colors or shapes available to the user.
palate |ˈpalit| noun
1 the roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the nose and the mouth in vertebrates.
2 a person's appreciation of taste and flavor, esp. when sophisticated and discriminating : a fine range of drink for sophisticated palates. • a person's taste or liking : the suggestions may not suit everyone's palate. • taste or flavor of wine or beer : a wine with a zingy, peachy palate.
Thanks for the definition. I didn't know beer drinkers had a palate.
Don,
Not only do we have a palate, but we appreciate wine, too. Unless we're painting with it. ;-)
I found this wine at Grocery Outlet, 3.99 per bottle. Took it home and tried it. Went back and bought the whole case for about 36.00. Incredible buy and very good wine. I am looking for more at this bargain price....Ciao!
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