Wine: 2008 Pian dell'Orino Rosso di Montalcino
Region: Tuscany
Sokolin Price: $29.99/btl
Rating: 93 RP
In our last blog, we mentioned that our unofficial motto here at Sokolin is that 'we sell the world's most expensive wines, and the least expensive wines that taste like them.' Well, our savvy buyers managed to hit another home run when they located a 2008 Tuscan wine that is such a deal it's almost too good to be true. The 2008 Pian dell'Orino Rosso di Montalcino is a wine that tastes much more expensive than it actually costs, and after tasting it, it has now been added as a favorite on a very short list of under $30 wines. This wine received 93 points RP and is priced under $30! You don't see this kind of points-to-price ratio very often in this business.
As we said last time, Tuscany has produced a string of great vintages since 2004, and of course, the 2008 vintage was no exception. While Rossos are known as the 2nd wines for Montalcino producers, Orino uses the same methods when choosing grapes for both its Rossos and Brunellos (the higher quality wine of the two). Both Orino's Rosso and Brunello are made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Orino also practices organic farming in its vineyards, keeps its sulfur usage to a minimum and does not filter its wines. This producer also uses the Braille system on all three of its labels, which we thought was very cool.
The superb quality of this wine is instantly detected. With perceptible notes of ripe, red fruit, especially cherries, it is sleek, pretty and a lovely drinking wine. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate said, "This is a totally sexy Rosso of the highest level. Readers who want to understand what makes Montalcino such a special place - but without spending a fortune - should start here." And we totally agree.
We paired this wine with baked gourmet hot dogs stuffed with gruyere cheese, wrapped in thick sliced bacon complimented by a special sauce on the side (horseradish, Dijon mustard, mayo and several herbs and spices). While we can't take credit for the recipe (it's actually a Wolfgang Puck recipe we found), the combo was an awesome match. The medium body of this wine and the Sangiovese grape made this wine perfect for casual fare and summer drinking.
Our Recommendation: Buying this wine is a no-brainer given the points-to-price ratio. Our quantities are quickly diminishing, and we don't expect it to be around here much longer. Pick up some today for you and your wine drinking friends. Everyone will love it!
Our Table Score - 94+ points.