Sometimes, things just go better with wine. Well, maybe most things go better with wine. Packing up your belongings for a big move is definitely something that goes better with wine…lots of wine. Somehow it seems less tedious and a lot easier to part with some old knick knack that came from Lord knows where and has been collecting dust for Lord knows how long.
Since it’s a cold, dull January day, we need a cheerful easy-to-drink sipper that will help warm and not break the bank. Today’s choice? An Italian red. Petra Zingari, a fresh entry level Tuscan. The cheerful sun-inspired label helps to brighten our day. The winemaker says the label is inspired by a pictorial interpretation of the spiral theme, which represents the repetitions of life, but the sunny idea works for us as we begin loading packing boxes full of various belongings.
The first thing we notice as we pack up the china, is that this wine is fresh and juicy on the palate, bursting with cherry fruit and an attractive note of wild rose. Smoke, underbrush, licorice and truffles add complexity to the generous, dark fruit. Medium-bodied and wonderfully intense, Zingari impresses for its sheer richness and density. Sweet, floral notes add length and brightness to the long, caressing finish. This shows great depth
without coming across heavy, quite a rarity in Bolgheri. There is lots of flavor and it is quite supple, drinking well already, very pleasant and really well-priced. Somehow, packing seems to be a breeze.
So what makes this wine so tasty? Well, Zingari is a four-variety Tuscan blend of equal parts Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah and Petit Verdot aged entirely in stainless steel. It is an absolutely fabulous entry-level red. It offers immediately noticeable aromas of fruits and flowers: rose petals, red and black cherries combining with a pleasant vegetal background trace of herbed vegetables, what’s not to like?
According to the winery, when Vittorio Moretti, and his daughter Francesca, set out in search of a property in the Maremma in 1997, they asked Attilio Scienza, Italy’s most celebrated viticultural professor and consultant, to help them find the best spot. Scienza came up with Petra (the name is derived from the Latin for stone, or ‘pietra’ in Italian’), which is southeast of Bolgheri and inland from the sea. The estate now has 97 hectares of vineyard, which surround a modernist winery built by the Swiss architect, Mario Botta. The vineyards are located at the foot of the hills, partly in the village of Suvereto and partly in Riotorto.
Since we know this little gem pairs well tomato-based pastas, fresh Parmesan and the like, we know it will take us through packing straight through to dinner. There is enough freshness for the Zingari to drink well for a number of years. One box down, another 30 to go!
Wine knowledge with attitude…Wineitudes 