I talk a lot in these reviews about how better wine is made from vines that don’t have the most ideal growing conditions; when you have rich, fertile soil, and incredible moisture, you end up with watery, uninteresting grapes and poor quality wine. Ideally, grape vines should be stressed, with dry conditions that force the roots to go deeper in the soil to find water. Ideal conditions for wine grapes are sunny, dry days and cool nights, and the more variation of temperature between nights and days the better! The term for this is called “diurnal shift,” and the places that boast the most variation in temperature are at higher altitudes.
You’ll find some of the most sought after wines in the world are from these areas: from the foothills of the alps in northern Italy, to the steep banks of the Mosel River in Germany, to the rocky hillsides of Sonoma in California. The Jumilla region is Spain is also surrounded by mountain ranges, and from higher elevation vineyards the grapes for this week’s featured wine are harvested.
I am a big fan of Infinito from Ego Bodegas, a blend of Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petite Verdot. The 2015 vintage is a big wine, about 15% ABV, but it’s delicious. Pull the cork and you’ll enjoy bold flavors of blackberry, dark cherry and plum; it’s got licorice and spice, too, but it’s not flabby. The grapes for Infinito were harvested from 40 year old vineyards more than 3000 feet high, so this wine has a crisp finish which balances the fruitiness, and will stand up to any dish, while being a superb sipper, too. This is a 90 point wine that you can find for $10 locally. It’s an unbelievable bargain!
On my five cork scale based on taste and value the 2015 Infinito red blend from Ego Bodegas gets 4.25 corks. I was very pleasantly surprised by this wine, considering the price, and I think you will be too.
If you’d like to try interesting wines like this, please join me at our next private wine party at Sorrento’s Norwood Italian! I host a wine dinner there every month, and we feature several interesting wines, each paired with a delicious course. There are always cool prizes to win, too, so listen Wednesday at 4:15 to win your spot on the guest list, click here for a chance to win, or lock-in your reservation now by calling Sorrento’s at 513.531.5070. Just $50 per person gets you a three-course chef-prepared wine dinner! Must be 21 to enter.
