Naughty Popes and Wild Geese

In an effort to do a little catch-up, I'm just going to briefly add two wines that we had mid-week at home. No time to try and find any deep, dark and juicy info - this time.

747. 2006 Donatella Cinelli Colombini - Leone Rosso (IGT Tuscany - Italy)

With a rampant red lion being featured on the label ("Red Lion" being the translation of "Leone Rosso"), this should be a natural fit for an old time Deke like me. I may not fit most of the shirts, featuring the Deke Lion, that I used to have back in university days, but at least I can have some rampant lion in my glass.

This is a Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese and Merlot from a fairly new winery - at least by Italian standards. Set up in 1998, both the proprietor and the vineyards have long pedigrees in Tuscan lore. Donatella Cinelli Colombini was born into and worked for many years in her family's Brunello estate before she set out to create her own winery. She's also been in the forefront of the "wine tourism movement" in Italy and has used the history of her two wineries to great advantage.

Leone Rosso is made at the Fattoria del Cole winery in the Chianti region and the property's storied history involves a 12th Century hermitage, a rumoured love affair involving a future Pope and the owner's wife, heretics, excommunication and confiscation and that doesn't even cover the re-emergence of the lands as a famous hunting lodge for the rich and famous - including the Emperor of Austria (who was rumoured to womanize to great extent on the estate). Makes you want to just tour the lands and pop a cork.

Not being a huge fan, in general, of Chianti, the Merlot fleshed out the wine and there was no problem finishing off the bottle along with our spaghetti and meatballs.

748. 2007 Wild Goose - Stoney Slope Riesling (VQA Okanagan Valley)

Wild Goose may not have quite as rambunctious a history as to include Popes and Emperors, but they do have quite an accomplished story when it comes to white wines in BC. I can't say that Boo and I drink much Wild Goose and that's likely a shame. I suppose it's because it's often quite difficult to get your hands on their prized Gewurztraminers and Rieslings - and the fact that we don't tend to drink much Gewurtz in any event.

We grabbed this bottle after a BC Wine Appreciation Society tasting that featured the winery. The winery then went on to be named Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest in 2009. Quite the accomplishment!

I think I might need to grab a few more bottles.