Wine of the Week: 2021 Castello Romitorio Toscana
Last week in West Palm Beach, FL, I had a special dinner and catch-up with my Dad at The Park, a restaurant located at the newly renovated public golf course. Fun fact – I used to take lessons there as a kid! The course had fallen into disrepair, but has now been transformed into a world-class public course, open to the whole community. We got to see one of the after-school programs for kids from under-resourced schools, in the community center named after my Dad. Such a treat.
Ok, back to the wine! Dad leans towards reds, and it was a warm evening and I was having snapper, so I wanted something lighter. The wine list wasn't extensive, and I ruled out the heavier Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec options. The Pinot Noir was NOT a favorite, so I went with the Castello Romitorio 2021 Toscana, a Sangiovese from Tuscany. It turned out to be a lovely! Sometimes finding the best wine for the moment is a process of elimination, and that's ok too. Also, apparently Sangiovese comes from the Latin "sanguis Jovis," meaning "blood of Jupiter," a fact I'm now obsessed with because Jupiter is one of my favorite planets and considered the lucky one in astrology (hashtag blessed).
The Breakdown
Looks Like – This has the exact same color and luminescence as...Ocean Spray cranberry sauce, the pillar of scrumptious jelly on the Thanksgiving table. Hopefully this isn’t too niche of a reference, you haven’t lived until you’ve had can-shaped cranberry sauce, a deep shiny red with a hint of purple.
Smells Like – A burst of fresh red cherries smacked me in the face like I said something slick, but I kinda loved it?
Tastes Like – Still more cherries (no such thing as too much, tbh), but also fresh plum and a lil vanilla dark chocolate swirl situation. Definitely fruit forward (again, smack in the face) but balanced with some tartness, not overly sweet. The tannins were smooth, complemented by the fruitiness. Its a younger wine with nice acidity, so it’s still got that youthful freshness to it, no smile lines or crows feet yet.
Next time you want a fresh, fruity, medium bodied red, consider a Toscana. Welcome in Jupiter's abundance and good fortune – you won't be disappointed!
