Osteria in Arezzo (Photo credit: Monica Arellano-Ongpin)
Over the past few nights in Italy I've come across both the 2007 and 2008 Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Rosso both in Rome at the imaginative Glass Hostoria and last night at Ristorante Osteria del Teatro in Foligno (where I'm going back again tonight).
While the 07 at Glass Hostoria was closed and could have shown better with decanting, the 2008 was an immediate hit out of the bottle. The blend of mostly Sangiovese and a bit of Sagrentino was stunning, with amazingly lively flavors of cherries and berries, plums and cassis. It was mouthfilling and generous in fruit, soft in tannins as it rolled gently off the tounge. The 07 was the opposite. Due to it being served improperly, the wine was closed, austere and lean, and wasn't ready for a full hour after it was opened, and sadly, that wasn't until the third and final course, meaning it was my dessert. Once it opened it was oppulent and full, and in reality a more complex, but not better wine than the currently available 2008. Both are enjoyable, but for near term drinking based on those two bottles go with the 2008. For longer term aging, go with the 2007.
For me, this wine is a solid replacement for Chianti Classico or Cotes du Rhone reds...
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