2006 Monte Antico Super Tuscan

This bottle was picked up as an afterthought at Aficionado. I was scoring a last minute Christmas gift for my wife (a "wine chick" shirt) when I noticed the wine on the display usually reserved for specials. Owner Steve Parks let me know if was a great bargain. He termed it a "baby Tuscan." I'm grateful for the tip.

The Super Tuscans are some of the most prized wines from Italy, blending Cabernet and Merlot with the traditional grapes of Italy to produce some amazing blends. The "baby" refers only to the price, a very reasonable $12, because the taste is truly super.

This was named as one of Wine Spectator's top 100 wines of 2009 and is an outrageously good value.The wine is 75 percent Sangiovese, 15 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. It is made from old vines -- 25-year-old minimum.

The year of 2006 was superb for Sangiovese and it shines through in this wine. We decanted this bottle and it was quite a contrast to the supple McManis Merlot we enjoyed just before. The Monte Antico has plum flavor notes in addition to berries. It also has smokiness and a nice tannic backbone. It's a nice wine to experience as it has several layers that unfold as you continue to enjoy the wine.

This is a truly the "full Monte."

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