QPR ALERT:

Whenever we showcase a wine that represents a great value, we issue a special QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Alert. This wine deserves this special recognition

SECRET SAVINGS ALERT:

Subscribe to our Daily Dispatch (above) and you’ll always know what our Top Secret coupon code of the day is. Every day we issue a new members-only code that entitles you to have Ground Shipping included and, sometimes, an added discount!

Mission Codename: Tuscany, California

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Sausal Winery and secure their 2007 Sangiovese for our Operatives around the world

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Sausal Winery

Wine Subject: 2007 Sausal Family Winery Sangiovese

Winemaker: Dave Demostene

Backgrounder: Our Operatives have been eagerly awaiting our return to Sausal, and today we have procured a limited allocation of their fantastic 2007 Alexander Valley Sangiovese, a wine that delivers a fantastic drinking experience – especially for its low price.

Varietal Backgrounder: The most widely planted grape in all of Italy, Sangiovese is used in everything from blended inexpensive table wines like Chianti, to the finest Super Tuscans. Italian immigrants introduced this varietal to the U.S. in the 1800’s. First plantings of this grape in the Sonoma County region were legendary and today, some of the most exciting California Sangiovese are found there. For today’s wine, Agent Red received a secret dispatch from most trusted confidential informants. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes on this great wine, followed by his mission report, to learn more about today’s old-world-in-California wine

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deeply dark red, with black cherry hues with clarity through its darkening heart. At the edges of the wine, a band of ruby rings the glass. On swirling, the wine leaves behind skinny, wine-stained legs that start high on the glass.

Smell – Leads with smoky black cherry, softly burnt plum, burnt sugar, oak, crushed dried violets, clove and a hint of tomato stem.

Feel – Soft and round at the very tip of the tongue, then the wine gradually reveals fine tannins as a soft dryness spreads around the entire palate. Eventually, the palate is left with an overall mineral dryness that puckers the lips and drys the tongue and cheeks.

Taste – Sweet and tart at the same time, the wine leads with smoked cherry, dried red flower petals, dusky blackberry, black tea, young strawberry, subtle dark mixed spice and minerals.

Finish – This wine starts sweet and then goes tart and smoky as the soft tannins gradually dry the mouth as minerals and dark spice support the long and gradual tailing off of flavors.

Conclusion – Once again, Sausal impresses us – deeply – with the fantastic value of their wonderfully delicious wines. We were lucky to have featured their Zinfandels, earlier this year, and our Operatives purchased the wines in record numbers. When I tasted today’s 2007 Sangiovese, I knew that I needed to procure as many cases as possible. This wine packs in a ton of flavor, with bold fruit that shines through with additional flavors of spice, dried flowers and black tea. Pair this wine with anything bold or hearty. A grilled steak, spicy pasta or pizza would all be easy matches with this wonderful wine. If you love great Sangiovese, this budget-minded wine delivers big!

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Dave Demostene

WINE EDUCATION: After graduating from Cal Poly and completing the wine enology program at Davis, I worked for 17 years with my father who was a winemaker

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Sausal Winery, Winemaker since 1973

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: The less you do to the wine the better

WINEMAKER QUOTE: It takes good grapes to make good wine

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 1974

WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Dave. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

DAVE: You’re welcome!

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

DAVE: I grew up in the wine business, watching and helping my father make wine… this was way before it was popular. It was just our way of life then: Growing grapes and making wine.

RED: And where did you learn the most about winemaking?

DAVE: I learned by watching my father and in those days if someone made a good wine you’d ask them how they made it and they would tell you. It was a small industry then and everyone shared what they did or would be happy to help you out.

RED: What is your winemaking style or philosophy?

DAVE: I try to get away from the heavy fruit and high alcohol wines. I like a more balanced wine.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

DAVE: My Dad

RED: How long have you been making wine?

DAVE: I’ve been making wine all my life. I started working in the winery when I was 14 years old, after school and on weekends. I did everything: Shoveling pumice, pumping over, and racking wine.

RED: Who do you make wine for?

DAVE: I make wine that I like and our customers seem to like that too.

RED: Tell me, what makes the Alexander Valley so special?

DAVE: The soil and micro climate make this a good area. We have well drained soil, warm days with cool nights and a breeze that blows through the valley. Perfect growing conditions.

RED: What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone that is considering a career as a winemaker?

DAVE: Get your basics at school, but then find a winery that makes wine you like to get your apprenticeship from. Work a harvest there to learn how its done.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

DAVE: This is a busy time at the winery. The vines are growing so we are watching and tending to them. We are bottling wines that are ready, and topping the barrels of wines that are still maturing.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today

DAVE: Sangiovese is a medium bodied Italian varietal. We planted these 5 acres over 20 years ago on the lower end of the Sausal Ranch. The soil there has great drainage and Sangiovese likes that. The vines were trained on a quadrilateral cordon to increase their sun exposure and help control the vigor of the vine. This allows us to harvest the grapes about mid season at 24 brix with bright fruit. I age this wine in a combination of French and American oak, but mostly neutral barrels. Sangiovese is a delicate wine and I don’t want it to be over powered by oak. The result is lively red wine with bright red fruit and a hint of toasted sweet spice.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

DAVE: Our Sangiovese pairs wonderfully with pastas, pizza and grilled meats, as well as fruit and cheeses. Great for summer dinners. It also pairs well with Thanksgiving dinner.

RED: Please share one thing about yourself that few people know

DAVE: I like to hunt. Mostly pig, deer and elk

RED: What is your favorite ‘everyday’ or table wine?

DAVE: You can’t go wrong with any Sausal Family wine!

RED: How would you recommend that people approach your wines, or wine in general?

DAVE: Our wines are ready to drink when they are released and are made to be enjoyed with food.

RED: If you could choose any one wine to drink (regardless of price or availability), what would it be?

DAVE: Sausal Century Vines Zinfandel. That wine is made from vines that are over 130 years old. It’s soft and elegant. A perfect afternoon sipping wine. For a more value-minded wine, definitely today’s Sausal Sangiovese.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and about your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

DAVE: Thank you very much, and I hope you enjoy our wine.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Sausal winery can be seen in this satellite photo.