I’m a big fan of sangiovese, but most of the time if I’m drinking a sangiovese it’s one from Italy. I just don’t come across a lot of domestic sangiovese, but I’m always curious about it when I do. Perhaps I don’t come across much of it because the market is just too small for it, limiting its distribution and production.
Based on a conversation I had with Kristen Spelletich, the creator of SPELLwine, I might be on to something. She told me that she doesn’t sell a lot of her sangiovese. “And it pisses me off too! Because it’s a super, high acid, good with food wine,” she vented. But that doesn’t prevent her from producing it. Kristen’s attitude toward wine is to create wines that don’t necessarily follow the formula that others use. And it’s working for her.
SPELLwine was created by Kristen after she started working for her parent’s winery, Spelletich Cellars. Actually, her mom does most of the winemaking but it’s guided by Kristen’s palate for this brand. With SPELLwine, Kristen wanted to create a brand that was geared toward millennials. And while the acid trip designs on the labels stand out as something new and different, her perspective on winemaking struck me as rather old school — in a good way. Perhaps old school is the new, new school.
I couldn’t agree more with Kristen about her take on the SPELLwine Lodi sangiovese. It is a great food wine. And it pisses me off that they don’t sell more of this too. It’s a great wine and if you’re not drinking it, you’re missing out.
The nose of this sangiovese is awesome! It has bright cherry aromas along with plenty of spices like nutmeg and clove, all with good intensity. Beneath all that there’s a slight floral aroma lurking behind the corners and adding a touch of intrigue. The palate hits you with outstanding acidity and tasty cherry flavors. The tannins aren’t too heavy but there’s enough to add some texture to the mouth feel. The finish is relatively long, with lingering cherry and raspberry flavors.
I would classify this as a “best of both worlds” wine. It has the acidity and some of the tannins I would expect from an old world sangiovese with the fruit I would expect from a new world producer, but it’s not over the top. It’s a nice balance.
Wine: SPELLwine
Variety: Sangiovese
Vintage: 2007
Alcohol: 14.9%
Rating: 90
Price: $17.00
Find SPELLwine Sangiovese with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.