Morellino di Scansano is Tuscany’s best-kept secret

Philippines wine supplier Manila wine shop discusses wine by the grape variety Sangiovese.

Date: October 4, 2010

You may never have had a Morellino di Scansano (maw-reh-LEE-noh dee skahn-SAH-noh), but if you’re a fan of Chianti, this is a wine you should try. Morellino is a grape that is technically a strain of Sanvgiovese (call it a “kissing cousin”), which is the main grape in Chianti. Chianti is a wine area inside the Italian region of Tuscany; Scansano is a village situated on a mountain ridge in the heart of Maremma, which is an area in the southernmost part of Tuscany — way, way south of Chianti, south of Montalcino, and about 20 miles east of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its hot weather, valley views, and proximity to the coast and beaches make it more famous to tourists as a vacation spot than wine country. However, those same factors make it an ideal place for vineyards, and there’s no doubt that serious wines are coming out of this popular summer getaway.

Interesting wines begin with grapes. Long, hot growing seasons (such as those that occur in Scansano) allow grapes to fully ripen with high sugar levels and in turn produce wines rich in fruit and solid in structure. In other words: the hotter, the better. When you consider that very good wines come from Chianti in the north of Tuscany, and deeper, richer wines come from the more southern town of Montalcino, you can begin to understand the potential of vines grown in Scansano — the deep, deep south. And the potential is already beginning to be realized, as some of the top Chianti and “Super Tuscan” producers are buying into the area with plans to bottle the next great cult wines.

Until that time, Morellino di Scansano wines stand out as a tremendous value. Take for example “Vivaio del Barbi,” which is produced by the Fattoria dei Barbi winery. The 1999 vintage has an expressive, attractive nose with black cherry, plum and black fruit aromas, along with a definite vegetal element (green peppers?) and some earthy hints. On the palate you immediately taste rich, ripe black cherry and berry flavors that blend into a pleasant tartness. Tannins are soft at first, then firm up in the lengthy, balanced finish, which exudes ample acidity and a final punch of black fruit. To REALLY enjoy this wine, pour out an extra glass and set it aside for a half hour or so while you’re drinking the first. Giving the wine a chance to “breathe” will bring out even deeper, more earthy aromas and a complex, delicious array of flavors. This little trick will give you a wine that compares favorably to an expensive “Super Tuscan,” at about one-half or one-third the price! I matched this wine successfully with a simple plate of pasta and sausage in marinara sauce. The wine’s firm acidity and rich cherry fruit meld perfectly with this and a variety of other dishes.

Since Morellino di Scansano is Tuscany’s best-kept secret, it may be difficult to find in places other than top wine shops (don’t look for it in gas stations or places where beer and plastic-bottled vodka take up most of the floor space). The benefit of this is that when you do find a Morellino, it’s bound to be of good quality; importers can’t make money on wines that are both unknown and of low quality. This example from the Barbi winery is a great find, but if you don’t see it, you can rely on labels that say Erik Banti, Le Pupille or Moris Farms. And expect to pay — hold your seat — about 12 to 17 bucks, which is a downright outrageous value.

Source: http://www.bullz-eye.com/wine_reviews/2003/morellino_di_scansano.htm

Leading Philippines Wine Supplier Yats Wine Cellars based in Clark Philippines with outlets in Angeles City, Subic Freeport and Manila Philippines has been not only a wine shop for fine wines covering all major wine regions but also a source of reliable and useful information about wine, wine appreciation, wine accessories, wine and health, food and wine pairing and all other matters relating to wine and its appreciation. This Philippines Clark Freeport based Wine Supplier and Wine Shop frequently holds public wine tasting events in Pampana Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Subic Bay area, Makati, Fort Bonifacio and other areas in Philippines capital city Manila. Private Wine events such as private wine tasting and private wine dinners are also designed and organized for private clientele for their wine loving guests.

This wine shop in Angeles Clark Philippines is also renowned for a very unique product called Vintage Beer which many characterize as “Champagne beer” because it comes in a bottle with a Champagne stopper and metal restrainer. Vintage beers are top-of-the-line luxury beers bottle-conditioned for a slow fermentation to take place inside the bottle, a process that is very similar to Champagne which is designed to not only create the bubbles but also for an amazing complexity and depth of flavors.

For fans of Port and Sauternes, this wine shop in Clark Pampanga has a large selection of vintage port, Sauternes and Barsac as well as Eiswein/Icewine from Austria and Germany. Likewise, there is a good selection of Vintage Champagne at the wine shoppers’ disposal in the cellars of this wine shop in Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

For inquires and reservations, contact us here

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.