1998 Vincenzo Cesani Luenzo

[RAD]

I'm in love. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

Stunning, sybaritic, downright salacious sangiovese. Clear, deep and dark garnet color. Sweet cherry nose, thick and unctuous on the palate with some vanilla, good acidity, and firm tannins. Solid 30-second finish lingers like a frog in your throat. 14% alcohol and not the slightest hint of hotness. Wonderful balance.

I first tried this wine about a month ago upon the recommendation of a guy at Italian Wine Merchants here in NYC; picked up a bottle for around $28 and was blown away. Couldn't get any more, as I'd already reached (okay, exceeded!) my monthly wine budget. Went back a month later to discover if my original impression was accurate, only to find it 86ed. By chance happened to spot a bottle at Crossroads on 14th Street, and scrounged the entire store for 3 more bottles, all for $28.

No record of this producer that I could find on Wine Spectator. No idea of # of cases produced after searching the Web.

But if you can find it, buy it--you won't be disappointed.

RAD