Argiolas Perrera 2001

[ShortWiner]

I think it was 2001--left my notes at home. In any case, I picked this up out of curiousity and because I've enjoyed other Argiolas wines, namely their Costera Rosso Conero. The bottle says it's 100% Monica, a grape which the Oxford Encyclopedia of Wine says may be related to the California Mission and produces unexciting wines. I was undeterred and opened it with a simple pasta with tomato sauce and broccoli.

I liked it quite a bit. It was very dark, nearly black in the glass. Pleasant aroma of plums and cherry. On the tongue, low acid but rather weighty. A nice touch of Southern Italian funk, like a whiff of toast. A very good value for $9, I'd say. And I enjoyed it all the more for the lame description in the Oxford.

Anyone else have experience with Monica?

[Innkeeper]

Are you sure Monica isn't a California Vixen?

This is the description I found: Minor grape native to Sardinia. Made into both a dry, red wine and also a sweet, spicy red wine. Thought by some to be the antecedent of the Mission grape of early California fame.

[ShortWiner]

I don't remember knowing any vixens named Monica, but I could be wrong. Have to ask my wife.

I forgot to mention spice: it was a little spicy, quite pleasingly so, though made in the dry style.

[Botafogo]

SW, Rosso Conero is a DOC in the Marche, a LONG way from Sardegna.....the Costera is a Cannonau di Sardegna.

We like Monica too, it has really good moutfeel!

Roberto

[ShortWiner]

Yeah, as I wrote that about the Costera I was wondering just how it could be. I was confusing two restaurant experiences. Cannonau it is!

And yes, the mouthfeel was a highlight.

[Thomas]

Monica! Wasn't she originally from Claifornia, before she went to the live in Washington DC?

[winoweenie]

ERASED!ww

[hotwine]

I'm tryin' REAL hard to keep my mouth shut...

[ShortWiner]

Ditto. I've censored myself several times over already. All I know is, the Monica I tried had great body and--OK, I'M STOPPING!

[This message has been edited by ShortWiner (edited 07-14-2003).]

[Georgie]

[img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Thomas]

My apartment in NYCity is just two blocks from the real Monica's place--trouble is, I ain't got no need for interns--yet.