Bonnie Brae Wine & Liquor Mart
785 S. University Boulevard • Denver, CO 80209
Phone: (303) 733-7261

Villa Antinori
– Firenze, Italy

“Ancient roots play an important role in our philosophy, but they have never held back our spirit of innovation.” “Santa Cristina,” is a unique blend of the traditional Sangiovese enhanced with Merlot, but fashioned in a very forward, fruity, early and easy drinking style.”

The Monthly Selection

2007 Antinori “Santa Cristina” 

This wine has ruby red color with purple hues; vibrant, ripe fruit on the nose with nice floral hints; fresh palate, well-structured, soft and harmonious. The tannins are soft and sweet, with a lingering fruit in the finish This is an easygoing red, with clean black fruit and mineral character. The Wine Spectator describes it as, “Clean and fruity red, with ripe blackberry fruit and citrus character; lots of fresh fruit on the palate; well structured, harmonious, soft and very pleasing.”

Winemaker Notes: Santa Cristina was originally introduced in 1946 as a Chianti Classico by Piero Antinori's father, Niccolo. However, with the passage of the 1984 DOCG laws – spearheaded by Piero Antinori – requiring lower vineyard yields, Chianti Classico grapes became so complex and rich that they required more aging than this fruity fresh wine should have to maintain its style and character. Therefore, with the 1987 vintage, Santa Cristina moved away from the Chianti Classico designation, and with the 1994 vintage Antinori began including 10% Merlot to the blend to add soft, open fruit nuances to the wine. Santa Cristina is ruby red in color with purple hues; intense fresh fruit aromas and pleasant floral hints; well-structured, soft and harmonious; sweet tannins and lingering fruit in the finish.

Regular Price $9.99 Web Special $7.99

The Antinori Story

The Antinori family has been making wine for over six hundred years, since Giovanni di Piero Antinori became part of the Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri in 1385. Throughout its long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land. Today Marchese Piero Antinori is director of the company, assisted by his three daughters, Albiera, Allegra and Alessia, who are personally involved in the business. The qualities of tradition, passion and instinct have made Antinori one of the leading Italian producers of fine quality wines. As the family states, “Every vintage, every terroir, every idea is a new beginning, a new quest to raise our quality margins.” As Marchese Piero loves to repeat: “Ancient roots play an important role in our philosophy, but they have never held back our spirit of innovation”. As well as the family's traditional heritage of estates in Tuscany and Umbria, investments have been made over time in other areas highly suited to quality wine production – in Italy and abroad – in a quest to promote new terroirs rich in winegrowing potential. Among other holdings, Antinori has forged an important partnership at Col Solare with Ch. Ste Michelle, in Washington State, at Atlas Park in Napa, California, and has made acquisitions in Chile and even Hungary.

Antinori continually experiment with their vineyards and cellars, with selections of native and international clones, growing methods, vineyard altitudes, fermentation methods and temperatures, traditional and modern vinification techniques, types of wood, size and age of barrels, and various bottle-ageing periods.

The wine we are featuring this month, is the “Santa Cristina,” a unique blend of the traditional Sangiovese with Merlot, but fashioned in a very forward, fruity, early and easy drinking style. Named after Antinori's Santa Cristina estate in Chianti Classico, Santa Cristina was originally introduced in 1946 as a Chianti Classico by Piero Antinori's father, Niccolò. However, with the passage of the 1984 DOCG laws – actually spearheaded by Piero Antinori – which required lower vineyard yields, Chianti Classico grapes then became so complex and rich that the new DOCG wines required more aging than Antinori intended for this fruity fresh wine in order for it to maintain its style and character. Therefore, with the 1987 vintage, Santa Cristina moved away from the Chianti Classico designation, designating it instead, Toscana - Indicazione Geografica Tipica (Red Wine from Tuscany). Then, with the 1994 vintage Antinori began including 10% Merlot to the blend to add soft, open fruit nuances to the wine. Santa Cristina is billed as an "everyday" wine, but has both stood the test of time in terms of keeping a consistent high-quality taste, and also remained a low-price value, despite the consistently positive reviews that would normally nudge up the cost. The wine shares many qualities with young Chianti, as it is – after all – a Sangiovese. It is a dry wine. But it has some nice subtle complexities of tannins and dark, dark fruit. It doesn't need to open up too much, which is to be expected. At under $10, it's a steal… drink it now, as this wine doesn't need to be cellared.

December 2009 SPECIAL FEATURES

Kenwood Vineyards - Sonoma County, CA
• 2007 "Sonoma" Sauvignon
  Blanc