2015 Anselmi “San Vincenzo” Veneto, Italy (Alcohol 12.7%) LCBO Vintages $16.95
Over the past five years I have found myself more and more drawn to the delightfully aromatic white wines of northeastern Italy. Whilst I have always had a fond place in my heart for the better wines from Soave, it was only relatively recently that I reappraised Anselmi’s San Vincenzo IGT.
Comprised of some 70% Garganega with the balance being made up of both Chardonnay and Sauvignon, this current 2015 vintage exhibits simply terrific value at $16.95. It’s not a wine that will frighten the horses either, as it’s an easily accessible wine that will appeal to broad spectrum of wine drinkers, from Pinot Grigio sippers to Sauvignon Blanc guzzlers. It’s a really decent mouthful of wine, and is not to be sniffed at.
Speaking of sniffing, this wine is fresh, vibrant, and decidedly floral, with bountiful aromas of pineapple, banana, and passionfruit, as well as a fair bit of grassy herbaceousness. The palate is surprisingly rich for a wine that sees no oak barrels. Texturally the San Vincenzo is quite creamy with a barely perceptible 7g of sugar kept in check with some medium acidity. It’s an undeniably contemporary wine, and actually what I’d call a winemaker’s wine more than anything, but in this case that is no bad thing, as it is immensely enjoyable and goes down in no time.
It’s also incredibly versatile and will pair with all manner of dishes, for me most successfully with creamier pastas (think Carbonara), and medium-spiced Asian dishes (think green/red curries and the like).
(Four stars out of a possible five)
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And while he’s always enjoyed this wine, the 2015 is really rather special.
