COLTIBUONO 11 CETAMURA
STEPHEN TANZER 90 POINTS - "Bright light red. Enticing aromas of red cherry, cinnamon, flowers and licorice. Juicy and vibrant in the mouth, with harmonious acidity framing the red fruit, spice and floral flavors. Finishes long and crisp. Great entry-level wine."A blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, the 2011 Cetamura is definitely in our "Best Buy" recommendation category as it's quite tasty for not a lot of money. The nose is a blend of red cherries and fresh raspberry with a touch of earth and sassafras. The palate is chock full of sweet fruit, first dark and plummy then opening to cherry and strawberry. A touch of autumn spice and forward tannins leads to a simple, clean and fruity finish. This is a great Friday night pizza-and-a-movie or mid-week lasagna wine; it's easy drinking, inexpensive but seriously tasty.
Badia a Coltibuono, the "abbey of the good harvest", was founded by the monks of Vallombrosa about a thousand years ago as a place of worship and meditation; at the same time they planted the first vines in the area. In the fifteenth century, Coltibuono had a revival under the patronage of Lorenzo de Medici. In 1810, under Napoleonic rule, the monks were forced to leave Coltibuono. In the following years the property was first sold through a lottery in 1846 and was bought by Michele Giuntini, Florentine banker and ancestor of the present owners.
