This is the first post of a new series I’m starting on oddball wines. I thought I’d start in Italy, which is full of indigenous grape varieties that are produced in a small region and hardly anywhere else. This is one of those: Lagrein. Have you ever had one? Ever heard of it?
La Vis Dipinti Lagrein 2007
Producer: La Vis
Grapes: Lagrein. La-what? It’s a red grape variety from the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Italy that is related to Teroldego. It’s pronounced Lah-GRAYN (hear it here).
Appellation: DOC Trentino, in northeastern Italy up near the Austrian border. Thirty years ago, red wines accounted for 80% of Trentino’s vineyard land, but today it’s down to 40%, with Merlot being the most common red grape (Chardonnay is the most planted white). However, the indigenous grapes are hanging on. [Info from The World Atlas of Wine
Winemaking: Spends only 2 months in oak.
Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: $11.77 at Spec’s in Austin
My tasting notes: Dark color, though not opaque. I get dusty plum and cherry fruit on the nose, with a substantial Old World swampy/barnyardy stink. There’s something a bit wild to the fruit aromas, too. Interesting. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and starts off sharp and angular (though not necessarily in a bad way), with under-ripe raspberry flavors, light minerality and grippy tannins. A cranberry tartness and prickly acidity linger on the finish. I came back to this wine after it was open for about 48 hours and it was drinking very nicely. The acidity and tannins had softened a bit and the fruit was more evident on the palate. It paired well with a sausage, kale and white bean soup.
Overall impression: Not straight-up delicious, but really interesting and food-friendly. Worth it just for the geek-cred you’ll earn for trying this uncommon grape variety. B
Free association:
More info:
Tech sheet, which doesn’t state the vintage, so assume the specs are approximate.
Gary Vaynerchuk did a WLTV episode on Lagrein wines (though not this bottle).
Apparently, outside of Trentino-Alto Adige, Lagrein has developed a small foothold in Australia. And there is also an Oregon winery (with an Aussie winemaker), Amaranth Ridge, that is growing some. (Thanks, Wikipedia!)
Another blogger’s review at Melodic Fermentables.
Yes, I’ve had a Lagrein…exactly one. It was interesting; made by monks. It wasn’t rocking my world or anything, but it was a tasty wine that went great with food. I imagine that you’re on the same kick that I’m on…trying all sorts of weird grapes. It helps when you have two awesome wine shops that direct import a ton of cool, random, stuff–Wine Expo and K&L.
http://www.vivalawino.com/2009/04/2007-convento-muri-gries-lagrein.html
Yes, I’m on an oddball kick (but I kind of always am, really). I went to Spec’s and asked the guy for the most unusual wines he could recommend. Stay tuned for others…
By the way, for my Austin readers, the guy at Spec’s I’m referring to in the comment above is Jim Cubberley at the 290/Brodie location (4970 Hwy 290 West). If you shop that store and want some recommendations, he’s the guy to ask.
not sure if you got my earlier comment, but I just wanted to reiterate that I LOVE the organization of your blog – I appreciate the flow of the info and the categorization you provide.
Thanks very much – I’m glad you like it. As a researcher by profession, this is the way my brain works.
And thanks for adding me to your blogroll.
(I did not get your earlier comment.)