An intriguing IGT with a beautiful bottle that divulges its secrets over time…
Name: Diadema
Vintage: 2009
Producer: Diadema Wine & Champagne, SRL
Region/Country: Tuscany, Italy
Grape Varietal(s): 75% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet, 10% Merlot, 5% Syrah
Consumed: June 24, 2016 at home
Recommended By: A good friend (we received it as a wedding gift)
Cost: N/A
Bottle Presentation: Distinctive, blingy, and, beautiful (in the eye of the beholder, of course). It reminded us of a diva.
Appearance: Medium-dark ruby
Nose: Cooked fruit (berries, plums), wood, chocolate, vanilla, black licorice, and Christmas spices
Taste: Tannic, tart, wood, vanilla, chocolate, cooked fruit, coffee, and spices.
Finish: More intense alcohol and fruit at the start, but petered out at the end, leaving wood, tannins, and alcohol.
Overall Impression: A big, interesting wine, with emergent complexity. Different notes and tastes emerged, depending on the food pairing. We had it with grilled filet mignon, which rounded out and balanced the wine, resulting in coffee, chocolate, and wood notes. By way of comparison, with the asparagus and parmesan cheese, it became more acidic. The sweet potato fries and garlic aioli brought out Christmas spices. Granted, it did not pair as well with the Magnum mini double caramel, dark chocolate covered ice cream bar; the sweetness of the Diadema disappeared in favour of earth and wood. Although we enjoyed this wine now, you could probably cellar it for a few more years, leaving one to wonder about what else would emerge.
Rating (from 70 to 100): 90/100
Value: n/a