Pizzini is a producer from the King Valley in northern Victoria and their sangiovese is generally a safe bet.  But the 2011 vintage was not a kind one in the region, and not in fact the vintage I had ordered off the restaurant list, but that is another story.  Significant rain, disease pressure and very slow ripening conditions created difficulties for red wine grapes in the King Valley in 2011.  And so it is that the 2011 vintage of Pizzini’s sangiovese falls short of its usual standard.  Aromatically, it is more oak than earth, with unexpected popcorn butter notes.  The palate too appeared to be oak dominant, with some savoury acid edges.  Its ameliorating feature is some quite good length, but overall, the impression is of a struggle to make something out of a lesser vintage.  Acceptable

Abv: Not recorded.
Price: $25
Vendors: Check http://www.wine-searcher.com/
Website: http://www.pizzini.com.au
Tasted: 2012