It's Wine Blogging Wednesday: Think Small

When I first read the theme for this month's WBW, I began to fret. Small production wines can be tough to find, and even when you find them, they can carry a hefty price tag. Fortunately, I found one and it's price is reasonable. Spann Vineyards Mo Jo Russian River Valley 2001 is a wine with 245 case production, so it definitely qualifies. This wine is a blend of 64% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 4% Syrah and 3% Petite Sirah. The winemakers say it's modeled after a Super Tuscan, and while I don't have much experience with Super Tuscans (but I'm willing to learn!), the wine is certainly super. The color is a beautiful garnet, and the nose is bright with notes of licorice, perhaps. A most pleasant bouquet of aromas. The palate is very fruit forward with a nice balance of acidity and the tannins come roaring in at the end--but not harshly. It has a nice long fruity finish. At $30 a bottle, it's not an inexpensive wine, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to friends. We actually sampled the wine this evening during my wine class's "final exam" where we meet at a local wine shop, everyone chips in, and we buy a bunch of great wines to try. We sampled everything from Alsatian Rieslings to a premiere cru Burgundy to a South African Blend and a German eiswein. The Mo Jo was quite popular (although not one Austin Powers joke was to be heard), and I think the students might have taken a bottle or two home with them. Of course, the wines were wonderful, but that's for another post tomorrow perhaps. If you're looking for something off the beaten path, Mo Jo is worthy of your consideration.