Nova Vita Firebird Sangiovese 2024
- 92
- $40
- Drink by: 2026-2032
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Sangiovese from the Adelaide Hills which has been co-fermented with small amounts of Pinot Noir. The wine then spent time maturing in a mix of French and Italian oak. The split here is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Pinot Noir. Partial whole clusters are employed in the fermentation, and maturation is in Gamba oak. Gamba oak, I hear you ask? It refers to oak barrels, here a mix of French and Italian, crafted by the Gamba family of Piedmont, coopers now in their 7th generation. Cherry red with a pale purple rim, the nose offers aromas of red fruits, sun dried tomatoes, spices, herbs and charcuterie. A sappy, savoury style with juicy acidity through to fine, if ever-so-slightly chalky tannins. There is decent length here and the wine is pleasingly fresh. For enjoying over the next half dozen years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
