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CorsaVino Wine Review

Screen shot 2010 10 26 at 3 thumb.15.11 PM1 CorsaVino Wine ReviewOrdinarily, the phrase ‘Motorcycle Inspired Wines’ would be cause for some concern, prompting thoughts of a bouquet redolent of cooked synthetic engine oil, brake fluid or perhaps even the funk of hot, gummed up tires still cooling from a track session. Not to worry however because the wine in question is CorsaVino and the motorcycles that inspired it are Italian and start with the letter ‘D’.

CorsaVino founder Arun Sharma teamed up with vintner Rich Cushman to produce the range of wines inspired by his passion for Italian motorcycles. These fine machines are for him the embodiment of craftsmanship, artistry and savoring the moment. Originally “not much of a drinker”, many trips to Italy exposed Arun to the passion of winemaking and the ritual of slowing down to share a fine wine with friends.

index 2 0 thumb CorsaVino Wine Review

The Italian winemakers’ obsession with detail and the quality of each component – all ultimately for the purpose of enjoying life – resonated deeply with his appreciation for Italian motorcycles. Thus inspired, it was an unforeseen but natural journey to blend these shared passions… and capture them in a bottle.

The CorsaVino site offers 4 different wines for sale (one is sold out) ranging from $24 to $29 per bottle, namely a Viognier and two reds, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Syrah. Although we make no claim as qualified wine tasters, my wife and I sat down recently to sample the two reds solely for your interest and edification!

Screen shot 2010 10 26 at 3 thumb.13.31 PM CorsaVino Wine ReviewCorsaVino Colombia Valley Syrah 2005, $27

CorsaVino says:

Syrah from two vineyards on the Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley was selected to craft this deeply luscious wine. Cold soaking prior to fermentation helped extract aroma and flavor components without creating an aggressive character. The wine saw 30 months barrel aging in one and two-year-old French oak barrels, adding a wonderful roundness and elegance and making it immediately ready to drink.

The bouquet releases toasty oak notes over deep blackberry and plum fruits, followed by coffee and tobacco tones. The entry is richly supple yet well structured, with flavors matching the nose through a deliciously long finish. True to its inspiration: a bold Syrah with finesse.

Ducati News Today says:

If you like most of us, you are often swayed on unknown wine by the label you’ll like this one! The label shows a Ducati 1098 Superbike cranking through a turn whilst escaping from the fading city backdrop. After growing up on Australian reds, Syrah is one of my favorite reds. This one is ruby in color and for us the nose was expansive with plenty of fruity overtones including boysenberry hints. To taste, the balance between the French oak and the fruit was very good and we enjoyed the long, finish. Definitely an enjoyable wine and something to recommend for a Ducati inspired occasion.

CorsaVino Il Mostro Rosso 2005, $29

CorsaVino says:

Premium fruit from three vineyards in Washington’s Tri-Cities area and minimal handling resulted in this beautifully structured, classically styled Cabernet. The wine rested 20 months in the barrel (45% new French oak and 15% new American oak). The resulting deep oak spice backs rich cassis and blackberry fruit characters, sweet cigar and violets. A long, balanced finish with beautiful acidity makes this an excellent food and special occasion wine. Decant and drink now, or lay down to savor for a future occasion.

Ducati News Today says:

If you’ve been reading the site for awhile, you’ll know of my love for the Ducati Monster, so naming the wine Il Monstro Rosso (the red monster) is a good start. Unfortunately this was as good as it got for this wine. Crimson in color this cabernet had no appreciable nose. To taste it started well, but the finish was furry and oak was the only predominant flavor, almost nothing was left of the fruit to taste. To be fair, I would think it more likely to be an issue with this particular bottle than with the wine itself, since our experience and the description were so divergent. In contrast the Syrah was true to its described form. Given that, I’m prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt.

There is no such hesitation on the Syrah however. Sure, you can buy similar quality wine for less, but that isn’t the point. CorsaVino offers wines tied to our Ducati passion and is just another way to express ourselves. Enjoy the Syrah with some like minded friends. As Arun says on his site, Salute!

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Thanks to CorsaVino provided the Colombia Valley Syrah and the Il Mostro Rossi Cabernet for this review.


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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 28th, 2010 at 2:00 am and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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