I pulled this dusty old bottle from my cellar one night while having dinner with friends. I am a fan of the Outer Coastal Plain and Tomasello produces more than 45 wines of varying types. Most notable among them are their Palmaris label, a line of fine, quality wines. This wine was from a different series, but still one of a quality line of wines.
Tomasello Winery is a winery located in Hammonton in Atlantic County, New Jersey, and is the second-oldest active winery in the state. Their first vineyard was planted in 1888. The winery opened its doors to the public in 1933. Tomasello is one of the largest winegrowers in New Jersey. Tomasello operates outlet stores in six New Jersey towns – Chester, Freehold, Lambertville, Smithville, Cranford, and Wyckoff. Jack and Charlie Tomasello are the 3rd Generation of Tomasellos to grow, make, and sell wine.
They have 70 acres of grapes under vine, and produce 65,000 cases of wine per year. While the winery is in Hammonton, most of the grapes are grown on three vineyards in the neighboring Winslow Township in Camden County. Among the grapes they grow include, Baco Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Catawba, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Colombard, Concord, De Chaunac, Landot noir, Merlot, Muscat blanc, Niagara, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Sangiovese, Seyval blanc, Syrah, Vidal blanc, and others.
The winery's vineyards are part of the Outer Coastal Plain, a very significant AVA on the east coast.
This Tomasello Sangiovese 2011 is an estate wine. The must was fermented to dryness with a yeast strain isolated from a Languedoc terroir. It was then aged 2nd year American oak casks.Young This Sangiovese had lovely notes of strawberry, sour cherry, and spice, with a hint of fallen leaves. Lovely tannins and nice acidity kept this wine fresh and drinkable. I thought I might have kept the wine too long, but instead, the wine was still solid, with lovely color, and tremendous flavor. Complex. Layered. Balanced. A terrific wine that stood its time in the cellar!
Great job Jack, Charlie, and to all the staff at Tomasello!