Winemaker Notes
Leafy underbrush, new leather, dark berry and chopped herb aromas waft out of the glass. The fresh palate doles out succulent wild cherry, ripe raspberry, white pepper and cinnamon notes, blanketed in smooth, round tannins. A licorice note caps off the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The intensely herbal nose starts with a powerful flash of anise, then softens with notes of fennel, sage, soil and cherries. On the palate, the herbs and cherries create a round, slick texture, but a dusting of bitter cocoa, along with framing tannins and self-assured acid, provide balance.
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James Suckling
Aromas of sour cherries, magnolia berries, fresh nutmeg and walnut husk. Very fresh and delectably tangy fruit character, with fine-grained tannins, crunchy acidity and a medium body.
Italian Red Wine
While picturesque hillsides, endless coastlines and a favorable climate serve to unify the grape-growing culture of this country. The apparent never-ending world of indigenous grape varieties gives Italy an unexampled charm and allure for its red wines. From the steep inclines of the Alps to the sprawling, warm, coastal plains of the south, red grape varieties thrive throughout.
The kings of Italy, wines like Barolo and Barbaresco (made of Nebbiolo), and Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino (made of Sangiovese), as well as Amarone (mostly Corvina), play center stage for the most lauded, collected and cellar-worthy reds. Less popular but entirely deserving of as much praise are the wines made from Aglianico, Sagrantino and Nerello Mascalese.
For those accustomed to drinking New World reds, the south is the place to start. Grapes like Negroamaro or Primitvo from Puglia and Nero d’Avola from Sicily make soft, ammicable, full-bodied, fruit-dominant wines. Curious palates should be on the lookout for Cannonau (Grenache), Lagrein, Teroldego, Ruché, Freisa, Cesanese, Schiopettino, Rossese and Gaglioppo to name a few.