Winemaker Notes
Intense ruby red that tends towards garnet red with aging. On the nose, notes of underbrush berries, typical of the varietal. Dry, full, with evident tannins when young, with age it becomes supple and it reaches an extraordinary harmony.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
The black cherry and fresh earth flavors are sweet and focused in this harmonious, medium-bodied red, accented by black olive, fig bread and dried herb notes, all framed by fine-grained tannins that firm up the finish. Drink now through 2027. Top Value Pick
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.