Winemaker Notes
Dense garnet red in hue; complex nose offering ripe fruit, leather, tobacco leaf, and spice; dry and austere but very generous in the mouth, displaying an absolutely magisterial structure and a lingering, well-balanced finish.
The weight and elegance of this wine makes it the perfect companion to fine roasts, large game, meats in hearty sauces, and aged cheeses. Serve at cool room temperature after allowing to breathe.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The estate's top-of-the-line 2004 Il Falcone Riserva is 70% Nero di Troia and 30% Montepulciano that spent 12 months in French oak. In this vintage, the Falcone Riserva is awesome. Layers of earthiness, new leather, plums, black cherries and herbs emerge in stunning style as this full-bodied, richly-textured wine shows off its qualities. The wine possesses more than enough density to balance the tannins all the way through to the long finish, where a blast of melted road tar provides the final exclamation point. Simply put, this is a compelling wine from Rivera and certainly among the handful of truly important wines being made today in Puglia. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2019.
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.