Winemaker Notes
This medium-to-full-bodied red is elegant and finely knit, sculpted by lean tannins and fresh acidity. It offers a minerally underpinning of iron and loamy earth, with flavors of ripe red and black currant, dried dill and creamy fig. Delicate ground anise and pepper threads unwind on the lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Darkly alluring, the 2019 Pelago wafts up with a beguiling blend of crushed plums, sage and tobacco, all lifted by sweet smoke. This is pure elegance, silky and enveloping with cooling acidity to balance. A wave of polished red and blue fruits easily flows across the palate. Tart blackberries and hints of citrus resonate as the 2019 finishes long and potent, with staining of minerality that leaves a crunchy sensation as a coating of fine-grained tannins tugs at the cheeks. This is painfully young today yet full of potential. Pelago is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Montepulciano and 10% Merlot refined for fourteen months in French barriques.
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James Suckling
A pleasant, fruity red with blackcurrant and blackberry character that shows nice mineral freshness. Medium-bodied with excellent balance and non-impeding tannins. This exudes clarity and drinkability. Nicely done.
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Wine Enthusiast
First produced in 1997, this Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Montepulciano blend is a rich, dense and concentrated wine that shows well today or will age in the cellar. It opens with Cabernet leading the way with aromas of blackberry, cassis and tobacco as hints of savory herbs and spice quickly follow. Concentrated but with a lift, the palate shows power with some restraint as flavors of plum, coffee and licorice all seamlessly meld together on the long and savory finish.
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Wine Spectator
Ripe black and red currant, olive, sun-dried tomato and cured tobacco notes are framed by light, chalky tannins in this focused red. Medium- to full-bodied and balanced, with a well-spiced and expressive finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano and Merlot. Drink now through 2029.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Stretching along Italy’s eastern coast with neighbors, Umbria to its west and Abruzzo to its south, Marche is a region with a varying climate from north to south. Its coastal plains roll into hills that become the Apennine Mountains, which run the length of the country. The Marche's best red wines come from the grapes, Montepulciano and Sangiovese; the local Verdicchio makes refreshing, crisp and light whites.