A blend of 30% Corvina, 30% Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 10% Rossignola, Oseleta, Negrara, and Dindarella…not sure how the maths works.
This is a like-it-or-hate-it wine. Give it a glass or two and I think it will grow on you, as it did me.
It’s rather powerful as it is made with grapes that have been dried to the point of raisins almost.
Although there is still a good wack of fresh fruit on the palate, it is rather concentrated with a good dose of acidity and sturdy tannins almost to the point of being a rather rustic style of wine.
In the glass, a rich ruby red glowed and was rather transparent concentrating the depth of flavour.
On the nose aromas of old wood, dark cherries and rich dark brown tobacco wrapped around ripe red berries.
In the mouth, dark cherries, oak and tobacco, cleansing acidity and balanced robust tannins finish with a fresh date and dark soil whiff that flows over the palate.
At five years of age, it still had a few years ahead of it however I thought it was drinking well now!
This wine needs food to bring out its best, I enjoyed it with pasta in a rich red tomato and beef sauce and of course, the obligatory crusty bread smothered with creamy butter.
That created harmony and balance with the tannins and acid in the wine.
I must state that I found the first half a glass a bit challenging at first then as the wine opened up it had an appealing almost elegant side to the dry finish on a wine that I did enjoy.
This is a wine for lovers of simple Italian food and wine.
Michael Lillis
