About the Wine: This one is going to be kind of a cheat. I went to a better wine store than the one where I work and talked to a very qualified wine consultant who, after a long discussion of my tastes, picked this bottle for me. Such is the benefit of talking to qualified professionals rather than just picking up something with a pretty label.
About THIS Wine: It is crimson in the glass with a distinct, violet rim. Blackberry and cherry are very prominent on the nose along with hints of tomato. I find the tomato smell common in Italian wine and I usually like the wines where I find it. The palate is quite spicy with layers of red fruit that make for a very nice drinking experience. It finishes with slightly dry cherry.
Drinking This Wine: The salesman gave me this as a pasta wine, but I actually prefer it as a sipper. It is both too light and too spicy for pasta. By itself it is full, flavorful, and pleasant.
Overall Impression: This is great wine. If it was a less obscure varietal, a Cab or even a Zinfandel, it would go for twenty dollars easily. At fourteen it is a steal.
by Ben Stiebel
