A Red Umbria, Italy Blend

A Red Umbria, Italy Blend:
Bordeaux and Italian grapes...

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Falesco Vitiano 2008 Umbria Indicazione Geografica Tipica 13.5 % alcohol about $10.

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. “Tasting Note : The 2008 Vitiano Rosso (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese) is a racy, sleek wine that impresses with its layers of perfumed red cherries and sweet toasted oak. The wine offers terrific clarity and precision in a slightly taut, focused style for this offering. A few months of bottle age seems prudent ... Clearly lots that have more time in bottle have the potential to show greater harmony than lots that have less time in bottle. That said, slight bottle variation issues here are a minor quibble for a wine that delivers so much value. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. Score - 89. (Antonio Galloni, at the E Robert Parker web site, Aug. 2009).” And now for my review.

At the first sips this wine offered light acidity but was mouth filling, very round, and long. Japanese rice crackers darkened this wine somewhat; it had good oak. The initial meal consisted of boxed Baked Ziti Siciliano that I embellished with lots of grated Parmesan cheese. Our Umbrian friend thinned out a bit but was very pleasant, even slightly sweet. When paired with fresh strawberries this wine was smoky and long.

This review continues of a Red Umbria, Italy Blend continues on my web site.