Falesco Vitiano

Ridiculously dark black-ruby color. Pretty aromas of cassis, black plum and earth, with a pronounced vanilla presence that does not overpower the fruit. Rich and densely packed, with distinctly ripe flavors of black fruits, raisin and chocolate lifted by an intriguing balsamic vinegar note. This finishes lighter than it starts, with welcome acidity nicely delineating the borderline-overripe fruit. Finishes creamy and long. This is a lot of wine for the money, and the best Vitiano in years, far removed from some astringent versions of recent memory.

The 2007 Vitiano (Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) is a soft-textured, caressing red that blossoms on the palate with layers of perfumed red fruit and sweet French oak. This is an especially seamless and beautiful Vitiano that is particularly rewarding for its textural richness. Vitiano is typically bottled in several lots, all of which undergo malolactic fermentation in French oak. This is the first lot (0922) to be bottled. According to proprietor Riccardo Cotarella, the bottle variation that occasionally shows up in Vitiano is most likely attributable to the different amounts of time the various lots spend in bottle prior to arriving on the market. 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.

I can’t think of a better all-purpose table red than Falesco Vitiano — you can enjoy it with pizza, pasta, chicken, steak, burgers and even antipasto. But not only is this wine amazing with food, it’s also rich and smooth and is delicious all on its own! A medium- to full-bodied red blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Sangiovese, the Vitiano boasts copious amounts of ripe red fruit, bold spice and a smidge of toasty oak.