Italian Merlot From Volcanic Soil

Famiglia Cotarella is in Lazio, located along the central part of the front of Italy's "boot," overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. It's where Rome is. The volcanic soils in the region is what attracted the Cotarella family to the place. They figured they could make a good Merlot from grapes grown there. And they did.

The grapes for the 2020 Cotarella Sodale Merlot were crushed on their skins for nearly two weeks. Then they were fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in oak barrels for ten months. 

This wine is colored dark ruby and shows a ring of deep purple around the edge of the glass. The nose features plenty of ripe, red fruit and a trace of earthy salinity. On the palate, the fruit stands out, while savory oak notes, such as cedar, vanilla and tobacco, drift in towards the end of the sip. The tannins are quite firm and ready to be given a steak on which to work. The finish is lengthy and holds the savory aspect longer than the fruit. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X or on Bluesky