Sometimes the label on a bottle of wine doesn't offer much more than a blurb designed to sell the product. The sticker on this rosso, though, is a wealth of information. Valle dell'Asso is an Italian wine from Galatina, in the Puglia region - the heel of the boot - this is 85% Negramaro and 15% Montepulciano. It's a red wine I purchased a couple of years ago for about $17 at Rosso Wine Shop in Glendale. The importer is Tesori Wines of San Francisco. The alcohol level is only 13% abv.
This dark wine has black cherry, licorice and clove on the nose, and it's a dank and musty aroma. I mean that in the best possible way. I asked Denise for her opinion on the nose, and she said "It's meaty." I concur.
The word for the taste is "Wow." There's a burst of fruit - plums and figs - and a spicy quality that is both peppery and sweet. There's some mushroom in there, too. Despite the darkness that pops up at every turn, it's a very bright tasting red that's quite showy from the start. It definitely makes an impression. A rather lasting one, too, as the finish keeps on going and going. It's a well-balanced and sturdy wine.
