2010 Italian Red Wine

Rosso di Altesino has a vibrant ruby red color and inviting aromas of ripe berries and forests. Inviting, fragrant, incredibly supple, with excellent body and balanced structure, Rosso di Altesino is an excellent value―a perfect choice for pasta, Alfredo sauces, polenta, white meats and semi-soft cheeses.

Ruby red in color. Intense bouquet with notes of cherries, plums, and violets. Rich flavors of cherry and leather. Supple tannins and good acidity.

The 2010 Rosso di Montalcino flows across the palate with layers of lush, expressive fruit. The wine's minerality comes through on the mid-palate and finish. I very much like the combination of rich fruit and freshness in this lush, textured Rosso. Banfi aged the Rosso in a combination of French oak barrels and casks. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.

This 100% Merlot is made from grapes that are hand-harvested from the estate’s best vineyards in the hills around Orvieto, in Umbria. Grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats, and then aged in Nevers oak barrels for an additional seven months. To preserve the full character of the Umbrian terroir, the wine is bottled without filtration or excessive manipulation. Deep ruby in color, with a refined aroma of wild herbs, blackberry, and light vanilla, this fresh, medium-bodied wine pairs especially well with traditional Italian dishes, such as pasta with meat sauce, braised beef or pork, and spicy Italian sausage. -- Ben Giliberti

Another highlight in this portfolio, the 2010 Langhe Nebbiolo is a deep, resonant wine endowed with serious structure and class. Dark red fruit, tobacco, mint and spices are some of the notes that emerge from the glass, but in the end, the 2010 is a wine of depth and structure. Although delicious today, the 2010 will start to blossom in another year or two. It shows remarkable depth and pure breed for a wine of its level. Readers looking for an easygoing Nebbiolo should look elsewhere. This is serious juice. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. Aldo and Milena Vajra are among the quietest and most introspective of Piedmont's top echelon growers. It is the wines that do the talking here, and they do that ever so eloquently. The estate's continued focus on excellence throughout their entire range comes through in spades in these new releases. One of the most interesting wines I tasted during my most recent visit might never be released, but it speaks to the high level of quality that is synonymous with the Vajra name. Some years ago, the Vajras purchased a plot in the Ravera vineyard planted with Nebbiolo. The vineyards are now about 15 years old, but the Vajras have never released a Barolo from this site because they don't think the wine is important enough for their label. I tasted the 2008 from tank and can only say most producers would kill to have a wine of this level in their cellar. But at Vajra, it remains a work in progress. I hope the Vajras will decide to bottle this Barolo one day, as it seems a crime to deprive the world of this terrific Barolo. For those who are wondering, the Ravera is closer to the Barolo Bricco delle Viole than the Barolo Albe stylistically.