Recommendation: A nice “week night” Italian red that’s very versatile with food.
Winery/Producer: Giacomo Tincani, La Basia di Elena Parona; Puegnago del Garda, Italy.
Grape Variety: Blend: 80% Groppello, 10% Barbera, 5% Sangiovese and 5% Marzemino.
Geographic Region, Appellation: Valtènesi; Lombardy, Italy.
Vintage: 2013
Price: $13.50
Purchased From: The Caviste Wine Shop; Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Paired With: Chicken cacciatore, steamed greens; cabbage soup
Tasting:
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He said: Opened 30-minutes before drinking. Clear, dark ruby red color with a similar color rim. Powerful aroma of damp earth, mushroom cave and dark fruit. Plenty of cherry and a red current in the taste. A long finish that’s dry, fruity and mouth-puckering at the very end. Great with the tomato sauce in the dinner. A nice “week night” Italian red that’s very versatile with food.
She said: Ruby red color, opaque, thin irregular, school zone speed legs. A peasant mild earthy flavor greeted the nostrils and was followed by a similar mild flavor. The body is on the light side of medium and the finish is long and dry with a burst of tannins. The greens killed the wine and the cabbage soup was only marginally better. We picked it to go with red sauce and we loved that part of the pairing. It’s an excellent value.
Alcohol: 12.5%
Bar code: 7 61503 55003 3
Imported by: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant; Berkeley, California.
Photo from La Basia.