The robe is saturated raspberry red with a clear rim. It looks youthful, shiny, despite nearly a year and a half in wood and another year in bottle prior to release. Right now the aromatics are cherry-scented with a rosemary-herbal tint, plus an essence of cedar and tobacco. The texture is corduroy, drying but with a juicy red-fruited core threaded with barrel spice.
The wine needs food now. Try sausage flecked with herbs like sage, fennel, and rosemary. Or, cellar it for five years to see what the bronze of time will do.
2015 La Valentina Spelt Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC
13.5% abv | $22 (sample); Imported by Dalla Terra
“The bronze of time” is a lovely turn of phrase.
David, thanks, as always, for reading and for your kind remarks.