Had dinner at the Lodge at Tahoe Donner last night. Tuesday nights are ‘free corkage’ and it’s great fun to bring a bottle and enjoy the beautiful lighted trees outside the windows and watch the snow softly fall. When our waiter opened the bottle of Rosso, I was taken back to the moment I had my epithany for Rosso wines. (From the Montalcino area of Italy where Brunello is generally the sought after wine, the Rosso delivers both aroma and flavor at a more reasonable price and is crafted from 100% Sangiovese Grosso just like Brunello.)

Once upon a time we were in Italy, had visited a couple of wineries and had tickets to attend a concert by Andre Bocelli later that night in Siena. We purchased a Rosso to enjoy during the event and this bottle of Villa Poggio Salvi took me back to that moment in time. The wine was fresh and aromatic, with cherries and dried fruit aromas attacking our noses when opened. On the palate, the fruit was lively and had added components of graphite and a bit of iron and soft tobacco. The finish was lingering and very pleasant. I could almost hear Andre singing in the Campo in Siena…..now where is my CD!

2016 Villa Poggio Salvi Rosso di Montalcino
$14.99 from K & L Wines