Italy Off The Beaten Path
by Jane Augustine
2015 Aglianico “Marrà”
Italy | Campania
Unlike other wines you’ll find in our values section, this Aglianico from Campania has the added appeal of bottle age. Typical of the grape––though not likely your typical wine experience––it delivers heady notes of smoky oolong tea, rosemary, and fig. Both the finish, which is as stony as slate, and the mature aromas will wow you.
2020 Corvina Veronese “Becco Rosso”
Italy | Veneto
The star of this spry and punchy red, and surely the unsung hero of the region, is the Corvina grape. The Piccoli brothers farm their vines in the grand cru area of Bardolino, just southeast of Lake Garda, giving us an absolutely lip-smacking rosso. It’s vibrant, fresh, and fun.
2021 Morgon “Vieilles Vignes”
France | Beaujolais
This vintage from Jean Paul and Charly Thévenet tastes as classic as any I can recall recently. Earthy and old-school, it excels in the role of the quintessential, naturally made Morgon of our dreams. For devotees, this might be the vintage you buy in bulk to cellar a few for later.
2018 Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese Rosso “Euli”
Italy | Piedmont
The first thing that will surprise you is this Grignolino’s pale garnet color, and then, despite that autumnal hue, its rather summery nose of peach and blueberry. With notes of mushroom and forest floor, it’s more complex than the price would suggest.
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