Alto Adige

This is a relatively inexpensive red from northeast Italy.  That said, it is not  simple wine and needs to be cellared.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries with some smoke.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  Black cherry fruit that turn slightly sour.  Firm tannins.  Nice finish.  This will need to be laid down for five to seven years if it is to reach its peak.  It can be drunk now but have some nice fatty foods to cut through the tannins.  If serving today, an eight hour decant is not too much.  Certainly, the score should improve with cellaring.  

Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has chalk and slight peach note.  On the palate, this is oily which is good.  Plenty of minerals with some bitters.  Also a slight peach note.  Good acidity.  Long finish. This is a basic wine that provides great value.  It should be drunk in the first year or so to enjoy it's freshness.  It will go well with salads, seafood and lighter foods.  

An interesting and fairly priced wine from northeast Italy.  The Kerner grape is a cross between Schiava and Riesling.  Light pale gold in color.  The nose has some peaches and a bit of minerality.  On the palate, this is round and soft.  It sets the expectation for acidity but there really isn't a lot.  It drinks easy with the peach notes carrying thru.  This probably should be drunk now.  It will go well with salads and quiches.  

Made from the Teroldego grape, this is the basic wine from this wonderful producer.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, lots of minerality and a touch of salinity.  On the palate, there are firm tannins on this.  Lots of black cherries and some cherries.  An underlying minerality.  This is drinking nicely now, but surely will improve as it integrates over the next five years.  Nice acidity.  This begs for food right now.  Pasta in a cream sauce is a great choice.  

This is a relatively unknown red from northeast Italy that you should know.  Made from the Lagrein grape.  This is much more serious than most wines utilizing that grape.  Deep ruby/purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, spice and a bit of pine.  On the palate, this has black cherries and cherries.  Very rich fruit but also a great backbone of acidity.  Would work well with a wide variety of foods.  Some tannins, this is still young and has a few more years until peak.  Should have another 10 to 15 years in it.