De Angelis Rosso Piceno

Rosso Piceno is a blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese grapes and can be classified as just Rosso Piceno, or with the added 'Superiore' designation for higher quality Crus. This example from DeAngelis hails from the Marche region of Italy (calf of the leg on the Adriatic Sea side.) and is 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese, is aged in stainless steel, and spends upwards of 18 months in large botti (barrels the size of a VW Beetle.) The botti add a nice round finish to the mouthfeel, making this a fun wine with all types of foods, particularly grilled meats, sausages, and of course, pizza! We've affectionately dubbed it 'Pizza Wine Goes to College.' Ruby red in the glass, we're finding notes of cherries, blackberries, and a delightful earthy-ness that is rounded out on the mouthfeel by the time spent in barrel.