Full Review

Cielo

Cielo
NV Rosso Di Famiglia, Red Blend, Italy

Pair this wine with:
Beef Pork

Category: Regional Other Italian Red

Date Tasted:
Country: Italy
Alcohol: 14%
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$9.99
Best Buy

Cielo
NV Rosso Di Famiglia, Red Blend, Italy

Pair this wine with:
Beef Pork

Category: Regional Other Italian Red

Date Tasted:
Country: Italy
Alcohol: 14%
Dark dusty garnet color. Aromas and flavors of spiced plum pastry, raspberry jam, hints of peony blossom, and portobello mushrooms with a satiny, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a seamless, engaging, medium-length finish displaying accents of roasted walnut with a suggestion of oak flavor. An easy Italian red that offers sophisticated fruit flavors and kisses of floral notes; an elevated weeknight red.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity & Juicy & Smooth
Aroma Aroma: spiced plum pastry, raspberry jam, hints of peony blossom, and portobello mushrooms
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with accents of roasted walnut
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Ribs, Beef Teriyaki, Steak Fajitas
Bottom Line Bottom Line: An easy Italian red that offers sophisticated fruit flavors and kisses of floral notes; an elevated weeknight red.

The Producer

CIELO E TERRA S.P.A.

The Producer

Regional Other Italian Red

Wine Glass Zinfandel.jpg
Serve in a Zinfandel Wine Glass
There are red wines produced in every region in Italy, from the far north to the island of Sicily in the south. Many of these reds have a good deal of spice, as well as good acidity; some of them are meant for consumption upon release, while others are meant for many years of cellaring.

Among the most singular of these Italian regional reds are those from Abruzzo, produced from the Montepulciano grape. Deeply colored with plum and black fruit flavors, these are medium-bodied wines with tobacco and spice notes that are good values and can be consumed upon release.

There are also some beautiful reds in Sicily, especially the fragrant and fruit-driven Frappato, which has very light tannins. Nero d'Avola is a spicier, more robust style of Sicilian red.

Also in the south, Campania is home to many beautiful red wines. The best of these is Taurasi, a superb red made from the Aglianico grape. Displaying black cherry and dark chocolate notes, this is one of Italy's most sublime and longest-lived reds, with a few examples drinking well at fifty years of age.

One other regional red of note is Montefalco Sagrantino from Umbria. Sagrantino is an extremely tannic variety and this is a powerful, earthy red that needs five to seven years to shed its youthful tannic bitterness.

While Taurasi and Montefalco Sagrantino are relatively expensive reds, wines such as Montepulciano d'Abruzzo as well Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno from the Marche region are excellent values.

These regional reds pair well with foods ranging from salumi to grilled chicken or pork to roast veal or steak.