Full Review

Polvaro Tenuta

Polvaro Tenuta
2018 Estate Polvaro Nero Red Blend, Venezia DOC

Pair this wine with:
Beef

Category: Regional Other Italian Red

Date Tasted:
Country: Italy
Alcohol: 13.5%
89 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$17
'2020 World Value Wine Challenge-Top 10 Red Wine $20 and Under'

Polvaro Tenuta
2018 Estate Polvaro Nero Red Blend, Venezia DOC

Pair this wine with:
Beef

Category: Regional Other Italian Red

Date Tasted:
Country: Italy
Alcohol: 13.5%
Ruby black color. Aromas and flavors of cherry coulis, milk chocolate-covered raisins, hints of prosciutto, and black tea with a satiny, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a seamless, delightful, medium-length finish that shows touches of dried herbs with moderate oak flavor. A tasty, easy-drinking Red that covers a lot of bases; sip and pair away!

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: cherry coulis, milk chocolate-covered raisins, hints of prosciutto, and black tea
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with touches of dried herbs
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Short Ribs, Beef Teriyaki, Steak Fajitas
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A tasty, easy-drinking red that covers a lot of bases; sip and pair away!

The Producer

Tenuta Polvaro

The Producer
Via Polvaro 35
Annone Veneto,
Italy

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.