Falesco Vitiano 2006

A top choice for a daily drinker. Vitiano Falesco offers great value at $7.99 a bottle, delivering a solid performance and outperforming wines that are double its price point.

A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sangiovese, this wine delivers on the palate, with lots of fruit flavors including berries, cassis, cherries, oak and hints of chocolate. The finish is a bit lacking, but for the price it cannot be beat.

January 2009

88 pts from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate! - "As is often the case, FalescoÆs 2006 Vitiano Rosso offers incredible quality for the money, especially considering that the estate makes more than two million bottles of this wine alone. A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine possesses layers of plump, ripe fruit intermingled with sweet scents of French oak with a sleek, stylish personality. Drink this generous, tasty red over the next year or two. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2010. - Although oenologist Riccardo Cotarella is best known for the numerous high-end read more...wineries for whom he consults, he also turns out delicious value-priced wines at his Falesco estate." - Antonio Galloni Aug 2008 Issue - 88 pts and a Best Value recognition from Wine Spectator! - "Shows lots of blackberry and licorice, with raspberry. Full-bodied, with round tannins and a fruity finish. A delicious, fruit-forward wine. Best after 2007. 205,000 cases made. ûJS" - Nov 2007 Issue -    (hide)

August 2009

88 pts from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate! - ""As is often the case, Falescos 2006 Vitiano Rosso offers incredible quality for the money, especially considering that the estate makes more than two million bottles of this wine alone. A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine possesses layers of plump, ripe fruit intermingled with sweet scents of French oak with a sleek, stylish personality. Drink this generous, tasty red over the next year or two. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2010. - Although oenologist Riccardo Cotarella is best known for the numerous read more...high-end wineries for whom he consults, he also turns out delicious value-priced wines at his Falesco estate."" - Antonio Galloni Aug 2008 Issue - 88 pts and a Best Value recognition from Wine Spectator! - ""Shows lots of blackberry and licorice, with raspberry. Full-bodied, with round tannins and a fruity finish. A delicious, fruit-forward wine. Best after 2007. 205,000 cases made. JS"" - Nov 2007 Issue -    (hide)

March 2009

A blend of equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese grapes grown in the region of Umbria, Vitiano Rosso is vinified in stainless steel tanks and aged in Nevers barrels for three months before being bottled. This is a blockbuster young red wine with explosive, luscious aromas. Vitiano Rosso is deep ruby red in color, and offers a wide range of fruit and spice aromas, including black cherry jam, licorice and tobacco leaf. This versatile wine pairs well with a wide array of food, including meat, pasta and pizza. Shows lots of blackberry and licorice, with raspberry. Full-bodied, with read more...round tannins and a fruity finish. A delicious, fruit-forward wine. Best after 2007. Wine Spectator 88 Points    (hide)

""Falesco is the estate of the Cotarella brothers on the Umbria Lazio border. Riccardo Cotarella, one of Italy's most famous consulting winemakers, has been called Mr. Merlot or the Michel Rolland of Italy. His brother, Renzo, is Antinori's winemaker--some family. Falesco, an equal part blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, is one of the best wine values available today. It delivers far more enjoyment that you'd expect for the price. The Sangiovese provides cherry-like fruitiness and acidity, the Merlot depth and the Cabernet just enough structure read more...without overwhelming the other components. Uncork a bottle the next time you have pizza, pasta with a tomato-based sauce or even hamburgers" IWS 03/08.    (hide)

The best italian red wine I have ever tasted!

July 2009