Antonio Federici Roma Rosso, 2022

I have had many Montepulciano wines, most notably at the former Vineyard Pizza place in South Haven, MI. They were all enjoyable wines, but this Roma (60% Montepulciano and 40% Cesaneste) is a clear step up from any Montepulciano I have had.

Deep, dark and bright. Very aromatic from the time the cork is popped. Dark cherries, black berries with a touch of cinnamon and dark chocolate on the finish. Good concentration, this is a serious wine. Plenty of acid, plenty of tannin--maybe a bit too much for current drinking.

I bought this through a special offered by Wall Street Journal Wines through an ad in the Sunday New York Times.