2007 Rosso de Veo

Complex and expressive, the Sagrantino-based 2007 Rosso de Veo is a truly mesmerizing wine with infinite layers that evolve swirl after swirl, minute after minute as the wine takes on air. Each time you come back to the glass, it tells a different story. Even if you are not a fan of this style, there is no denying that this wine speaks in a clear, confident voice. Immediate aromas include black olive, leather, tobacco and dried berry. Balsam herb, licorice and ginger settle in later. The 2007 vintage is no doubt one of the nicest I have tasted. Drink: 2014-2020. Reigning proud in the field of esoteric wines, Paolo Bea embodies a winemaking philosophy that speaks directly to the heart of those who celebrate the cult of the grape. This small, family run estate follows a purist, environmentalist and natural approach with indigenous yeasts, warmer fermentation temperatures, extended skin macerations and traditional aging vessels. Considering the instability inherent to many of those variables, vintage influence plays an extremely important role in the final outcome. These two wines, from the excellent 2010 and 2007 harvests respectively, are quintessential Bea. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant, www.madrose.com