E’ stato un Colpo di Fulmine. There is no other way to put it. This wine was a strike of lightning. Opened the bottle, poured a little in the glass and then, Bam. Like somebody picked me up by the front of my shirt and dangled me over a 40 foot cliff. In your face, aggressive, breathtaking.
The area between Reggia-Emilia and Parma might be better-known for sparkling Lambrushchi and Prosciutto, but there are a number of undiscovered producers like Rinaldini who are bottling pure indigenous genius with lesser-known native varietals of Emilia Romagna. If you can find them, that is.
The Rinaldini “Moro del Moro” bottling is inspired- a blend of Pinot Nero, Pjcol Ross and Ancellota grapes that are picked late in the season, and then dried on straw mats, like Amarone della Valpolicella. The dry, deeply colored red wine resulting from this process is a large, black fruit-laden explosion of marasca cherries, reduced balsamic and gorgeous sweet cooking spices.
I found this wine at the Wine House in Los Angeles, where Lance Montalto adds gems like this to his impressive Italian section all the time. This is the man to know if you love discovering obscure Vino Italiano. Lance is also generous with his time- if you’re interested, he’ll tell you all kinds of fascinating things. More then anything Lance truly cares about promoting Italy’s wines. He is also the yoda of Italy’s indigenous varietals. Go there. Ask for him. Let him teach you something.
Lance Montalto. Seek him out you must. Of Italian wine, the secrets await you!