Review: Natale Verga “Love Rosso” IGT Veneto 2018 $8
Score: 88-90pts
Producer: Casa Vinacole Natale Verga – Founded in 1895 by Giancarlo Verge. Fourth Generation, passed from father to son. Very trendy in Europe. Otherwise somewhat mysterious beyond a large modern winery and a penchant for making very under priced wines from all over Italy.
A great value if you like a little sour acid and bitter tannin with your fruit red. I’m a solid 88 to 90 points on this wine.
Region: Veneto, otherwise known as the Republic of Venice and home of Romeo & Juliet. Is the largest DOC producer in Italy. Also home to Prosecco & Soave
Grape(s): 60% Corvina Veronese / 40% Merlot, Corvina is an ancient grape. It is the main grape in Valpolicella, Bardolino and Amarone. It is bright sour cherry and bitter almond flavors with high levels of acidity
Price: $8
Comparable Wines: Cru Beaujolais $17-$25, Carneros Pinot Noir $32-$45, Oregon Gamay $25
3 Aromas: red cherry, beef broth, dark chocolate
3-5 Flavors: red rose petals, 1955 Brach’s Chocolate Covered Cherries, red licorice stick, fried sage leaf, grilled game, copper, burnt orange peel
Body Richness: Medium
Fruitiness: Fruit Foward with dark, mysterious, red fruit
Tartness/Acidity: Ultra Sour and Tart
Bitterness/Dryness: Medium Dry
Minerality: a little clean, crushed stone
Earthiness: Charcoal grilled meat and game
Spiciness: super fine black pepper
Style: Sexy party crasher who you never see again but can’t stop thinking about in you weakest moment
Charactarcher: Somewhere Tomb Raider or your bitter-sweet Romeo & Juliet romance
Mass Appeal %: 35-40% It’s a beaut but it has teeth and fists. Acid and tannin combine to isolate those who prefer fruit bombs with low tannins dryness and acid tartness.