The 2006 Vespa Rosso offers up dark plums, prunes, roasted coffee beans and grilled herbs in a powerful, focused style. Deceptively medium in body, the 2006 Vespa Rosso packs quite a punch. Crushed flowers, raspberries and tobacco linger on the polished finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.
Never one to keep still for long, proprietor Joe Bastianich has a new set of wines this year in his Adriatico line. These entry-level whites are meant to showcase indigenous varieties as seen through a unified terroir that happens to be spread across three countries; Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. Only the Ribolla Gialla, bottled by Slovenian grower Marjan Simcic appears to still be a work in progress.
Importer: Dark Star Imports, New York, NY; tel. (646) 312-8921