Frecciarossa Oltrepò Pavese, Anamari | 2019

An under-the-radar darling of wine critics and sommeliers, Giorgio Odero founded Frecciarossa in 1919 and started exporting his wines to the United States right after Prohibition. Today, Valeria Radici Odero carries forward her grandfather’s extraordinary vision and is the estate’s delightful gatekeeper. Located in the foothills of Casteggio, in the Oltrepò Pavese wine region, it’s just an hour drive south from Milan, and on a clear day, you can see the Alps, overlooking the gentle slopes of Pinot Noir, Riesling, and a handful of native grapes. Brand new to Florida, Anamari is an homage to these native grapes. It’s a blend of Barbera, Croatina, and Uva Rara, grown in clay-limestone soils, and macerated for a liberal, 26-days on the skins. Aged in 650L barrels and bottled at 13.4% alcohol, it shows off a mix of fresh red and wild black fruits in the glass with an underbelly of crushed flowers, herbs, and forest floor. A perfect yin-yang of fruit and earth on the palate, it has moderate tannins with the quintessential Italian grit. A gem, not only for the Italian wine enthusiast, but for anyone seeking wines that clearly expose their sense of place, Frecciarossa is just like its owner, a pure delight. ~Allegra A