2022 Inama "Carmenère Più" Carmenere Veneto

The 2022 Veneto Rosso Carmenere Più is savory in the glass, with crushed blackberries complicated by rosemary and exotic spice. It's juicy upon entry yet refined, featuring pure red berry fruits and an air of sweet lavender that swirls throughout. It leaves a staining of primary concentration, adding a pleasantly chewy sensation while remaining fresh through the long licorice-tinged finale. (EG)

The Colli Berici is a fascinating, overlooked pocket of the Veneto. This hilly, volcanic outcrop south of Vicenza is covered in terra rossa—iron-rich red clay over limestone—and enjoys a uniquely warm, dry microclimate. Over a century ago, local farmers planted what they thought was Cabernet Franc. It wasn't until the 1990s that the Inama family, pioneers of the region, correctly identified the vines as Carmenère, an ancient Bordeaux variety that had nearly gone extinct in Europe. Rather than tearing it up, Inama championed it, proving that the Colli Berici is Europe's premier terroir for the grape. "Carmenère Più" (meaning Carmenère Plus) blends this star grape with a small percentage of Merlot to round out its edges. The result is a dark, brooding, and intensely savory red. It pours an opaque ruby-purple. The nose leaps from the glass with aromas of dark cocoa, wild blackberry, and Carmenère's signature note of freshly cracked black pepper and subtle roasted herbs. On the palate, it is plush and velvety, with fine-grained tannins and a vibrant, spicy finish. It is the ultimate companion for grilled steaks, braised short ribs, or aged cheddar.