I first had this wonderful Italian nectar at Sala da Pranzo on Milwaukee’s East Side. This weekend I had the opportunity to indulge in another bottle of this fine wine. I opened the bottle early in the afternoon and poured off a glass to sample and give it some room to breathe. The deep garnet colors revealed aromas that were very woody with undertones of blackberry and wet vegetation. Flavors were “tight” and fruity with lots of tannins…Not what I had expected. After letting the bottle rest for a few hours I returned to an entirely different experience. The aromas had opened up revealing a pleasant peppery, blackberry bouquet. Now the dark berry flavors evolved into the spicy, raisinated texture that I remembered. The tannins had softened quite a bit now unveiling a soft sweetness on the finish. I look forward to trying another bottle after it has had a few more years to mature.

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre 2005 ($19)

• 70% Corvina Veronese, 20% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese
• From Palazzo della Torre vineyard, Fumane di Valpolicella
• Allegrini tasting notes