2005 Palmina Wines Savoia

The other top red was the blend of 50% Nebbiolo and the rest equal parts Barbera and Sangiovese, the 2005 Savoia. This wine exhibits complex new saddle leather notes intermixed with strawberry, black cherry, roasted herbs, and licorice. It is deep, dark, medium to full-bodied, and just gorgeous. Best drunk in the first 3-4 years of life. Steve Clifton’s “Italian Stallion” operation in southern California is the best of its kind in the United States, and these wines seem to go from strength to strength. His excellent whites are all stainless steel fermented and really do capture much of the character that comes from the region most commonly associated with these wines, northeastern Italy. Tel. (805) 735-2030; fax (805) 735-2693