Like an undiscovered Tuscany, Umbria remains one of Italy's great wine secrets, and Lorenzo di Monaco's Rosso di Todi is one of the best red wines I've tasted from the region in years.
After opening a bottle recently, I proceeded to buy my supplier's remaining 10 cases. I'm convinced it's one of the greatest red wine values coming out of Italy today, and if I poured it blind alongside a top Brunello di Montalcino or a classic Super Tuscan, it would totally hold its own every time. The difference? This one costs less than $40.
If I had to rate it, I'd have this Sangiovese-based blend in the 95-96 point range. Rich, concentrated, and loaded with character, there's some serious meat on the bone here. Deep and opaque in color and flowing with classy notes of blackberry, black cherry, mint, sage, mocha, and violet, it delivers the power, structure, and complexity you expect from much more expensive Tuscan reds.
Based in the medieval hilltop village of Collazzone, in the newly established Rosso di Todi DOC, Lorenzo farms his old Sangiovese, Malvasia Nera, and Colorino vines without chemicals and harvests by hand. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts, and the wine spends 24 months aging in 500-liter botti before release.
Just 250 cases were imported to the US, and with six years of bottle age on this one, it is drinking beautifully, but it will continue to perform well through at least 2035. I don't know where else you're going to find this much Italian red wine for this price, and I also don't think the price is going to stay this low much longer.
This one would be delicious served alongside a rich, meaty, red sauced pasta or with grilled lamb chops liberally seasoned with rosemary and garlic.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
