Today's Wine: Rosso Di Altesino, IGT

I asked Herr Martin Kulmhofer, a professional in the wine industry, to bring a red wine under $20.00 for the evening. And what does he bring from September Wines and Liquors, one of my favorite wine stores located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan? The 2011 Rosso di Altesino, an IGT wine from the Altesino winery. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot, the wine has been aged from 6 to 8 months in stainless steel tanks and for another 3 months in barrique. A vibrant wine with fresh fruit/berries on the nose at the beginning, it tapers off to smokier and gamier aromatics. With supple tannins mostly influenced with the obvious characteristics of Slavonian oak which impart structure to the fruit and depth to an approachable and easy to drink dry wine.

I have been drinking this wine for the past 3 days and storing it without the usage of a wine pump. It has developed surprisingly well all the more because the weather is quite cool and has allowed the wine to age gracefully. The more fruit forward flavors have receded and the drier, smokier components are more obvious on the nose as well as on the palate. Because of the wine's high acidity it is best accompanied with slightly heavier dishes like pastas, game and fatty fish.

Blend: Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot
Origin: Italy
Price: Under $20.