($23, Palm Bay International): Francesco Marone Cinzano, owner of Col d’Orcia, is very pleased with their 2012 Rosso–and they should be, because they hit the mark with this wine in a difficult year.  Poor weather reduced the vines’ ability to ripe a full load of grapes, according to Cinzano.  He believes that those produces that failed to thin the crop wound up with dilute, overly acidic wines.  He attributes their success to a green harvest during the summer, which allowed a smaller crop to ripen fully. Their 2012 Rosso combines ripe cherry-like flavors with a hint of earthiness.  Good ripeness and concentration balances the lovely firmness in the finish.  The firmness and concentration is reminiscent of Brunello, which, of course, is the point of a good Rosso.  Drink now with hearty pasta or a grilled hunk of meat.
91 Michael Apstein Mar 4, 2014