Quintarelli Primofiore 2010

Dried cherry, plum, sweet tobacco and menthol, with savory herbs running through the whole thing. This is a distinctly herbal, aromatic Primofiore, the fruit plays a supporting role while the floral and vegetal notes take the lead. Flavor definition is sharp, each element sitting cleanly in its own lane. A lift of acidity brightens the close and keeps it from feeling heavy. The blend of Corvina, Corvinone, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the Cabernets lightly dried, gives it structure that nudges it just beyond a simple everyday red.