THIS QUARTER'S RED SELECTION

Due Santi Rosso 2022

$49.99 Value

Our first vintage, in partnership with Colle Picchioni, captures the sunny brushstrokes of Castelli Romani in a glass. Merlot leads with black cherry and pipe‑tobacco richness, while Cabernet adds currant depth and a hint of Mediterranean herbs. It’s still a pup—give it a quick decant and watch it unfurl around grilled bistecca, rosemary‑rubbed pork loin, or a slab of eggplant parmigiana. 

2021 Due Santi Rosso

$39.99

The near‑perfect ’21 growing season delivered our most complete Rosso yet. Intensely ripe fruit meets nervy acidity and subtle bay‑leaf spice; the wine feels both serious and joyful, with 15‑plus‑year ageing potential. Host a side‑by‑side with the 2019 or 2022, serve a thick‑cut rib‑eye, and bask in the smiles. 

I tasted this Tempranillo-driven beauty in the still-cool dusk outside Vega Clara’s bodega and was struck first by its lift: balsamic herbs, clove, and sandalwood float over ripe blackberries and dark cherries. A year in primarily French oak frames the fruit without smothering the vibrant, “vertical” freshness that winemaker Clara Veraguas calls la chispa—the spark. On the table, think flame‑licked lamb chops, morcilla, or a hunk of Manchego drizzled with rosemary honey. 

Aurelio Settimo Dolcetto d’Alba 2021

$23.99 Value

We fell for the wines of Tiziana Settimo while tasting along with her in her cozy barrel room just outside of La Morra in the famed Langhe wine region of Italy. Dolcetto, for me, is the most complete wine for a weeknight meal from all of Italy. It sings with Pizza and holds its own with burgers, BBQ chicken, and even a simple salad. The wine is redolent with fleshy grapes, white pepper, violets, and plenty of easy, juicy happiness. Tiziana is a happy person, which comes out in all her wines. We are so pleased to launch the Settimo brand here at CB. 

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo “Madia” – Torre Zambra

“Madia” comes from the estate’s younger vines and is deliberately aged without oak to let pure Montepulciano fruit sing. In the glass, it’s a deep ruby with purple edges; aromas of blackberry jam, raspberry, violet, and a twist of black licorice set the stage. The palate is supple and warm, balanced by a little tannic chew that makes it the week‑night champion it’s always been in Abruzzo farm kitchens. Pair it with spaghetti all’Amatriciana, sausage‑and‑pepper pizza, or a bowl of lentils stewed with pancetta.

2023 Barco Reale di Carmignano – Tenuta Le Farnete

$20.99 Value

Named for the Medici hunting wall that still rims the vineyards, this Sangiovese‑Cabernet blend is Tuscany’s answer to the everyday claret. Violets, wild sage, and blackberries tumble together, propelled by brisk acidity; a whisper of fine tannin gives the finish a tidy frame. I call it my “spaghetti red,” but it shines just as brightly beside grilled fennel‑pork sausages, pecorino‑topped ribollita, or a board of Tuscan salumi.