Wine Review of 2011 Giusti ‘Umberto I’ Rosso Veneto, Italy
Score: 92+/100
The “Umberto I” cuvée by Giusti (understand Umberto the First) is made from a selection of the best Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (a Bordeaux red blend) sourced from vineyards located in the Veneto region.
After fermentation, the wine was aged in traditional 225-litre French oak barrels (barriques) for 24 to 30 months (2+ years).
The alcohol content of Umberto I is labeled at 14.5% abv.
Overall Review Notes & Tasting Impressions
If we are going to talk about the ‘appearance’ of this wine as a whole, it is first to be noted the sheer size and weight of a bottle of Umberto Primo by Giusti.
Without joking, the size and mass of such a bottle seems more like a Magnum format than a standard 750-ml one. It is huge and feels very heavy.
The wine itself, comes in a dark and intense ruby red color with hints of orange betraying we are here with a 7-year-old wine already. It is quite dark but not overly so.
The nose however, bursts with a rare intensity. Aromas of fresh plum come with notes of dates and mixed spices, somewhat like an oriental cake.
Clove and nutmeg, black pepper, vanilla and a heap of caramel and honey. Peppermint tones provide an aerial feel to a complex world of layered scents.
The palate is just as powerful, if not even more.
Putting the red wine in your mouth is when you realize this is a seriously-concentrated wine!
Big body comes with a balancing solid acidity, making the whole feel vibrant. Yet, flavors of oaky vanilla, cherry liqueur, and ripe blackberry explode on your palate, accompanied with a generous warmth from the alcohol content.
A layered and very complex wine, providing a strong weighty presence to its texture, velvety tannins and fascinating, layered and rather long.
A wine made to impress, and it does!
Big and bold, yet somewhat refined thanks to the crispiness of its acidity, and the complexity of the many savory edges it delivers.
Pair with flavorsome dishes like grilled meats. Yet, make sure you only go for the refined cuts and elegant seasonings, as the wine truly deserves it…
Enjoy 🙂
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