1999 Pasiteo "Fassati" Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

[hotwine]

Deep red, almost opaque, with a muted nose 'cause it's fresh from the cellar. With a couple of hours of air time, shows ripe red fruit and sharp acid, you know it's going to be food-friendly, earthy undertone but not pronounced, good mouthfeel, a very nice food wine. Back label says it spends two years in Slavonian oak, but no splinters detected. With chicken ravioli drizzled with EVOO and lathered with marinara sauce; 13% alc/vol and $14. Can see it as a "go-to" Italian red.