Wino Wednesday – Il Clou Di Clavesana Dogliani Superiore 2010

Il Clou Di Clavesana Dogliani Superiore 2010, a fresh Italian from the north eastern hills of Italy’s Piedmont region with a the tang of sour cherry, and a lash of spicy leather.  Smooth, clean and very well priced, it’s a ripe pick on this Wino Wednesday.

While I favor the French, I still love a beautiful Italian.  Somehow the casualness of the culture translates to the wine, making them brilliant dinner companions and thrilling conversation starters.  They have intense highs and equally irresistible depth without being stuffy or superior.  With an alcohol measurement of 13.5%, a medium tannin and a deep ruby color, the Il Clou Di Clavesana Dogliani Superiore remains light, fruity and ready to drink.

Well paired against a with a good chicken cacciatore or anything tomato based like pasta or gourmet pizza; but try not to pigeonhole this red.   Despite its rustic leanings the  Il Clou  Dogliani Superiore has enough structure to break out the white truffle oil, balancing that earthiness against a whiff of cigar and well worn leather and a bracing cherry taste.

Every inch a classic Italian, yet still affordable ($16.95), this wine proves that you don’t have to blow your budget to bring home a great wine.  Made exclusively from the dark-skinned Dolcetto grapes grown in the small town of Dogliani, in Italy’s famed Piedmont region, the Il Clou Di Clavesana Dogliani Superiore 2010 rates 90/100 on the Gypsy Scorecard.

We call that “yum”.