Ladies and Gentlemen, it's Grignolino Season!
2013 Fratelli Antonio & Raimondo Grignolino

Grignolino is really Piedmont's only red grape varietal, apart from Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Freisa, Ruche', Vespolina, Croatina, and Bonarda. As such, it's important that you know about this fun, easy, light, gulpable wine. If the Piemontesi drink Dolcetto while their Barolo ages for 4 years, then they drink Grignolino while their Dolcetto ages from the cellar to the storefronts. I could go swimming in this wine, it's so easy-to-drink. The classic Italian acidity is there, but it's balanced by the earthiness that, say, French and Oregon Pinot Noirs don't provide (to my palate). Tannin is low. The color in the bottle and glass is more reminiscent of a heavy rose, and in fact this could be drunk (gulped) chilled on a warm May afternoon. I am reminded of Gamay or Petit Rouge or Schiava. The only real tasting note of worth is fresh strawberries, although I did get a hint of Greek yogurt after the bottle had been open an hour or so. No real finish to speak of, but that's ok at this price point. Bottlenose Wine sells this for $9.99. This would make an excellent crossover wine for someone afraid to delve into the Italian repertoire, for its accessibility on the palate and its forgiving price point. In New York, this wine is distributed by Communal Brands (Thanks, Nick, for the free bottle) and comes to us from Fratelli Antonio and Raimondo, who also produce a Barolo. Props to them for working with a now antiquated native varietal. I believe this to be quite textbook. Up next, I'm itching to try Heitz Cellar's version of this grape. Old World versus New World, baby.