A tantalizing, award-winning red blend from Veneto…
This enticing, red blend, an IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) from Zenato, a highly reputable producer in Italy’s Veneto region, situated near the shore of Lake Garda, offers plenty of fruit while maintaining a beautifully-balanced structure.
The nose, an aromatic bouquet, served up raspberries and dark cherries, as well as grilled meat, nutmeg, hickory, and perfume notes. In the mouth, we enjoyed more of the same fruit tastes, with anise, dry wood, and spices. The high level of acidity gave it a nice edge, and we particularly enjoyed the long, sour finish.
With a combination of Corvina (50%) and Merlot (50%) varietals, this particular offering had a light-to-medium body. The bottle presentation came across as classy and refined, a consistent look for Zenato wines, although the heart gave it a softer, artistic feel.
Of note, this red blend won a Gold Medal at Mundus Vini in 2016, which comes as no surprise given the quality of the wine. Interestingly, the LCBO classified it as medium in terms of sweetness, although we’d describe it as dry.
We could see this wine pairing beautifully with tomato-based pasta dishes, such as spaghetti and meatballs or chicken parmigiana, as well as cured meats and dark chocolate. At $18.25 CAD, this represents very good value for the quality.
Rating (from 70 to 100): 91/100
Value: 4/5
The Bottle Details…
Name: Zenato Cormi
Vintage: 2011
Producer: Zenato Azienda Vitivinicola S.r.l.
Region/Country: Veneto, Italy
Grape Varietals: Corvina (50%) and Merlot (50%)
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Consumed: At home with family and friends
Recommended By: Picked it off the shelf at the LCBO
Cost: $18.25 CAD at the LCBO
Bottle Presentation: A classy, formal-looking label, a trademark of Zenato wines. On this particular bottle, the embossed heart gives it some artistic flair with a touch of texture.
The Tasting Details…
Appearance: Medium-deep garnet
Nose: Medium nose, with raspberry, dark cherries, nutmeg, grilled meat, hickory, and perfume notes, in addition to a hint of green wood.
Taste: A dry, medium-bodied red blend, with high acidity and pronounced, drying tannins. We had more raspberry and dark plum notes, as well as anise, wood, and a tinge of earth. We especially enjoyed the wine’s tartness.
Finish: A long, sour finish.