Nanni Cope, Sabbie di Sopra il Bosco, Terre del Volturno IGT

Opaque crimson color with garnet rim. Arresting nose of blackberry and bright herbs. Serious black fruit on the palate, with woodsy notes of tree bark and soil. This finishes slightly tart, with reasonably solid tannic structure remaining. To pick a nit: this had little of the austere, rocky terroir that I enjoy in Italian wines. However, it is generally well-made and balanced wine. Drinking nicely now, though this should hold on for 5-8 more years.

There must be more interesting wines that nobody talks about coming out of Campania than anywhere else in Italy. Heard some great things about this one, though I must admit the first glass made me nervous - the initial whiff seemed bretty though it got quickly overtaken by the scents of fresh ripe berry fruit, but even then it didn't seem to have that extra dimension of rocky volcanic personality that I love so much in the palagrello from Vestini …