Solicchiata Secondo di Castello 2012

Peppery wild berries combine with crushed chalk, green pea and shavings of old cedar as the 2012 Secondo di Castello opens with a unique yet undeniably enjoyable bouquet. Silken and serene, this flows across the palate with ease, blending savory red fruit with exotic spices and inner earth tones. It’s juicy in style, finishing long and gently tannic yet remarkably fresh while leaving a licorice tinge to fade. I love the pleasant rusticity of this Cabernet Franc-heavy blend, and I’m floored by the fact that it’s a ‘second’ wine for the estate. Color me impressed. Drinking window: 2025-2028. Score – 93. (Eric Guido, vinous.com, May 29, 2025)