I just bottled the Cellar Craft “Rosso Fortissimo” yesterday, and as usual I have one bottle that isn’t quite full. Perfect for tasting right after bottling! I poured out a glass to taste first without aeration, and was surprised to find that the wine is very cloudy. It was racked off just prior to bottling and looked very clear, so I’m not sure why it is so cloudy now.

Tasting notes without aeration: Heavy “kit” aromas, even though the sorbate was left out. Wine is a lovely garnet in color with clear rim (though cloudy). Actually a pretty mild kit taste, with big bold fruit flavors and good balancing spice. Brambles, blackberry, currant, and hint of eucalyptus. Very nice already.

With aeration through a Vinturi, the kit aromas are muted significantly. Flavors are mellowed and nicely integrated, very fruit-forward with good balancing spice and oak. This wine is going to be quite amazing in a few years, but quite amazing right now!