Dried cherry, rose petal, bruised strawberry. Dusty blackberry, loose leaf tea, cranberry preserve. Star anise and oregano, sundried tomato and bay leaf. Dehydrated pomegranate and red plum skin sing backup to red pepper pesto and slightly pungent floral tones. Sand, limestone, and a touch of iron form an earth-driven core. Texturally dense and somewhat extracted, yet maintaining genuine focus and balance. A gob of soft velvety tannin rides a wave of acidity straight through this full bodied Cal-Ital. This 2015 Sangiovese Riserva by Pelletiere Estate is sensual and savory Sangio from Paso Robles.

Located in the Willow Creek District in west Paso Robles, Pelletiere Estate is one of a select group of producers in this region who specialize in Italian grape varieties. This bottling, crafted solely from estate grown Sangiovese, shows that the Pelletiere team just might be onto something. While muscular and ripe this wine is not simply fruit driven. It proudly struts notes of roasted vegetables seasoned with beautiful Italian herbs backed by distinct earthiness and a dose of that famous Paso limestone. Oak is present here but not overdone and adds a welcome and pleasant sheen. This stuff is the genuine article reminiscent of thoughtfully amplified Chianti. This wine is unmistakably Paso, authentically Italian, and unquestionably good.