By MICAHEL OMAR
Celebrated Italian design firm Pininfarina has expanded
its discerning sights from automobiles and interiors to fine wine with the
launch of its eponymous wine label earlier this month at the Concorso Italiano
in Monterey, California.
Its inaugural release, the 2005 Pininfarina Napa
Valley Vino Rosso, is a red blend comprising 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29%
Cabernet Franc, 6% Sangiovese and 5% Petit Verdot.
It pays tribute to the
refined ruggedness of the wine region bearing its namesake through the infusion
of ripe, sweet and chewy tannins that provide an exceptionally rich, smooth
depth and texture.
Aromas start off with touches of vanilla and nutmeg spice,
culminating in blackcurrant and raspberry aromas that in turn reveal background
aromas of ripe blueberries and violets. The tannin content allows for superior
ageability, and the winemakers say the wine will show its prime between 2010
and 2012, and peak between 2017 and 2021.
However, if you have neither storage
capacity nor patience, the 2005 Vino Rosso still lends itself favorably for
drinking at the moment. Perhaps as a nod to its exotic automobile lineage, the
label utilizes carbon fiber detailing instead of Pininfarina’s traditional red
hues.
Produced in a limited run of 1,125 cases, the 2005 Pininfarina Napa
Valley Vino Rosso retails online for US$95 per bottle.
www.pininfarinawine.com
via Luxist