Viotti “Albarossa”
Piedmont, IT
What the heck is Albarossa? This grape is certainly very far off the beaten path, even as far as wine geeks are concerned. Albarossa was originally thought to be a crossing of Nebbiolo and Barbera, though after extensive genetic research, it was discovered that the vine thought to be Nebbiolo actually belonged to an old French grape called “Chartus.” Though decidedly not Nebbiolo, Albarossa certainly can masquerade as an incredibly rich expression of it. This one from Viotti is just that: rich, full-bodied and slightly savory, though maintaining a dark ruby color and some floral qualities. Great with fatty meats.