2018 Bastianich - Calabrone Rosso IGT (750ml)

Bold, brooding, and built to impress, the Calabrone — Italian for "hornet" — is Bastianich's flagship red and a wine that lives up to its fierce name. A powerful Friulian blend drawing from the estate's finest parcels, this is winemaking at its most ambitious: a structured, age-worthy red that speaks to both the singular terroir of the Colli Orientali del Friuli and the Bastianich family's uncompromising vision for greatness.

The 2018 vintage, blessed with warm, dry growing conditions and excellent ripeness, shows magnificently here. Opaque, deep ruby-purple in the glass, the nose is richly layered with dark plum, blackberry compote, crushed violets, espresso, tobacco leaf, and a whisper of toasted oak and dark chocolate. On the palate, it is full-bodied and commanding, with velvety, well-integrated tannins, vibrant acidity that keeps everything in balance, and a long, complex finish that evolves beautifully with every sip.

A wine that rewards patience — already impressive now with decanting, but with the structure and depth to cellar and develop for years to come. This is Friuli's answer to the great reds of Italy, and an essential addition to any serious cellar.