Reviewed by Francesco Patterino, Sommelier and Official Taster, A.I.S. March, 2011”

Urlare …to scream.

Derived from a verb that means:  “to express in the strongest manner possible a feeling or state of mind”.   And so does this wine, which is impatient to leave its inert container, to tell – to scream – its whole strong story.

It’s L’Urlo, which means “The Howl”.  IGT 100% Merlot 2008 of the Tuscan company Urlari.  An expression of pure Merlot.

With an “exotic” touch; the winemaker is French, Jean-Phillippe Fort.  A specialist in treating grapes at St. Emilion and Pomerol, with the desire to try his hand – and delight himself – with our Italian varieties and terroirs.

I open it and pour it into the glass: a good density.  A deep, impenetrable ruby red.

To the nose it reveals and releases perfumes in a slow and complex manner.  I received this on 3 consecutive evenings. The olfactory impact is magnificent.

A gracious vanilla toasting, non aggressive; a note of sweet tobacco.  A little spicy, not sharp: black pepper.  Inevitably, the sensations associated with Merlot:  well-ripened and fleshy red fruit.  Blueberries and cherries.   A tinge of vegetable note, only just perceptible and not at all aggressive.

The ethereal nuances?  They will certainly appear, in years to come.

The taste is warm and soft.  The tannins are pure velvet.

It denotes a good body and already a certain balance.  The harmony is acceptable for a wine with its alcohol content.  The caress to the palate is a really long-lasting persuasive taste-olfactory persistence.  The after-taste blends notes of almond paste and caramel.

It is certainly ready to drink but it does not yet to give the best sensations that are still concealed.  Despite its young age, in 2010 it won the Gold Medal at the “International Competition of Emotions from the World” (Concorso Internazionale Emozioni dal Mondo).

What to serve it with?  I would see it well with pasta with meat or venison sauce; or with ripened cheese.