Villa Puccini Tuscana

Villa Puccini Tuscana is an Italian-style red made in Massachusetts. The "Tuscana" name points to the Tuscan tradition, where Sangiovese is the central grape. The details on file don't name the grapes, the vintage or any oak treatment, so what follows describes what Tuscan-style reds usually offer, not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a dry, medium-bodied red with red-cherry and dried-herb fruit, savory notes, moderate tannin and fairly bright acidity. Those traits suit the table better than a sipping glass. That acidity is why it works with tomato-based food. Pasta with ragù, baked ziti, eggplant parmigiana, sausage-and-pepper pizza and roast chicken with rosemary are natural matches. Aged hard cheeses such as pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano also pair well. Skip very delicate fish and heavily spiced dishes, which can make a medium-bodied red taste thin. Serve it slightly cooler than room temperature, around 60 to 65°F. Twenty minutes in the refrigerator before opening is usually enough in a warm kitchen. A red of this style generally doesn't need decanting. Pouring it into a wide glass about 15 minutes before dinner is enough to open up the aromas. A standard red wine glass with a moderately wide bowl is the right choice. Wines in this category are generally made to be drunk young, within a couple of years of purchase, so treat this as a bottle to open soon, not to cellar.