Cantine Garrone "Munaloss" Vino Rosso NV

Delicious younger-vine Prünent (Nebbiolo, 80%) blended with Croatina (20%) produces an immediately enjoyable, low-tannin red wine of character. Not only is it versatile and mouthwatering but it also helps to preserve the agrarian way of life in this area of Italy by including the fruit of like-minded small farmers in the surrounding mountain valleys who do not bottle their own wine.

The Vino Rosso "Munaloss" is bright, focused and sculpted, with elegant aromas of rose, raspberry and currant, and hints of licorice and aromatic herbs. Bright red in color, the mouthfeel is sculpted by freshness, its subtle structure flows with pleasure and lightness. Flavors of sweet red fruit, sage, mint and blood orange abound in this super-expressive non-vintage wine. It is also very reductive, with stony complexity, fresh violets and dried mushrooms. 

Exuberant yet classically built, the wine has fine energy and tons of class. The attack is almost austere due to its exuberant freshness, with lightly framed ripe tannins and a tight finish. A crunchy, delicious, easy-drinking style. This is a fabulous entry-level offering. This distinctive, giving wine would cost 3-4x more in many other regions.

This wine was originally called “Ossolanum,” which is the old Roman name for the Val d’Ossola area. The modern Italian government decided in its wisdom that “Ossolanum” isn’t allowed on wine labels and fined the Garrones €500. So “Munaloss” is (almost) “Ossolanum” backwards.