The 2010 Frappato is a gorgeous wine endowed with expressive inner perfume, sweet red fruit and an impossibly long, silky finish. It shows terrific depth on the palate, but some of the wine's more feminine qualities will be emphasized if it is served slightly chilled during the warm summer months when it is sure to provide much pleasure. The Frappato was aged in steel. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. This is a superb set of wines from Valle dell'Acate. Not only are the wines delicious, the best bottles deliver incredible value as well. The estate uses only their best hillside plots for the Valle dell'Acate label, while the vineyards in the plains are used for the entry-level Case Ibidini range.Importer: Polaner Selections, Mt. Kisco, NY; tel. (914) 244-0404

Il Frappato is a seriously fun wine that would pair with pasta, pizza or even spicy Indian food. It’s a light, crisp red wine (serve it slightly chilled) with bright berry aromas of blueberry and wild strawberry. It’s informal but attractively layered at the same time. ——M.L.(4/1/2012)—— 88