The 2003 Rosso della Castellada is an exciting, super-ripe wine loaded with sumptuous dark fruit. The 2003 Rosso possesses gorgeous inner perfume as well as remarkable elegance in its tannins, no small feat in this vintage. The hot weather seems to have been a huge help in ripening the fruit here. The style in this vintage is decidedly ripe and opulent, yet the 2003 Rosso offers exceptional balance all the way through to the round, harmonious finish. This is an exceptional wine in every way. Rosso della Castellada is mostly Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019. This is a very strong set of releases from La Castellada, particularly considering the good, but not great, quality of the 2005 vintage. The 2005 whites seem to be made in a style that favors richness of fruit over aromatics but it is impossible to argue with the wines’ overall balance. Given the enviable location of the estate’s hillside vineyards, my feeling is that La Castellada has the potential to make some of the very finest whites in Friuli and Italy, for that matter. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799