A pure expression of Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, the De Stefani 2018 Kreda (with about 5,000 bottles made, including some larger formats) pours forth with inky dark concentration. The wine has some of the bitterness and rawness that is often associated with Refosco, but these results have been mostly softened by barrique-aging. This is a powerful red, with 16.5% alcohol, to pair with mesquite-smoked meat. The mouthfeel is slightly leaner in 2018, but the wine's power is intact.

A pure expression of the Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso grape that is native to Northeast Italy, the 2015 Kreda is an inky dense and full-bodied red wine. The grapes see 20 days of appassimento, and they are fermented on the skins in cement vats. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrique, and the wine continues its aging in French oak for an additional 24 months. What you get here is a seriously enriched and opulent expression that oozes dark fruit flavors, raw plum, blackberry, bitter chocolate and espresso bean. In this part of the Veneto, Refosco dal Penducolo Rosso is commonly paired with the local codfish and onion specialty, Baccalà alla Vicentina. Incidentally, the word Kreda means "clay" in the local dialect, and it describes the thick, heavy soils where this single-vineyard planting is located. Exactly 11,328 bottles were made. The 2015 vintage is extra rich and succulent.

A pure expression of Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, the 2014 Kreda undergoes a brief appassimento before going into French barrique for two years. The word "Kreda" is local dialect for clay and as you can imagine, that is precisely the soil composition of this single vineyard. This is a dark and robust effort with lots of muscle, brawn and aromatic power. The bouquet opens to black notes of tar, bitter chocolate, espresso bean and cherry confit. This is a big and important wine that has put on ample weight despite the cooler vintage. The wine is extra robust and powerful.