The 2010 Pomele Aleatico is a gracious, mid-weight dessert wine. Sweet candied cherries, dried flowers, spices and herbs are woven together nicely. The Pomele is a fresh, unoaked wine meant for near-term drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. Brothers Renzo and Riccardo Cotarella make a wide range of wines at Falesco, their family-owned winery on the Umbria/Lazio border. As always, readers will find a number of great values in this lineup. The range includes three additions that have been in the works for the last few years; the Sagrantino, Syrah Tellus and Assisi Rosso, the wine I am personally the most excited about. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The 2009 Aleatico Pomele is the red grape alter-ego to the Passiro. Perfumed, spiced red cherries waft from the glass, showing lovely inner perfume in a fresh style suited for near-term drinking. This is a moderately sweet dessert wine with 100 grams of residual sugar per liter. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. Proprietor Riccardo Cotarella is a fountain of energy. Cotarella is best known for his numerous consulting projects, but in recent years he has devoted considerable attention to reviving some of the indigenous and obscure varieties found in Lazio and Umbria. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

Pomele is a sweet red wine made from the Aleatico grape that could pair with salty and sweet foods. The wine offers bright tones of black cherry, blackberry and a touch of exotic spice. ——M.L.(12/31/2010)—— 90

The 2008 Aleatico Pomele is a sweet red dessert wine typical of this part of central Italy. The Pomele is made in a fresh, vinous style ideal for pairing with lighter-bodied dishes or for enjoying after a meal. This unoaked sweet wine is best consumed on the young side. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011. Riccardo Cotarella’s wines at Falesco continue to deliver incredible value.A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The 2007 Pomele is made from Aleatico, an ancient red variety that is native to parts of Lazio. This delicious red combines elements of freshness in its dark, jammy fruit. It is an ideal wine to pair with cooked fruit and chocolate desserts. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011. Riccardo Cotarella’s numerous consulting engagements take him all over the world, but it is Falesco, his estate in the rolling hills of Umbria, that he calls home. Falesco is a family affair, with Cotarella’s brother Renzo, and daughter Dominga involved in running the winery. The sprawling property covers 670 acres, 370 of which are under vine. Quality is incredibly consistent when one considers that nearly 3 million bottles emerge from these cellars each year. Never one to rest on his laurels, Cotarella has several new projects in the works. One of the most intriguing of these is a Sagrantino he is making from three hectares of rented vineyards in Bevagna. The first vintage, 2006, will be released later this year.Importer:A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620