Cotarella Sodale 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service.

Founded in 1979 by winemaker brothers Renzo and Riccardo Cotarella, the Cotarella winery is located in central Italy, with its headquarters in Umbria and vineyards distributed across Lazio, Umbria, and Tuscany. The estate, which comprises over 35 hectares of vineyards, is now led by the second generation of the family in the persons of Dominga, Marta, and Enrica.

Cotarella Sodale is a youthful, intense red wine made from Merlot grapes sourced from vineyards in Castiglione in Teverina, situated at an altitude of approximately 300 meters above sea level on predominantly clay-based sedimentary soils. Sodale is the estate’s second label—the "younger brother" to the more prestigious Montiano—offering a fresher, more approachable character. Following harvest and vinification in stainless steel tanks, the wine ages for nine months in French oak.

In the glass, the wine displays an intense ruby ​​hue. Its aromatic profile is rich and exuberant, featuring notes of cherry, red berries, and plum, followed by spicy nuances and hints of cocoa. On the palate, it is soft, warm, and smooth, boasting good concentration and supple tannins. Try pairing it with Bolognese lasagna or a juicy steak.