Underdog Grape · Italy

Cesanese

Cesanese is the peppery, dark-fruited red the Romans have kept mostly to themselves. If you love Syrah's savory side but not its weight, start here.

Tasting profile
Red cherry and mulberry cut with cracked white pepper, a lick of rose petal, and a forest-floor edge that keeps it from ever tasting sweet.
Where it grows
Lazio, Italy
Where to buy
For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

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The region

Lazio, Italy

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Read the deep diveCesanese: Rome's Spicy Red That Drinks Like a Softer Syrah

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