WineShout Review: 2012 Fortissimo

The most immediately gratifying of the new releases from La Stella, Fortissimo (love the name!) is a blend of almost equal parts Merlot (39%) and Cab Franc (38%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (17%) and Sangiovese (6%). The Cab Franc has in previous vintages represented a much smaller proportion in the blend, but in 2012, with the higher temperatures, it was used to keep down alcohol levels as Merlot can be a boozy sucker for heat.

Deep ruby in the glass, the 2012 Fortissimo is packed with bright, luscious fruit of a perfect ripeness, harvest-ready cherries and raspberries, more anis[e] than liquorice and a wink of a spicy zing, supported by smooth tannins and balanced out nicely by a backbone of acidity. In addition to French oak, La Stella continues to use Slavonian, a tighter oak than French, which adds a thoroughly interesting aspect to the well-integrated oak notes. Fortissimo is a bright, young stud of a star