Dark ruby color. Earthy and just slightly funky black cherry aromas with a distinctive dusty component. Dominated by cherry fruit on the palate, with subtle tannins and balanced acids. Overall very nice, but nothing truly exceptional/complex/overly interesting. Good with red sauced pasta.

This is another in a long string of data points that tell me I would rather have the basic bottling from a very good vintage than a reserve/riserva/special selection from an average vintage. Give me the regular '97 Fontodi CC or '97 Felsina CC any day over this '96.