Salvatore Geraci continues to make one of the iconic wines of southern Italy; hence I opted to share this bottle with my lady for her birthday this past weekend. Surrounded by our four children, our best friends and a sparklingly beautiful afternoon, we proceeded to imbibe in great flavors from the Finger Lakes. Some Rieslings from the area were a must, but I was secretly waiting to pull the cork on the 2007 Palari Faro.
Salvatore oversees every detail within his operation, from the condition of each vine to the restoration of his family manor into a modern winery and tasting room. He happens to be an architect as well. The images of Salvatore’s vineyards are astounding. From these impossibly steep terraces, he creates the Falari Paro. It was almost Burgundian in weight and light on its feet. Then you take notice of the floral bouquet, trying to anticipate the minerality you’ve read about. On the palate, the refined tannins are exactly as I imagined - the silky kind that you always hope for. Black fruit, cassis, tobacco and slight cedar are all present. I couldn’t have been happier with its showing, and it paired well with light snacks. My favorite was a croustade with spinach artichoke spread, but many enjoyed it with sliced steak.
The great part about this one is the fact that it remains so incredibly priced, at $62.99 and 96 points for an Iconic wine like this is a no brainer! Here’s The Wine Advocate’s take on this one.
“…The bouquet offers resinous aromas of tar and pine nut with pretty background notes of black licorice and dusty mineral. The quality of the tannin is silky and long. This is one of my favorite editions of the wine thanks to its profound complexity and slightly denser consistency. Drink 2016-2035.” 96 points, The Wine Advocate