A $17 Italian Original

I'd been looking for a few bottles of an everyday red to drink with casual dinners at home.   I then stumbled upon Robert Parker's description of the Saladini Pilastri Pregio del Conte 2001 and picked up 5 bottles.  This is definitely a case in which his tasting notes match my own.  I think this is a good value worth picking up.

"The 2001 Pregio del Conte mixes Montepulciano with Aglianico, and this is, to my knowledge, as far north as this outstanding southern Italian grape ever gets. A blast of smoky, tarry, plum and raspberry fruit on the nose, its dense, concentrated, and potent flavors, richly tannic but with much velvet as well, represent something quite original on the central Italian scene and much worth developing in warm areas where Aglianico can be ripened. Drink: 2006-2018. "

Robert Parker, 92 points