A big, bold fruity wine that simply says hello to the Holidays is Avignonesi Rosso di Montepulciano 2014 ($17.99). The wine is very fruit forward with inviting notes of violets and rose petals, followed by flavors of bing cherries, strawberries, raspberries and pomegranate with a hint of white pepper belying its aging in large oak casks for 9 months to give it a nice rounded finish. This is the red wine that goes with everything on the Holiday table, straight from appetizers of asparagus wrapped with prosciutto, cherry tomato, mozzarella and basil skewers, and assorted cheeses, right through to the turkey with sage and rosemary dressing, baked yams with cinnamon, scalloped potatoes and walnut, pomegranate and goat cheese spinach salad. For a pre-Holiday dry run, try Angel Hair pasta with a simple sauce of cherry tomato, Buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil with a dash of the wine thrown in just before serving. Its a taste treat that will make you want to open a second bottle!
