4 an6 bottle level     $30 (member price $27) 
100% Merlot   14.1% ABV

Famiglia Cotarella is a 3^rd generation family owned winery.  If the brand isn’t familiar, it’s because the first two generations called it Falesco, and in 2017, the 3^rd generation renamed it to reflect their family’s heritage.  It was founded in 1979.  (Most of the premium vineyards in Lazio are east and south east of Rome, but Famiglia Cotarella’s vineyards are north of Rome, bordering Umbria.  The genesis for Sodale was when the 1^st generation (Renzo and Ricardo) were visited by the owner of Chateau Cheval Blanc, who suggested they plant Merlot, because the terroir was similar to that of Saint Emilion Grand Cru.  They smuggled Cheval Blanc clippings into Italy and promptly planted them!  Aged ten months in French oak barriques (mostly neutral).   This is a soft wine on the attack, with red raspberry, black plum, vanilla and nutmeg.  The finish is more mineral driven. 

Food Pairing Suggestions:
Serve this soft, elegant red with chicken cacciatore, beef Bourguignon, chicken en papillote, Italian sausages with roasted cherry tomatoes and shallot over creamy polenta, classic chicken Marsala, crispy chicken cutlets with drizzled lemon and capers, Milanese style pork cutlets with truffled risotto, roasted butternut squash salad with dried cranberries, braised rabbit with mushroom polenta, gnocchi gratin with sage cream sauce, pasta Bolognese, and butternut squash ravioli in brown butter sage sauce. This velvety red also pairs beautifully with wide range of regional cheeses like Tallegio, Robiola, Pecorino and Gorgonzola.