2022 Rosso Piceno Ste

The Santa Barbara Verdicchios stand out with a discernible, polished, and ripe character, maintaining fantastic balance. While vividly fruity and forward, there is no lack of complexity here. The wines also offer terrific value. While the whites initially turned my head (specifically the Riserva Tardivo Ma Non), the Santa Barbara winery can also excel with reds, particularly Bordeaux varieties. The Pathos blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah, as well as the varietal Merlot Mossone, are exceptional in the region. However, please note that they receive a generous amount of well-integrated oak, which takes some time to mellow. Speaking of the Mossone, the 2019 is another fine addition to past vintages, yet the 2020 comes across as disjointed, which I attribute to the season's warmth.