Wine review: Tavernello

For those who like to occasionally venture off of the sunny side of the street, there are also wines to drink while you're there. Tavernello is conveniently packaged in a set of three formed plastic drinking boxes and can be yours from any supermarket for the incredibly economical price of just over a single euro (1.12€, less with tear-away coupon).

At first glance, Tavernello Vinodo (tavola rosso) isn't much to look at. The packages are opened by pulling off a single shiny plastic silver tab, allowing your waiter to ask perhaps, "shall I rip it open a container or two for you?" After wiping up the spilled droplets of ruby-coloured liquid that have spurted from the container to your shirt sleeves, you are rewarded with a bouquet of deep earthy tones of mushroom, berry, and prune. As well, slight hints of pomegranate, raspberry, and camomile are evident after the wine has been allowed to breathe, and these scents are best accentuated by swirling the wine around in a plastic cup.

The taste of the wine, while lacking in any real body or character, is obviously structured so as not to offend or charm anyone: this is clearly a wine for pairing, and indeed, when matched with a smelly cheese or spicy salami, the flavour of the wine is dramatically improved. With notes of prune, evergreen, blackberry, rubbing alcohol and old shoe, Tavernello smells slightly better than it tastes and is probably enjoyed most on the sixth or seventh box. It is slightly tannic, possibly having been fermented in a French oak barrel, or more likely, fermented with crushed oak chips, and will leave your lips puckering.

Thankfully, there is little aftertaste, and the wine has a pleasant warmth and smoothness. Best drunk immediately: do not cellar.