Alois Lageder Lagrein Alto Adige 2004

Alois Lageder makes lovely white wines from the Alto Adige in Italy's northernmost wine region. When I saw this red wine available at Binny's for $17 I jumped at the opportunity. It's a beautifully lucid garnet color with a slightly pink rim. The aroma is peppery and leathery, while the palate presents a tightly integrated, medium-bodied selection of dried fruits and refined tannins. It's somewhere between a Beaujolais cru and a sophisticated Barbera. It is, however, distinctly Italian.