Savvy wine buys: Falesco Vitiano '01

Beautiful Umbria, the province sandwiched between Tuscany and Rome, is often overlooked as a wine region, but in fact produces many fine wines. This value red is made by one of Italy's giants, Falesco, which produces more than 2 million bottles of this wine alone per year.

This is a young, tannic, light wine that is only 12-plus percent alcohol. It's a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented in stainless steel and then oak aged in barrels from France, which adds a little body to what is otherwise drinkable but uncomplicated.

Available at Costco and Las Vegas Wine Company, $7.99.

-- Max Jacobson

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