This week I had a welcome opportunity to try Tintilia and add another notch in my belt towards tasting the estimated 350 commercially viable indigenous varietal that are cultivated in Italy. (I have EST 300+ to go.)  Considering the fact that most Italians outside of Molise haven't heard of this grape, Tintilia is a varietal that is almost certainly unknown outside of Italy. In fact, the importer for this wine, who is from Liguria, admitted that he had never heard or this varietal until he found it at Vinitaly.  

Hibiscus tea, cherries and soil are the first notes on the nose of this red made from the rarely seen Tintilia grape of Molise. A bit of vanilla and tobacco leaf also come out as it opens up. The palate is more focused on red fruit—cherries and raspberries—but a hint of plum appears, as do moderate acid and approachable tannins.

Overall, this wine is a welcome introduction to a rarely seen grape from an underrepresented region, this is well worth a try.