This is a full-throttle, no-holds-barred red with serious structure and swagger. The nose opens with a whiff of rubber and smoke, giving way to a deep core of ripe black fruits - plum compote, blackberry, and black cherry - wrapped in savoury, herbal complexity. Dried herbs, green peppercorn, and tobacco leaf give it a wild, untamed edge, while notes of cedar, clove, and forest floor add depth. Its classic Tannat tannins are grippy, and built to last. A touch of vanilla rounds out the wine’s muscular frame. This is not a wine for the faint of heart - it’s brooding, intense, and unapologetically bold. Decant and buckle up.

Tucked into the lush hills of Serra Gaúcha, Pizzato Fausto is one of Brazil’s most exciting family-run wineries, blending deep Italian heritage with bold Brazilian energy. The Pizzato story began back in 1879, when the family emigrated from northeastern Italy and brought Bonarda vines to their new home. Originally producing wine for personal use and local cooperatives, the family took a major leap in 1999, founding their own label and bottling their first vintage - the now-iconic DNA 99 Merlot. Still entirely family-owned, the winemaking is now helmed by fifth-generation Flávio Pizzato (Brazil’s “Winemaker of the Year” in 2020), who continues to raise the bar with elegant reds, expressive whites, and increasingly refined sparkling wines that are helping put Brazil on the global wine map. Split between two vineyard sites - the original Vale dos Vinhedos estate and the newer Dois Lajeados property - Pizzato cultivates 45 hectares of vines across distinct terroirs. The higher-altitude, clay-and-basalt soils of Vale dos Vinhedos are ideal for structure-driven reds, while the second vineyard, in Cotiporã, supplies fruit for their vibrant ‘Fausto’ line. While Pizzato first gained international recognition for its Merlot and Cabernet-based reds, its sparklers are now turning just as many heads, thanks to their freshness, finesse, and fantastic value. Whether it’s a creamy Chardonnay fizz or a juicy, aromatic red blend, Pizzato wines tell a story of tradition, quality, and the bright, rising star that is Brazilian winemaking.