Ruché

Ruché is a rare red grape centred on Castagnole Monferrato in Piedmont. Its distinctive feature is an unusually expressive floral and spicy perfume, giving it an immediate identity among the region's reds. That fragrance can suggest a sweet wine, but the classic Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato expression is dry and belongs at the dinner table.

Aromatic intensity and deep colour are not the same thing. Ruché need not look especially dark to give a strong impression, and the producer can choose between a more direct fruit-led wine and one with greater weight or maturation. The small local designation is a useful guide to origin, while the individual bottle explains how that perfume has been framed.

Try it with filled pasta, cured meats, roast poultry or a moderately mature cheese, where its fragrance has room to remain clear. Serve it a little cool rather than warm. If your usual choice is a restrained red, start with a modestly oaked example so you can decide whether the grape's naturally expressive character is what you enjoy.