You wouldn't immediately associate sunny and landlocked Umbria as a land of Pinot Noir cultivation, but this effort from Castello della Sala presents a convincing argument for this particular pairing of grape and territory. The 2016 Pinot Nero opens to a beautiful ruby color and delivers aromas that are very characteristic of the variety, such as blue flower, wild cherry and orange peel. However, there is a distinctively Mediterranean or Italian signature to this wine with garden herb and rosemary essence. I remember the 2015 vintage being slightly more closed when I tasted that wine on release. This 2016 vintage sings loud straight from the start.