40% Sangiovese, 25% Alicante, 25% Syrah and 10% Carignan from Tuscany, Italy.
SRP of $36. Available for as low as $28 (Saturday Splurge). Sample submitted for review.
From the winery:
"Aragone is a distinctive wine made in a region famous for Super-Tuscan blends with Bordeaux varieties. This wine looks not to the Medoc, but to the Mediterranean. Indigenous Sangiovese is blended with Syrah (typical of Southern France), Alicante (typical of Spain) and Carignan, creating a 'Super-Med' blend that brings together these noble grapes and highlights the heritage of winemaking from across the Mediterranean. The name 'Aragone' refers to the Aragons of Spain, who together with the Medici family of Florence, dominated the region of Maremma in the 1500's. The six-point star depicted on the label, represents an aerial view of 'Forte Stella,' which is located in Porto Ercole just south of Grossetto, built by the Spanish around 1550.
13.5% Alcohol"
I've been on quite a winning streak of Italian vino lately with wines like the delicious and affordableFratelli Barba Colle Marino Montepulciano, the unique and intriguing Castelfeder Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige, the pizza ready Lagaria Syrah-Nero d'Avola and back to Alto Adige for the delicious native grape of Lagrein. We've got many more Italian reviews coming over the next few weeks, but today we turn to a Sangiovese based blend from the Bastianich family, who you may be familiar with from their restaurants and TV shows like Master Chef (Joe Bastianich) and one of my daughers' favorite shows Lidia's Italy (Lidia Bastianich, Joe's mom). We'll talk more about their wine ventures in upcoming reviews of some of their other wines, but suffice it to say for now, they know their wine and today's wine is a fine one indeed.
The 2007 La Mozza Aragone Maremma Toscana begins with very pleasant ripe black cherry, licorice, spice and floral aromas. Tasting this wonderfully balanced wine reveals flavors similar to the bouquet: rich and delicious ripe dark fruit, licorice, a bit of earthiness and good spice. This Italian Saturday Splurge is simply delicious with a texture I can best describe as "deeply smooth". It ends with a dry, excellent finish. Extremely enjoyable to drink and a reminder that there's nothing quite like a great Italian wine!
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
