OK, the name is way too cutesy and I was suspicious as soon as I saw it. But it also contains an interesting blend of grapes - Frappato Nero, Nerello Cappuccio, Nerello Mascalese, and Nero d'Avola. 25% of each in a field blend. And the price was only $15 and the alcohol level came in below that, at 13%. I figured, what the hell - at least they weren't going with Red Penguin or Buggered Antelope or some such other cutesy name. It's made by "Saro di Pietro's Societa Vini Rossi Pachino, Sicily", "in collaboration with the owner of the Tuscan estate of Dievole".
Well this one paid off. The wine is lean and fairly complex in a rustic Italian way. Restrained red fruit with a hint of herb and tobacco. Firm acidity that made it a good pairing for pork chops glazed with an asian garlic-chilli-cumin-cilanto mix. And even better after a day in the fridge, with the red fruit dropping just a touch in intensity and a concomitant increase in the hebal-tobacco flavors. Great stuff and I'll be going back for more.
I can only hope they don't have an overly ripe, heavily oaked reserve waiting in the wings. "Money Shot" would be too much......
Mike
