Posted By Joel on June 16, 2011

iGreco Catà Gaglioppo Rosso 2007

A flow of humid air lifts gauzy curtains from the open window.
Somewhere, thunder.
Lazy, quiet, stillness.
And…
I. Am. Bored.

I’m especially bored with wine / food pairings that leave me needing adventure.

Seeking to sate my culinary wanderlust, I order a couple of Indian dishes, grab a volume of Pablo Neruda poems from the bookshelf and head to the cellar…let’s see… looking, looking… yes…a bottle of Gaglioppo it shall be!

I am not disappointed.

iGreco’s Catà Gaglioppo Rosso 2007 was superb with the Indian dishes, countering their spice with ripe fruit and soft tannins, complimenting the dish with its own spice notes and just the right amount of complexity.

An oil mill family for generations, iGreco is run by seven children of Tomasso Greco who produce wines from lands and traditions inherited from their father, using Gaglioppo, Nero d’Avola (known locally as Calabrese), Greco and Malvasia varietals.

iGreco Catà Gaglioppo Rosso is produced from 100% Gaglioppo – a varietal native to Italy’s Calabria - grown in the Cirò zone and fermented in stainless steel. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in barrique (six months).

Tasting Notes:

Medium-bodied and deeply flavored with fruity red berry and spice notes, this Calabrian rosso expresses a soft contour on the palate along with sweet, vanilla-inflected tannins and a long finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions:

Yes, pair this wine with grilled or roasted meats, pasta with red sauces or pizza and it will be delicious! But, I encourage you toward adventure :try the wine slightly cooled with spicy tuna maki; enjoy it with Indian channa masala or dal makhani. Too far from your comfort zone? Serve this wine with a dish of penne “arrabiata” or eggplant parm and it will leave you smiling.

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Categories: $$ ($25-$50), Calabria, Wine
Tags: Gaglioppo