La Mozza Aragone 2005

The more expensive of La Mozza's two wine offerings, this bottle sells for around $43. We picked it up at Italian Wine Merchants in NYC. Aragone is the name the winemaker has given to this blend, which represents their attempt at a different kind of "Super-Tuscan" (a name given the regions non-traditional blends). La Mozza is owned by Lydia Bastianich, Joe Bastianich, and Mario Batali.

EXPERIENCE

This cork gave off a telltale spice. The first sip is vague at first then leads to a citrusy, tart finish. The wine is surprisingly light and the finish surprisingly strong. As the wine opened up, the fruity, citrus flavor became less apparent and the tart, dryness became the main focus. The aroma was pleasant throughout, but almost deceiving; we expected more on the "front" of the wine, not just a strong finish. In the end we wished the wine was more balanced like La Mozza's less costly "I Perazzi".

VERDICT

NOT A VALUE As huge fans of all things Batali and Bastianich, this was hard for us to dole out. At $40+ a bottle, this wine simply doesn't stack up, especially since we are such big fans of La Mozza's other offering.

FACTS

La Mozza is located in the Maremma region in the province of Grosseto in southern Toscana. The Aragone is classified IGT and is composed of 40% Sangiovese, 25% Alicante, 25% Syrah, and 10% Carignan.