La Mozza "I Perazzi" Morellino di Scansano 2005

We have drunk more bottles of this wine than either of us care to admit (or can remember). At around $17 a bottle, I Perazzi is attractive to the budget conscious. Don't be deceived by La Mozza's creative names; this is a Morellino di Scansano.

EXPERIENCE

Though the cork and aroma don't offer a whole lot, the taste does not disappoint. Fruity at first with a nice medium body and a hint of alcohol in the finish, the wine offers a very well rounded and balanced experience. The one thought we keep coming back to is that this is just a pleasant wine to drink all the way through. It stands on its own, offers an interesting tasting, and can also be easily paired with food.

VERDICT

GOOD AND CHEAP Balance, balance, balance. La Mozza has it right with this wine. It is just easy to drink. When you consider the price tag, the wine goes well above what you'd ever expect. If Quintarelli's Valpolicella is our Ferrari 250 GT, this is our Fiat 124 Sport Spider. Bottom line, find this wine, buy it and enjoy it.

FACTS

La Mozza is located in the Maremma region of the province of Grosseto in southern Toscana. I Perazzi is classified DOC and is composed of 85% Morellino (the local name for what is actually Sangiovese), 4% Syrah, 4% Alicante, 3% Colorino, 4% Ciliegiollo.

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.