This wine is why I think Italian wines are so great; a delicious red from a place few people have heard of, made from a grape known by fewer still. The 2006 Statti Gaglioppo hails from Calabria, the sun baked “toe” of the Italian boot. Calabria is one of the 20 regions of Italy who in total, produce hundreds of different varietals, most of them limited to a very small geographical area of production. The Gaglioppo is just such a grape. Suspected of being related to an ancient Greek varietal or the Sicilian Frappato, the Gaglioppo is well adapted to the exceedingly hot and dry conditions in Calabria. The 2006 Statti Gaglioppo is 100% Gaglioppo (read: not tainted with any other grapes you never heard of). The Statti estate, owned by Alberto and Antonio Statti, is over 500 hectares in size, making it one of the largest in the region. Besides growing indigenous varietals (Gaglioppo and Mantonico, a white grape used in sweet nectars) they produce olive oil, grow vegetables and raise livestock. Fermented and aged in stainless, the wine has an intense ruby red color and a strong nose of cherries and spice. Fruit-bombish in taste, but at the same time, softly tannic. Beautifully textured mouth feel; nice smooth finish. Well worth the trouble to find. I look forward to trying more wines from this region.
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