Ruby Red color. Fruity aromas like berries, cherries, and blackberries are in perfect combination with the soft notes that come from the oak, such as mocha, chocolate, and vanilla. Gentle entrance on the palate, well-balanced tannins, rounded body that makes this wine very easy to drink.
Cazzaro is produced by La Bollina Winery. This vino d’italia is a blend of Primitivo, Uva di Troia, Malvasia Nera, and Negroamaro from Puglia (the heel of the boot). This is a very fertile region, known for the cultivation of olives, figs, almonds, wheat, and of course grapevines.
Puglia is an important wine region in the world with dozens of DOCs. The wines were once known as “inexpensive bulk wines” because they were more focused on quantity over quality. Much has changed in Puglia over the last two decades and wines from the “heel of the boot” now represent very high quality and some of the best values in the world, with a particular focus on the indigenous varietals like Primitivo, Uva di Troia, Malvasia Nera, and Negroamaro.
Cazzaro is a tiny production that was rated 98 points by Luca Maroni in the “Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2020”, one of the most comprehensive references for Italian wine in the world.
Aged for 6 months in French and American barrels, the wine is full of fruit, only a touch of oak, and is ideal for any time drinking. Serve on its own or pair it with a pizza, hamburger, or a grilled steak. If you like Zinfandel or rich red blends, you’ll love this wine.
Location: Serravalle Scrivia, Province of Alessandria, Italy
Situated in the historical territory specializing in Gavi DOCG production, La Bollina vineyard for centuries has been the residence Marchioness Figari of Genova. Within the 120 hectares and surrounded by hills, chestnut woods develops prestigious wines.
Here you will not only find the Agriculture Company, which expands for 28 hectares of vineyard and has a good equipped production wine cellar, but also three types of high quality tourist accommodations: an Art Nouveau villa transformed into a 4 star luxury hotel with a green park and Congress Center, a modern 4 star hotel and for those who are keen on golf, and a 9 hole golf course extended between the vineyards, where we produce our wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2019 Cazzaro Rosso Italian Red Blend - $35 = 17.94%
@jrbw3@ttboy23 um, you know I’m in…I’m always in…I did buy that port if anyone wants some of that too…unless you guys got that as well…I’ve never had port, but I’m excited to try some
Let me know if I need to buy it or someone else is grabbing it after we see what the rats say…
@jhkey@kaolis@rlmanzo Is it his skill or consistency that’s lacking, in addition to his point inflation? When James Suckling gives a 96, sure, it’s not a real 96, but the wine is still probably pretty good.
@KNmeh7@PatrickKarcher@rlmanzo I’ve never really figured out his rating system other than he does seem to enjoy the fruit bombs. He is not a wine reviewer by the way. He is a sensory analyst and his scores are based on a pleasantness index, not making that up. The index has three criteria, each worth 33 points +1. Whatever that means. They are consistency, balance and integrity
I’m confused. It says that it is from Puglia (which, considering the grapes in it, makes perfectly sense) but the vinemaker is in Gavi? Eh?
What’s going on there?!
@MarkDaSpark well, cazzaro is both a prankster and/or someone who doesn’t do a thing all day (cazzo, from which “cazzaro” comes from, means dick). Either way, I would reconsider my marketing department choices if I was the producer
@salpo@markdaspark - My family always used cazzaro to mean “bullsh*tter.” Regardless, it’s a VERY interesting label name, no? (And I’m VERY tempted to buy 1/2 a case just because of the name and send it to the family in NJ. They’d get a big laugh out of it.)
Looks like this is a pretty cheap, 6 EUR wine. Mediocre reviews on Vivino (at least according to the Google translated versions of them), but all say it’s decent for the price (understandably higher on Casemates than what you pay in Europe, but maybe not up to snuff for the quality of this wine).
@theglassrat thanks for finding that page! 13+ per case price seems excessive for a wine that is sold at Aldi in Germany, honestly…
Will pass on this, but would buy as practical jokes for my Italian friends
@kaolis@salpo@theglassrat
Somehow I got on BHW spam email list. Most everything seemed overpriced. After a few tries to unsubscribe I just blacklisted the domain.
@chipgreen@theglassrat in Italy it is a discount retailer, not that differently from here. In Germany it is more like a supermarket, but still not like a WholeFood. In brief: not a great place for getting the best wines, I’d say
UPS blew off delivery yesterday. Showed up today with 5 of 12 bottles damaged due to freezing (protruding corks). Super unimpressed with UPS as of late.
I contacted support, but curious what the Casemates SOP is for mitigating shipping damage (refund vs. reship).
For anyone who cares…received my case of this Italian vino. Unlike @corrado…mine came in a sturdy box, not frozen, and delivered per UPS advertised timeframe.
Anyhow…on to what was in the bottle. First, here is the outside of the bottle…and cork…
As you can see…they are using Nomacorc because they care about the environment…good for them.
Popped the cork, poured about an inch through a Venturi being that the wine is so young.
On the nose I got what in my estimation was cherry cough syrup…not impressive. No discernible berries to speak of but a little heat for sure. Very slight oak, anise and a throwback to flat cola (wherever I smelled that before…probably college). No mocha, chocolate or vanilla in this bottle.
After a few sips and washing around the mouth, I didn’t think this wine was very well rounded…and definitely not complex. The round fruitiness is definitely there with a mild spice…dry on the finish but still sweet…too sweet for my preference.
I’m glad I didn’t pay the Big Hammer price of $19.99/bottle…the Casemates case price was spot on. This is the kind of wine I would buy in bulk for an occasion…like a wedding.
I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. It lacks the elegance and uniqueness that I look for in a everyday drinker…so I’ll save it and pull out multiple bottles when we can legally gather in groups and eat lots of food and drink too much.
2019 Cazzaro Rosso Vino d’Italia
Tasting Notes
98 Points ~ Luca Maroni, Annuario dei Migliori Vini Italiani 2020
Included in the Box
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $360/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Feb 22 - Tuesday, Feb 23
Cazzaro Rosso Italian Red Blend
4 bottles for $64.99 $16.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2019 Cazzaro Rosso Italian Red Blend
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2019 Cazzaro Rosso Italian Red Blend - $35 = 17.94%
@ttboy23 let’s watch for rats but I’m interested.
@jrbw3 @kasandrae 3-way split this time around?
I’m good with (3 or 4).
@jrbw3 @ttboy23 um, you know I’m in…I’m always in…I did buy that port if anyone wants some of that too…unless you guys got that as well…I’ve never had port, but I’m excited to try some
Let me know if I need to buy it or someone else is grabbing it after we see what the rats say…
This offer is scratching me right where my cellar itches. Gonna sleep on 4 vs 12, hoping for rats as well.
rats where ya at? super tempting, need confirmation.
Not fair…any wine being offered around 1/27 is at a distinct disadvantage. Great offer, but…
Luca Maroni = James Suckling. Maybe even worse
@kaolis
Sadly, he’s worse. Way worse.(if that’s possible)
When I see a Maroni endorsement, I immediately lose interest.
@rlmanzo yeahhhh…I was trying to be nice
@kaolis @rlmanzo Agreed 100%. My ranking of shills: 1)J.Newman 2)Maroni 3)Suckling
@jhkey @kaolis @rlmanzo Is it his skill or consistency that’s lacking, in addition to his point inflation? When James Suckling gives a 96, sure, it’s not a real 96, but the wine is still probably pretty good.
@kaolis @PatrickKarcher @rlmanzo Yes, I didn’t mean to imply that a high Suckling or Maroni score meant anything negative about the wine.
@kaolis All I could think of was Spinal Tap “but this one goes to 11”
@kaolis @KNmeh7 “This wine goes to 101” ~ Luca Maroni
@kaolis @KNmeh7 @PatrickKarcher
He doesn’t issue a rating <98. Literally, that’s his baseline.
I mean, what’s the point?
@KNmeh7 @PatrickKarcher @rlmanzo I’ve never really figured out his rating system other than he does seem to enjoy the fruit bombs. He is not a wine reviewer by the way. He is a sensory analyst and his scores are based on a pleasantness index, not making that up. The index has three criteria, each worth 33 points +1. Whatever that means. They are consistency, balance and integrity
@jhkey @kaolis @rlmanzo
You forgot Wilfred Wong!
Are there any NYers interested in a split?
@Maurakid Central NY???
@FritzCat sadly no—lower westchester (although still under the mighty cuomo thumb. Ugh)
I’m confused. It says that it is from Puglia (which, considering the grapes in it, makes perfectly sense) but the vinemaker is in Gavi? Eh?
What’s going on there?!
@salpo That caught my attention as well. Hope the grapes didn’t have to travel all that way to end up in the bottle?
@Allieroon right! That’s quite a hike!
Btw, can’t find this wine in any Italian website. It looks like this was made exclusively for foreign markets. Quite suspicious indeed
@salpo. Cazzaro translates supposedly into “idiot” or “stupid”. So yes, suspicious indeed!
@MarkDaSpark well, cazzaro is both a prankster and/or someone who doesn’t do a thing all day (cazzo, from which “cazzaro” comes from, means dick). Either way, I would reconsider my marketing department choices if I was the producer
@salpo @markdaspark - My family always used cazzaro to mean “bullsh*tter.”
Regardless, it’s a VERY interesting label name, no? (And I’m VERY tempted to buy 1/2 a case just because of the name and send it to the family in NJ. They’d get a big laugh out of it.)
@veevandyke that’s totally one of the meanings too!
Absolutely tempting for the same reason to me as well
@veevandyke
DO it! DO it!
(That was my weak attempt at a Sopranos reference)
@chipgreen
Looks like this is a pretty cheap, 6 EUR wine. Mediocre reviews on Vivino (at least according to the Google translated versions of them), but all say it’s decent for the price (understandably higher on Casemates than what you pay in Europe, but maybe not up to snuff for the quality of this wine).
@theglassrat thanks for finding that page! 13+ per case price seems excessive for a wine that is sold at Aldi in Germany, honestly…
Will pass on this, but would buy as practical jokes for my Italian friends
@salpo @theglassrat Big Hammer Wines, never heard of them, is selling for $19.99
https://www.bighammerwines.com/products/cazzaro-rosso-vino-ditalia
Also found it for HK$448.00…wonder how much the ship is ??
https://www.winetimehk.com/products/cazzaro-rosso-vino-ditalia-2019-set-6-i132-750ml
@kaolis @salpo @theglassrat
Somehow I got on BHW spam email list. Most everything seemed overpriced. After a few tries to unsubscribe I just blacklisted the domain.
@kaolis @rjquillin @theglassrat well done! That big hammer sounds like the headache you’ll have afterwards…
@salpo @theglassrat
FWIW, Aldi is not positioned as a discount retailer in Europe like it is here in the US.
@chipgreen @theglassrat in Italy it is a discount retailer, not that differently from here. In Germany it is more like a supermarket, but still not like a WholeFood. In brief: not a great place for getting the best wines, I’d say
@chipgreen @salpo In Spain, at least, it’s very much still a discount retailer. Just with a better reputation than perhaps it has here.
This is a strange Friday offer
BTW, I wish there were more Italian wines offerings here, casemates! Just this one looks like a bad deal…
UPS blew off delivery yesterday. Showed up today with 5 of 12 bottles damaged due to freezing (protruding corks). Super unimpressed with UPS as of late.
I contacted support, but curious what the Casemates SOP is for mitigating shipping damage (refund vs. reship).
@corrado Just had the same issue with the 2 Jakes of D. Casemates refunded me, although I asked for a reship.
For anyone who cares…received my case of this Italian vino. Unlike @corrado…mine came in a sturdy box, not frozen, and delivered per UPS advertised timeframe.
Anyhow…on to what was in the bottle. First, here is the outside of the bottle…and cork…
As you can see…they are using Nomacorc because they care about the environment…good for them.
Popped the cork, poured about an inch through a Venturi being that the wine is so young.
On the nose I got what in my estimation was cherry cough syrup…not impressive. No discernible berries to speak of but a little heat for sure. Very slight oak, anise and a throwback to flat cola (wherever I smelled that before…probably college). No mocha, chocolate or vanilla in this bottle.
After a few sips and washing around the mouth, I didn’t think this wine was very well rounded…and definitely not complex. The round fruitiness is definitely there with a mild spice…dry on the finish but still sweet…too sweet for my preference.
I’m glad I didn’t pay the Big Hammer price of $19.99/bottle…the Casemates case price was spot on. This is the kind of wine I would buy in bulk for an occasion…like a wedding.
I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. It lacks the elegance and uniqueness that I look for in a everyday drinker…so I’ll save it and pull out multiple bottles when we can legally gather in groups and eat lots of food and drink too much.