In the glass
Aroma: blackberry, violet, pepper, earthy spice
Palate: dark fruit, black pepper, firm tannin, coffee
Fatagione is an unusual Italian cuvée: pure Mondeuse (Savoie's signature red grape) grown at altitude on Etna's volcanic soils, producing a peppery, full-bodied red.
What it pairs with
-
Wild boar stew with juniper
The wine's pepper and dark-fruit intensity pair beautifully with the resinous spice of game stew. -
Grilled Sicilian beef tagliata
Full body and firm tannins frame the richness of grilled beef. -
Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey
The sweet-spiced honey provides a bridge between the wine's pepper and the cheese's crystalline intensity.
How to serve Cottanera Fatagione
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Wild boar stew with juniper, Grilled Sicilian beef tagliata, Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Cottanera planted international varieties on Etna's high-altitude north slope in the 1990s, demonstrating the viability of French and Alpine grapes on the volcano. Fatagione from pure Mondeuse is the unusual flagship of this experiment, producing a full-bodied peppery red rare in Sicily.
- 2000 — First Fatagione vintage; Mondeuse on Etna established as a unique proposition
Facts
- Producer
- Cottanera
- Grapes
- Mondeuse
- Classification
- Sicilia IGT
- Oak
- 12 months in French oak barriques (30% new)
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- €30-50 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-12 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2000
Frequently asked about Cottanera Fatagione
What does Cottanera Fatagione taste like?
On the nose, blackberry, violet, pepper, earthy spice. On the palate, dark fruit, black pepper, firm tannin, coffee. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long, spiced, savoury finish. Fatagione is one of Italy's most unusual cuvees: pure Mondeuse (Savoie's signature red grape) grown at altitude on Etna's volcanic soils, producing a peppery, full-bodied red of singular character.
When should I drink Cottanera Fatagione?
Drink 3-12 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Cottanera Fatagione?
Wild boar stew with juniper is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled Sicilian beef tagliata and Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey. The wine's pepper and dark-fruit intensity pair beautifully with the resinous spice of game stew.
What grapes are in Cottanera Fatagione?
The blend is Mondeuse. The wine is classified as Sicilia IGT.