Profile

Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaknew oak

Drinking window

Best 3 to 12 years from vintage.

vintage3 yrs12 yrs14 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong, Spiced, Savoury finish

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.More wines for wild boar →
  • Grilled Sicilian beef tagliata Full body and firm tannins frame the richness of grilled beef.More wines for steak →
  • Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with honey The sweet-spiced honey provides a bridge between the wine's pepper and the cheese's crystalline intensity.More wines for aged hard cheese →

With cheese

Pecorino Siciliano Our pick Aged Pecorino Siciliano is salty, with heat that builds over 4 to 8 months. Full-bodied Sicilian reds, from native blends to Syrah, Cabernet and Petit Verdot, bring the concentration and tannin to stand up to it.

How to serve Cottanera Fatagione

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. 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.

  1. 2000First Fatagione vintage; Mondeuse on Etna established as a unique proposition

Facts

Producer
Cottanera · visiting guide
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.

Tags

dry firm tannin full body hidden gem high acid medium term mondeuse mood bold mood savoury occasion dinner party occasion special old world pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price premium still red

Taste it where it is made: tastings near Cottanera

Etna wine tours (61) · Wine tastings and winery visits in Sicily (51) · Wine tours and day trips in Sicily (44)

See all 2017 bookable experiences in Sicily

← Back to wines in Sicily