In the glass
Aroma: blackcurrant, cedar, violets, dark cherry, tobacco
Palate: intense dark fruit, firm structured tannins, mineral, espresso, long cedar finish
Fratta is Maculan's Bordeaux-inspired flagship red, one of northeastern Italy's landmark wines. A Cabernet-Merlot blend aged 18 months in new French oak, it rivals top Veneto reds in complexity and ageing potential. Fausto Maculan was among the first producers in the Veneto to vinify Bordeaux varieties at serious quality levels.
What it pairs with
-
Braised short ribs with gremolata
The wine's firm structure and dark fruit are ideal for slow-braised beef with acidic gremolata contrast. -
Venison stew with polenta
Game and firm tannins are a natural pairing; polenta cushions the structure. -
Aged Parmigiano 36 months
Crystalline salt of aged Parmesan amplifies the wine's dark fruit and mineral notes.
History
Fratta (meaning 'thicket' or 'scrubland') was Maculan's first serious red wine, launched in 1977 when Bordeaux-variety viticulture in the Veneto was almost unheard of. The wine was initially bottled as Breganze Cabernet, later reformulated as a Cabernet-Merlot blend. It helped establish the possibility of serious red wine production in Breganze alongside the internationally acclaimed dessert wines.
- 1977 — Maculan first releases Fratta as a Bordeaux-variety red from the Breganze DOC.
- 1985 — Fratta reformulated with Merlot blended alongside Cabernet Sauvignon.
Facts
- Producer
- Maculan
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (40%)
- Classification
- Breganze Rosso DOC
- Oak
- 18 months in new and second-year French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 35-55 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1977