A little bird told me that this wine was coming to Costco before it ever even arrived. The wine appeared suddenly at a couple of stores and sold out almost immediately.
Then the following week, a few more cases were distributed, and then this week, seven cases to the Costco down the street from where I work.
I thought I had missed my chance with this wine, but there it was. This “pocket wine” legend was staring me in the face with its abnormally heavy and embossed bottle.
For $15.99, of course I had to try it. I knew nothing about it except that it was Italian, “hot,” and apparently not going to be re-ordered, indicated by the asterisk on the item sign.
When I Vivinoed this wine (yes, that’s a verb) it came up “Ca’ de’ Rocchi Vinum Italicum N3 Opera 2005.” This wine, however, is not a 2005.
It is non-vintage but has “Founded in 2005” written below the name, which must have confused more than one person. I always tell people to pay attention to wine labels. There is lots that you can learn about what’s inside the bottle by reading what the label includes, and by also noting what it doesn’t.
This “Vino Rosso” is a blend of grapes that have been “personally selected by Gian Andrea Tinazzi,” according to the back label. There is also a map of Italy with the regions outlined. Three of those regions, Sicilia, Puglia, & Veneto are filled in. Perhaps this is where the grapes come from? The tech sheet for the wine does not specify.
The nose jumps out at me with ripe red fruits- I’m thinking warm climate grapes. The palate is medium-bodied and fairly simplistic with subtle tannins and a decent amount of residual sugar for an Italian wine. I immediately thought “fruit punch.” The finish is somewhat lingering but a little hot.
I prefer not to rate this wine because I don’t know what pretty little box to put it in. If you happen to come across this and are as entranced by the bottle as I was, or if you’ve already purchased it, let me know what you think in the comments below. I’d love to hear your opinion.
Purchased in Cumming, GA
Costco Item Number: 1145565
ABV: 15%
marino says
I tend to stay away from too much blending ...
Wine should not be treated as a physical pleasure only, but as the Ensemble of:
Elite Work to Achieve, Ability to Reproduce again, Constancy, Respect to Squeeze the Pricing as it is a gift from the Land and all this Exploding into: The Resulting Pleasure of the Moment, and the ability to perceive the above history path in a strong interlace communion with those factors.
THE REST it is a, sorry, hand job, lost in nothing.
That’s why wine is so important, it sets the perfect human track: a religion in its delivery, but to remind us we are from "god". It properly bursts the relationship with the giver and the receiver, in an act of love.
Robert Cook says
Cellartracker.com rated it 89.2 average of 25 votes. Most of the reviewers on Cellartracker are a second-level (to Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, Wine Enthusiast, etc.) professionals who are quite reliable. It sells for $25 at Wine Chateau in New Jersey, so $15.99 is a bargain for such a highly-rated wine.
Paul says
Decanted and pored at heavy Italian dinner. Everyone raved. Great price.
Michael says
I loved it and purchased all they had left in Atlanta that I know of. My Italian friend in Florida tried to buy it but it is all gone. The bottle filled weighs 4.5 pounds. That is 1.5 pounds heavier than any other 750 bottle. Very pretty bottle as well. Case comes as 6 pack. Bought last 12 boxes.