2016 Paolo Cali Mandragola Frappato Vittoria DOC 750 ml

Sicily’s Most Energetic Wine - Under $30

We are so excited to be the first to offer this Wine Access-exclusive. It embodies everything that makes Frappato from Vittoria such an exciting wine, a remarkable value, and one of the most charming Italian reds on the market.

The story of Frappato is like that of so many Italian grape varieties. Like Nebbiolo in Piedmont and Primitivo in Puglia, Frappato reaches its peak of quality and expressiveness in a single part of the country. In this case, it’s Vittoria, in southeastern Sicily, a region known for both varietally labeled Frappato, like this beauty, and Cerasuolo, in which Frappato is blended with Nero d’Avola.

Eric Asimov, writing about Vittoria in The New York Times, gushed, “The red wines made in the vicinity of this midsize town in southeastern Sicily can be elegant and beautiful, with a crunchy freshness and a reticent austerity. They can be intriguingly mineral, gorgeously perfumed and astonishingly pure, while still displaying rich, focused fruit flavors. They offer a lot to love.”

He hit the proverbial nail on the head: The best wines from there, like this charming 2016 Paolo Cali Mandragola Frappato Vittoria DOC, offer the kind of complexity and freshness that is all too infrequently associated with the reds of Sicily. And Frappato is often served with a slight chill, which amplifies its vibrancy and fruit.

Writing of this one in Vinous, Ian D’Agata praised its “fresh violet and nectarine” aromas and the “good heft to its red and pit fruit flavors.” James Suckling, in his 93-point review, said that the wine’s “rich, unusually full body is beautifully supported by ripe tannins and the red-fruit character makes this a very appealing package.”

We were won over by its waves of bright red berry, dried herbs, freshly turned soil, and hints of cola.

Paolo Cali, whose family has been a standout in the world of Sicilian wine since the 1700s, is typically discussed in the same breath as many of the top producers in Vittoria— Arianna Occhipinti, COS, Gulfi, and Valle dell’Acate. They are crafting the best wines they ever have right now, and wine pros and consumers alike are taking notice.