By
Michael Perkins
Boxed
Wine is one of those things people don't seem to
talk about. Sure, they'll enjoy it in the comfort of their
own homes, away from the view of others. It's a bit like the
pop song you keep hearing on the radio and can't help but
bop your head along. You don't really want to admit to liking
it. You know there's better music, but sometime a bad (good)
pop song is just what you need. Thus, even though it may bring
me shame or at least a bit of teasing from the "actual
wine staff", I'll admit to keeping boxed wine around
sometimes.
With
most boxed wines I've had, you can tell, they're not trying
very hard. The contents is often a bit flat and rather uninteresting.
That's been okay. I've known what I've been getting into.
(That maybe why our usual wine tasting panel asked me to write
this. I can get over the fact that the wine is in a box.)
I've always wondered why no one has ever really tried to improve
the quality of boxed wine. After all, it's a far better seal
than any bottle. The wine stays fresh for much longer, and
you don't have an issue with bottles being corked. While I
don't think we're going to see $100 boxed wine any time soon,
I think people are starting to get over the stigma of drinking
wine from a box.
That's
where the people at Duca del Frassino come
in. They recently brought to market Priemum Italian wines
in a box: A red wine that's a blend of 80% Cabernet and 20%
Corvina and a white wine that's 80% Garganega and 20% Pinot
Grigio. While our panel of wine snobs, who swirl and spit,
and over analyze everything they drink, were skeptical, I
had no reservations.
The
white wine is light and a bit floral, so it's ideal for hot
summer days. And while it's not the most interesting wine
I've ever tried, I found it very drinkable. When I shared
some with our wine panel, even they admitted, it wasn't bad
at all.
The
red wine is also quite light. It may say Cabernet on the label.
Don't think about that. It's not your typical Cabernet. There's
a brightness to the wine, with lively red berry flavors that
make it very accessible. It would never hold up to a steak
dinner, but it would work quite nicely with turkey sandwiches
at a summer picnic. Plus, you wouldn't need a bottle opener,
you get four bottles worth of wine to share, and even if you
don't finish, sealing the wine back up is no problem. Even
a week after we first tried the wines, they weren't showing
any signs of spoiling. You can't go wrong with that.
So
if you enjoy, light drinkable wines, and like the idea of
only paying the equivalent of $4-$5 a bottle, these new boxed
offerings from Duca del Frassino are well worth trying.
Here's
what our wine tasting panel had to offer:
 |
Duca
del Frassino Garganega & Pinot Grigio
Grape(s):
Garganega & Pinot Grigio
Winery: Duca del Frassino
Region: Italy
Price: 15-20 /per box
Review:
A very light wine that offers floral notes, along with
suggestions of melon and peach. Easy going and approachable,
it's good for summer.
Rating: 83
Character: light fruit,
floral, mellow acidity
|
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Duca
del Frassino Cabernet and Corvina
Grape(s):
Cabernet and Corvina
Winery: Duca del Frassino
Region: Italy
Price: 15-20 /per box
Review:
Lots of cherry, cranberry jam, and bit of plum here.
Very light considering it's mostly Cabernet; it's easy-drinking
but still somewhat dry. Certainly one of the better
boxed wines we've had. Kept well after a week. It's
ideal for a picnic lunch.
Rating: 85
Character: red berry
fruit, light tannins, soft mouthfeel |
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