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The Durante Toscana Rosso 2020 Aldi is an $11.99 Red Blend from the Tuscany region of Italy. Tuscany is the home of Chianti and the Sangiovese grape. The best Chianti wines are DOCG-designated wines.
The DOC and DOCG (G stands for guaranteed) are Italian government commissions that set the rules and standards for each Italian wine district. Toscana Rosso is an IGP-designated wine as is the Durante Toscana Rosso 2020 Aldi.
In the 1960s Chianti was a hugely popular wine in the US, people who knew nothing about wine knew Chianti. It was so popular that less than excellent Chianti wines were imported to meet the demand. Lowering the quality of the wine is a surefire way to slow the market. By the way, Chianti is currently the most popular wine Italian wine in the US.
Italian Chianti wineries wanted to make changes to the wines they offered, but the DOC and DOCG only wanted quality and tradition and did not allow changes. Some of the best Chianti producers had been experimenting with growing French varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, and decided to blend those grapes with Sangiovese.
Since these wines did not conform with the rules and regulations they had to be sold as Table Wine, the lowest designation for Italian wine. In the US all wine from Screaming Eagle to Boone’s Farm are Table Wine but in Italy, it means something less than good.
These Red Blends became known as Super Tuscan wines and were an immediate smash and each vintage would sell out. Having a Table Wine outselling the top DOCG wines was not acceptable, so the Toscana Rosso IGP category was introduced.
The Durante Toscana Rosso 2020 Aldi is a value-priced Super Tuscan, they do not mention any grape in the blend but Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot probably accompany the Sangiovese. The original Super Tuscans were fairly expensive wines from the very best vineyards in Tuscany. We do not know the growing and production details of this $11.99 Aldi wine. The alcohol content is 14%.
The Durante Toscana Rosso 2020 Aldi Tasting Notes
The color is raspberry jam red. The nose is strawberry, blueberry, slightly jammy, chocolate, and spice, with a floral edge. The Durante Toscana Rosso 2020 Aldi is a dry wine, but there is some sweetness to the flavors, it is complex and tasty.
The Red Blend tastes like black cherry, spice, dusty chocolate powder, tart cranberry, and cherry cough drops. The mid-palate offers licorice, sharp spice, and ripe plum. The tannins are smooth and the acidity is balanced.
The Summary
- The Durante Toscana Rosso 2020 Aldi is a good, if not great Super Tuscan. If you sip one of the best of those wines you will immediately know what all the fuss is about.
- At $11.99 is a bargain for a Toscana Rosso wine of this quality.
- It is another excellent value-priced Aldi import wine.
I found this great wine at Aldi in Columbia, SC a few months ago and purchased several bottles several times. Now it’s not available. Is Aldi not carrying any longer?