Mission Codename: A beautiful mind

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Infiltrate world-famous Bacio Divino winery – and return with their equally famous red wine blend, Pazzo

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Bacio Divino

Wine Subject: 2006 Pazzo

Winemakers: Nils and Kirk Venge

Backgrounder: Bacio Divino Cellars, in St. Helena, California, describes themselves as making ”... wine of unmistakable co-authorship: terroir by Napa Valley, style by cloudy-headed winemaker.” This statement alone would have compelled The Wine Spies to investigate the winery, but with intel flooding in from our Operatives and Assets in the field, we knew that we had to place them under close surveillance. After a period of undercover investigation, Agent Red managed to get inside the winery – and procure today’s wonderfully delicious 200 Pazzo Red Blend. Read his tasting notes and mission report below.

Today’s wine, grown in the foggy hills of St. Helena, in the Napa Valley, is a wonderful blend of
(mostly) Sangiovese, with Petit Sirah, Cabernet and a hint of Viognier. This wine holds an exceptional QPR and actually blows us away with its quality, given its relatively low price.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Rich ruby red to garnet, concentrated color and a heavy-looking surface that settles fast when swirled, leaving behind thin legs that move down the glass at varying speeds

Smell – Fresh blueberry leads off with mocha, a hint of tomato vine, smoked meats and darkest cherry – with wisps of violet and thyme

Feel – Very lush and round, up front, warm on the mid-palate but not from high alcohol. The wine is full-bodied and mouth-coating as lush and medium tannins appear at the mid-palate

Taste – Dusky and delicious fruits of cherry, dark mixed berry, mild oak, soft tar, dark chocolate dust and the slightest hint of orange peel

Finish – A long and lingering sweet then slightly tart finish with traditional Sangiovese notes that tail off slowly

Conclusion – This is a juicy and delicious wine that makes me recall the best blends from Italy and California. This wine has a richness that gives the wine great character, and a mouth-feel that makes it a pleasure to drink. Overall this is a seductive, lush, full bodied and savory wine that offers bold fruit and great depth – all with firm structure. Friendly to most food-pairings, I would recommend this fantastic wine as the perfect compliment to your entertaining and on-its-own imbibing!

Guest Reviewer Alert!

Today, we welcome back Agent Noir from grapelive.com. What follows are his thoughts on today’s wine:

“This juicy and thick red has mixed berries and espresso with hints of blueberries and vanilla cream. This bright-fruited wine has nice layers of flavors and lush textures. Overall this is a full bodied and savory wine that offers bold fruit and good depth in a firm structure.” – Agent Noir

Mission Summary:

“Hey, why is that bottle in a brown paper bag?”

“Ahh. Agent White, I’m glad that you’re here! Don’t open the bag, and don’t try to look at the bottle!”

Agent White: Ok. What gives? Or should I even ask.

Agent Red: Better that you don’t

Agent White: You know what, Red? You’ve always been a little kooky, but I’ll play along.

Agent Red: Good. Here, taste this wine and tell me what you think.

Agent White: Ok.

Agent White inhales deeply and then takes a sip

Agent Red: Well?

Agent White: Really good! Delicious, in fact.

Agent Red: Good. Good. Now, tell me, have you ever seen a bottle of Bacio Divino’s Pazzo before?

Agent White: I have tried the big brother to the Pazzo, the self-titled Bacio Divino. An exquisite wine, to be sure, but never the Pazzo.

Agent Red: Ok. Thanks. So, you like this wine?

Agent White: Actually, I love it! Its really quite fine.

Agent Red: You’re sure you’ve never seen a bottle before?

Agent White: Jeez, Red, you seem almost manic. What’s up?

Agent Red: Well, I tasted this wine the other day, and then Agent Noir stopped by. I loved it instantly when I tried it. When I poured Agent Noir a glass, I saw how he stared at the bottle’s label. He had a far away look in his eyes. It almost seemed that he was mesmerized by the label. Then he sipped it – and he loved it, too!

Agent White: Aaaand?

Agent Red: Then Agent Sparkle really loved it!

Agent White: Aaaaaaaaaand?

Agent Red: Well, she got that same look and, well, I developed a theory that the swirly pattern on the label must be hypnotizing us into loving the wine!

Agent White: I think you need a vacation red.

Agent Red: I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.

Agent White: Honestly, Red, I worry about you sometimes. Let me see that label.

Agent Red: First, take another sip and tell me what you think of the wine.

Agent White: I love it. Its really great.

Agent Red: Now, check out this crazy label.

Agent White gazes at the label. His jaw slackens and his eyes appear slightly crossed

Agent Red: Well?

In a robotic monotone, Agent White replies

Agent White: This… is… the.. best… wine… in… the… world…

Agent Red gasps

Agent Red: I told you! It hyptonized you, just like I thought it would!

Agent White bursts out laughing

Agent White: Seriously, Red…

Agent White continues to laugh