Astoria, Icona Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022
Astoria, Icona Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022
- 75cl
- 13%
- Red Still
- Cabernet Sauvignon
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2028
Astoria's Icona Cabernet Sauvignon is unashamedly built for pleasure. Made in the Veneto by one of north-east Italy's most reliably crowd-pleasing producers, this is unoaked Cab Sauv done properly: all the variety's generous dark fruit and herbal lift, none of the oak-driven weight that can make it feel like homework. The nose is perfumed and inviting, leaning into black cherry and cassis with a lifted green note that keeps things lively.
On the palate it's rounded and well balanced, with tannins that are ripe enough to feel almost silky. This is a wine that knows exactly what it is and delivers it without fuss. Open it now, pour it generously, and put it next to a leg of lamb or a plate of charcuterie. Drink until 2028.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceClear, medium ruby with a bright, youthful rim.
NoseGenerous and immediate, with black cherry, cassis, and a characteristic Cabernet herbal lift that stops well short of being aggressive. There's a pleasing freshness to it, like fruit that's been picked at exactly the right moment.
PalateMedium-bodied and rounded, with ripe dark fruit sitting alongside a gentle herbal undercurrent that gives the wine some personality. The tannins are soft and velvety, and the acidity is well calibrated — enough to keep things lively, not enough to distract.
FinishClean and moderately persistent, with a little dark fruit and a whisper of green pepper on the way out.
Overall impressionA genuinely quaffable, no-nonsense Cabernet that earns its place on any dinner table.
Food Pairings
In the Veneto and across north-east Italy, a wine like this would typically appear alongside a Sunday roast of lamb with rosemary and garlic, or a slow-braised beef shin with polenta. Grilled sausages from the local macelleria, perhaps with a side of radicchio di Treviso, would be a natural match. The herbal character of the wine also plays well with cured meats and aged local cheeses like Asiago. It's the sort of bottle that ends up on a long family lunch table and never lasts until dessert.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 16-17°C — cool enough to keep the fruit bright, warm enough to let the tannins soften. No decanting needed; this is ready to pour straight from the bottle. A standard Bordeaux-style glass works well, giving the wine enough room to open up without over-aerating it.
The Treviso hills of the Veneto offer a mix of alluvial and morainic soils with good drainage, which encourages vines to develop structured root systems without excessive stress. The climate is continental with strong diurnal temperature swings during the growing season, helping Cabernet Sauvignon retain its natural acidity and aromatic freshness even at full ripeness. The relatively flat to gently rolling terrain of the broader Veneto DOC zone allows for consistent ripening across large vineyard holdings.
The Veneto DOC is one of Italy's broadest appellations, covering a wide sweep of north-eastern Italy from the Alpine foothills down toward the Adriatic plain. It permits a large range of grape varieties including international ones like Cabernet Sauvignon, giving producers flexibility to work with non-indigenous grapes without resorting to an IGT classification. Compared to the more tightly regulated Valpolicella or Soave zones nearby, Veneto DOC prioritises volume and variety over strict typological rules, which suits straightforward, fruit-driven wines like this one well.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Think black cherry and cassis with a classic Cabernet Sauvignon herbal lift and soft, velvety tannins. It's rounded and generous rather than structured or austere — very easy to enjoy.
When should I drink it?
Now is the right answer. It's already at its most appealing, with vivid fruit and well-integrated tannins. Drink until around 2028, after which the fruit will start to diminish.
What food should I pair it with?
Lamb is the classic match, particularly with rosemary and garlic. It also works well with grilled beef, charcuterie, aged hard cheeses, and anything with a bit of savoury richness to stand up to the wine's dark fruit character.
Does it need decanting?
No. This is a straightforward, fruit-forward wine that doesn't need any coaxing. Pour it straight from the bottle into a standard red wine glass and it'll do the rest.
Is it worth cellaring?
Not especially. Icona Cabernet Sauvignon is made for pleasure now, not for the long haul. If you're looking for something to lay down, this isn't it — but that's not what it's for, and it doesn't need to apologise for that.
What makes this different from oaked Cabernet Sauvignon?
Without oak ageing, all the focus falls on the fruit and the variety's natural herbal character. You get a fresher, lighter style without the vanilla or toast flavours that barrel maturation adds. It also means the wine is approachable much sooner, which for an everyday bottle is exactly the point.
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