Two Nero D'Avola from Sicily, Mandrarossa and Siquilia

The cooperative Mandrarossa in Sicily produces many different wines. One of them is Costadune Nero D'Avola that is made of 100% Nero D'Avola. This grape is a grape that is completely red throughut, many red grapes only has a red skin. This grape is mostly grown in Sicily and has during the last years shown to produce good red wines and not just simple table wine. The wine is from 2019 and I have tasted the 2017 vintage earlier. The wine has the ABV 13,5%. This is a nice fruity Nero D'Avola. Lots of red fruit such as cherry and some plum and blackberry. It is a very good wine and is more complex then the 2017vintage.

The second wine is the Siquilia Nero D'Avola of the vintage 2020. The producer is Cantina Ermes in Sicily. The ABV is 13,5%. The grapes comes from an area south of Palermo. In the taste blueberry, some plum and a hint of vanilla. Some light tannins in the back with some acidity. A good wine.

Nero D'Avola from Sicily of the vintage 2016, Tolo and Principi Di Butera

Nero D'Avola is a red wine grape that is grown primarily in Sicily and is very common in that region. From what I know it is the most grown grape in Sicily. 

The producer Tola I have tried several of their white wine expressions but their Nero D'Avola is the first red wine from them. It is of the vintage 2016 and has an ABV of 13,5%. The grapes are picked in September. The wine is aged first three months in steel vats and then stored in the bottle for three months before sale. In the taste I get red fruit with some violet and a few tannin in the back. A nice easy drinking Nero D'Avola.

The next wine is a Nero D'Avola called Amira from the producer Principi Di Butera. This producer is owned by the family Zonin who owns several vineyards all over Italy. Half of the wine was stored in 350 l Tonneaux and the rest of wine in large bottis. It is a very good structured wine. In the front I get red cherry and some blackberry before the taste brings out some black currants with some tannins in the back. Quite elegant and a very good Nero D'Avola.

Three red wines from Italy

The producer Mandrarossa in Sicily produces many different wines. One of them is Costadune, this is made of 100% Nero D'Avola. This grape is a grape that is completely red throughut, many red grapes only has a red skin. This grape is mostly grown in Sicily and has during the last years shown to produce good red wines and not just simple table wine. The Costadune wine is from 2017 and has the ABV 13,5%. The taste is of red currants, som red cherry with some spice and tannins and acidity. Goes down quite well and is a nice easy drinking wine.

Next red wine is the wine Rosso Di Montalcino from producer Col D'Orcia in Tuscany. It is made of 100% Sangiovese grapes. The vintage is 2016 and the ABV is 14%.  In the taste I get a big hit of sour cherry, some leather, black currant with tannins on the finish. A great food wine.

The last wine is a red wine from Valpolicella from producer Tenute Falezze. It is a Valpolicella Superiore wine from 2016. It contains the grapes Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta. This is a beautiful delicate red. Very elegant taste with cherry, licorice, with some viol and cassis. A wonderful Valpolicella.

Sedura from Donnafgata and two other red wines from Italy

Finally I have found a different wine from Donnafugata which is not usually available and it is the wine La Bella Sedara.  The ABV is 13,5% and the vintage is 2017. This wine is made from several different grapes with the main grape being Nero D'Avola blended together with Cabernet Sauvigno, Merlot and Syrah.In the taste I get black currant, cherry and some spices and black peppar. A very nice easy drinking wine.

The wine Aglianico is from the producer Fattoria Pagano in Campania. It is made from 100% Aglianico grapes. The vintage is 2017 and the ABv is 14%. The vineyard lies at 270-300 meters above sea level in Casale Carniola in Campania. The taste is of black currant and plum with some tannins which some are a bit unripe. It is a decent wine which gets much better when paired with spicy food.

The last red wine is from the producer Bepin De Eto in Veneto. I have tasted the wine Cabernet earlier and still my thought is that it is a decent wine but I prefer the other red wines from Bepin De Eto which in my mind are better.

Three red wines from three mountainous regions of Italy

This time I will try three different red wines from three different mountainous regions in Italy. First up the the most southern mountain in Italy, the Volcano Etna in Sicily. Around this Volcano there is several winegrowing areas. This wine is called Alta Mora from producer Cusumano. It is an Etna Rosso DOC and the vintage is 2016. The grapes are Shiraz and Nero D'Avola. I get red fruit on the nose and in the mouth. Some oak and tannins also in the taste. Nice but nothing special.

Next region is Valle D'Aosta in the north, close to Mont Blanc. This wine is a Petit Rogue wine which is a rare grape from Valle D'Aosta. The producer is Institut Agricole Regional and the vintage is 2016. The colour is a light ruby. I get red berries on the nose. In the taste I get acidity which is quite high and then I get black currant with with some plum and strawberries. A good lighter delicious red.

The final mountainous region is Trentino and here I have a wine made on one of my favourite grapes used for red wines, namely Lagrein. The producer is  Cantina ViticoltoriTrentino and it is from 2017. On the nose I get a nice red fruit.On the taste blackberry, some coffee and leather notes. A nice Lagrein for the price.

Wine from Sicily and Friuli

I have drank a lot of good wines from Sicily. A new acquaintance for me is the wine Nero D'Avola and Feudi del Pisciotto from 2012. It consist of 100% of Nero D'Avola. The taste is of black berries and spices. But for me it is lacking in depth, something that other Nero D'Avola wines has.

The second wine is from Friuli in the far north of Italy bordering Slovenia. It is by producer Casali Roncali and is from 2014. The grape is 100% Pinot Grigio and the taste is of fruits. Nice.

Nebbiolo and Nero D'Avola, great red wine grapes

Nebbiolo is a red wine grape grown mostly in the Piedmont region where it is used to make Barolo and Barbaresco wine. But no such monster wines this time, just a Lange DOC wine from producer Fontanafredda. The wine is called Ebbio and is from 2013. The smell is nice and the taste is very subtle. Strong taste of viols and some cherries. A good drinking wine.

Nero D'Avola is a red wine grape mostly grown in Sicily. This grape makes good wine which I like. The wine Regieterre Nero D'Avola from 2012 by producer Musita is made from 100% nero D'Avola grapes. There is a sharpness in the taste and I can feel liquorice, black currants and cherries. A good wine and the third wine from producer Musita that I like.

From a red wine in the north to red wine in Sicily

The red wines of the Veneto region is something I will try to discover more of in the future. One small step is the wine I had in the weekend. It is called Mattarana Valpolicella Ripasso from 2012. Where Mattarana is the producer. Valpolicella is an area in the Venoto region and Ripasso is the production method. In Ripasso the grape juice is fermented together with the pressings from the Amarone production to give the Ripasso wine  stronger touch.
This wine has an alcohol level of 14% and the wines colour is deep red. The taste is very good, almost red fruits such as cherries and with some herbs. Not as much tannins as one would expect.

Firriato is a producer in Italy. They have estates all over Sicily such as near Trapani for example. Altavilla delle Corte is a wine made out of Nero D'Avola and Caberet Sauvignon grapes. And the grapes comes from the Borgo Guarini estate outside of Trapani. It is of vintage 2010 and later vintages of this product has only Cabernet Sauvignon. It smells good and the colour is very dark. The taste is good. Strong red cherries with some herbs and tannins in the back. Very nice wine.
Altavilla were one of the first Norman families to settle in Sicily and from this family comes the name of this wine.

 Trapani is a very nice town and is highly recommended to visit the town. The old town in Trapani is very beautiful and lovely situated along the water. This is how Trapani looks from the old town of Erice.

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One white and one red from Sicily

I am trying wines from the different regions of Italy and this time it is Sicily yet again with one red wine and one white wine.

The red wine is a wine made from the grape Nero D'Avola from producer Cantine Minini caalled Coste dei Mori. The colour is a dark ruby red. The smell is good and the taste is of black currants and liquorice. It is smooth and good.

The white wine Regaleali Bianco is from producer Tasca d´Almerita. It is clear and slighty yellow and the wine is made from the grapes Catarratto, Grecanico, Inzolia, which are local Sicilian varieties. It has a taste of apples, pears and citrus and it feels very fresh. A delight to drink.

Sicily and Nero d'Avola

Sicily may not be that known for wine but one grape that is famous is the Nero d'Avola. It is the only grape with red pigmentation in the fruit meat which means that one can only make red wines using Nero d'Avola. Producer Planeta has a wine called Plumbago made by the grape Nero d'Avola from 2011.
It has a very good taste of red fruits, cacao and some plums. Not to strong and works very well with Mediterranean food. Not as deep red colour as red wines can have.