2020 Travaglianti Etna Rosato, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This is a Rose wine from Sicily made from Nero Mascalese grapes.  Pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  Fresh nose with cherries, slight cranberries, char and salinity.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, this has nice lively acidity.  Cherries, cherry juice and char.  Long finish.  This drinks very easily and it is also quite food friendly.  From Salmon to a Steak, this will pair nicely.  Drink over the next two to three years.  

2021 Feudo Montoni Nerello Mascalese Rose Di Adele, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This is a Rose made in Sicily from 40 year old Nerello Mascalese vines.  Very pale pink with slight orange swirls.  The side of my glass is filled with tiny bubbles.  The nose is nice with cherries, almonds and slight wintergreen.  Medium bodied and slightly viscous.  Jut the slightest bit of spritz to the wine.  Probably trapped CO2 as there is nothing off about it. On the palate, this is crisp with sour cherries, cherries and slight minerality.  Long finish.  This is smooth with no bitterness.  Drink over the next few years.  This would work well with deep fried veggies or chicken strips.

NV Valdo Spumanti Floral Edition Rose Brut Spumante, Italy, Veneto, Sicily, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is an interesting blend in an Italian sparkling wine.  It is 75% Nerello Mascalese from Sicily and 25% Glera from the Veneto.  The packaging is quite fun and bright.  Light salmon pink in color with a nice mousse of small bubbles.  Clear and bright.  The nose is tight but with air shows nice raspberry fruit with a light rhubarb note.  The wine has 10 g/l of residual sugar but it comes off as dry.  11.5% abv.  On the palate, cherries with a sort of tree bark note underneath.  Very interesting and very food friendly.  It drinks well on its own and would work well with pork chops and many

2019 Di Giovanna Nerello Mascalese Vurria, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is 100% Nerello Mascalese from vineyards in Sicily that are 1,600 feet in altitude.  Purple in color, with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with smoke, cherries, and black pepper.  Medium to full bodied.  Although there are firm tannins, this has an inviting soft texture.  Good acidity.  The palate has cherries, black cherries over a char.  Very concentrated.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to fifteen years.  It will work better with food such as sword fish served as Involtini di pesce spade.  

2019 Cantine Ermes Vento Di Mare Nerello Mascalese Terre Siciliane IGT, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is 100% Certified Organic Nero Mascalese grapes from Sicily grown in sandy soils in western Sicily.  A really great value.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with cherries, black cherries, slight smoke and slight herbal note (chervil?).  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has black cherry fruit with underlying char.  Also a bit of pepperiness.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Somewhat like a mythical blend of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.  This was a real crowd pleaser among friends I served it to.  Drinking quite well on its own, this would work great with pas

2007 Passopisciaro Sicilia Passopisciaro, Italy, Sicily, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$0.00USD

Very nice showing for this wine which seems to be at the younger side of peak right now.  Grown on the side of Mount Etna and made from Nero Mascalese.  It drinks very much like a smoky Pinot Noir.  Garnet in color.  The nose has cherries and underlying char.  On the palate, wispy tannins.  Lots of cherries with depth and concentration.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is a very interesting wine that demands contemplation but is also quite tasty.  Will work great with pasta, veggies and medium and lighter foods.  

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