Daniel Maquin

8.9

A bit of barnyard funk at first but then comes a bright red fruit (black currant mainly) and some almond. I like the nose. The palate is wide and long with a great acid backbone and some matter on the sides with red fruits and grip. Mild tannins help kick up the wine before a long lasting finish with small red berries. Very interesting, I like it — 3 days ago

Daron Watson

9.3

deeper, richer, more savory than ‘16 SP68 ~ but both have their time and place! — 6 days ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

Catching up on notes from our trip to Sicily 66 weeks ago. A modern western take on Chardonnay. Fermented in Barriques for 10 months - 50% New and 50% Used. Vanilla Oak aromas. Rich but taut on the Medium + palate. — a year ago

Imani Williams

9.0

My first Nero d’Avola! To me this is the Italian Zin; the bright acidity of Italian wines but that deeper richness of a Zinfandel. Beautiful dark purple color; blackberry and plum flavors. Leather and tobacco notes with a slight licorice finish. Even slighter lavender and rosemary at the end. — 7 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Mid Gold in colour, looking way older than it actually is. Strong aromas of Apricot and to a lesser extent honeysuckle and White flowers. An unctuous flavoursome full bodied palate exhibiting great texture and intensity with the Apricot coming through. Finishes Dry. Delicious and different. Will purchase more. Muscat of Alexandria also known as Zibibbo in Sicily. — 6 days ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.2

Girolamo Russo “a’Rina” 2016 Etna Rosso 🇮🇹 $25
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Nerello Mascalese (94%) and Nerello Cappuccio are the yin and yang of red grapes that grow exceedingly well in the wild and high altitude clime atop the Sicilian volcano #MountEtna.
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A hell of a bargain at about $25 as this crushes most Bourgogne/Hautes-Cotes under $50 and would give pricier versions a run for their money. It is also more complex now and ready to consume when compared to many similarly priced, well made “Langhe” Nebbiolo wines. From the @coravin this was ready to go and opened up well with 10-15 minutes in the glass.
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A youthful medium ruby color, fairly transparent. The nose suggests to me a red Burgundy, possibly a Beaune or Chassagne-Montrachet red from the wildness of the Etna character. A deep underpinning of rocky minerality, hints of ash, rose petal and purple florals, with dabs of red cherry and red plum fruit, sweet spices with hints of old leather jacket and unsmoked pipe tobacco. The palate is juicy and fresh, with refined, silky, ripe tannin that are youthfully firm. Excellent density and persistence, but light as a feather. Medium+ on the finish.
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Etna red wines are commonly described as having similarities to nebbiolo from Piedmonte and pinot noir from Burgundy. There are for sure some similarities, but make no mistake that Etna wines, when made well, refract the wild and volcanic Etna terroir well and are genuine in their own right. •
The complex volcanic soils of Etna, combined with some of the highest elevations for vineyards in Europe at 3,000+ feet, can produce wines with immense complexity and freshness. A sense if refinement comes across in the density without excessive weight, allowing for transparency of terroir. Most vines are trained in the traditional bush-vine method, which works well in the rocky soils that see a lot of wind and sunlight at these high altitudes.
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#GirolamoRusso #aRina #NerelloMascalese #NerelloCappuccio #EtnaRosso #Sicily #Italy #GiuseppeRusso #coravin #winesolutions #wine #winelover #somm #sommelier #instawine #wineporn #naturalwine #vinnaturel #winegasm #winegeek #vin #vino #vinos #vinhos #wein #ilovewine #winetasting #winetime — 16 days ago

Daron Watson

9.2

like incense in a damp n musky wild blackberry patch ~ light, bright, tart n silky w sour cherry, cranberry n pomegranate finishing w a dusting of crushed minerals, spices n dried herbs — 6 days ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Saturday night and I have for the first time opened a Nero d'Avola, the 2013 Gulfi Nerojbleo from Sicily.

The nose reveals notes of black cherry, black plum, dried herbs, licorice, tobacco, dried floral notes, oak and clay dust.

On the palate I am getting good fruit, black cherry, blueberry, black plum, licorice, leather, dried herbs, and dry soil.

You will find this wine to be full bodied with medium + acidity and high grippy mouth coating tannins that lead to a long fruit filled finish. I'm enjoying my weekend hoping you are too. Please be careful out there and be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 16 days ago

Chip Hughes

9.0

Nose of dried flowers, fino sherry and green tea. Notes of cider and autolysis detract just a bit- as they make the wine seem simple (which it isn’t)- but I’m sure the natural wine hive mind will disagree on that point. Still, quite saline, focused and super long. Imagine a few years of aging will bring added weight and richness. #occhipinti #sicily — 6 days ago

Sean O'Donnell

9.0

Sun baked, Raisined fruit, leather and tar. The gives way to brandy soaked cherries. Not shy about it alcohol, thus wine comes in hot. But dark lush fruit and leather, and light tannins balance it out. — 2 days ago