Sicilia Nerello Mascalese

Yum!

I wanted this to match a more serious & somber moment, but my last bottle may have been moving out of its grace period: I found the deeper Pinot Noir style volcanic fruit has become more shrill & a one note? perhaps a slightly compromised bottle? Or is it maxed out at 11 years?

You have to understand that not many wines ( well, that’s a bit bombastic) give me more pleasure consistently than this, the most recent release-2010! From Calabretta . Kinda like Lopez de Heredia meets Vallana, ie Nebbiolo, though it is Nerollo Macalese. Smoked, tar, roses, fine & integrated tannins on the palate- strong mid palate which in my imagination has gotten stronger with age. Super lithe and really ethereal body- light, light to medium body but gorgeous acid spine, strong presence. Not a light wine. Bought a case or so a while ago-I fear the day I am down to one. Polaner importer.

Absolutely necessary short decant. Fills out after an hour or so. Otherwise it’s all bunched up. One of my favorite producers. In the spirit of Lopez de Heredia & Rio Alta.

Probably starting to show its age but I mean who isn’t

Brick colour
Smell of black olives and cherry.
Dry wine.
The tannins are still vigorous for a 11 years old wine.

Sous-bois nose and forest-floor finish with a lively minerality that speaks to the volcanic Etna terroir from which it came. This is an earthy wine with complexity and a bit of ✨glamor✨ to it. Do not hesitate to mountainbathe with this babe.

Big wine. Tar and leather. Opened for pizza night.

Tobacco and leather overtones. First introduced to me by my uncle! A favorite of the family for sure. My girlfriends personal favorite. Definitely a more robust flavor than Calabretta’s vino rosso.

Dreamy and silken leavened with a kind of machismo.