Versante Nord Terre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese

Close to excellent but missing something. Good length and depth but a little square.

Gassy, active. Funk blows off. Becomes floral. Earthy. Long, slightly bitter finish

Only moderately aromatic, barely present dried strawberry and kind of generic cherry aroma. Palate shows this is very well made, with good structure, but also strongly acidic and tannic. May just be shut down and will blossom with time, not sure.

Medium garnet; medium intensity aromas of red fruit, cherry, red plum, red currant, pomegranate, earth, vanilla; dry, high acid, medium plus tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium intensity flavors consistent with aromas; medium finish, only moderately complex and concentrated, good

Luminous red. Aromas of flinty red berries, fresh herbs and broom on the enticing nose. Then richer and riper than the Pirrera, with a smoother, deeper personality and a more balanced approach to its fleshy and structured red fruit and herbal flavors. Finishes long and crisp. (Ian D'Agata, Vinous, August 2019)

Great Verve selection courtesy of Susan Etlinger

Rich black fruit / herbaceous notes / plum, black cherry / med to med+ tannin

Brightness peeks through the minerality and moodiness. Turns out the wine is made by Arianna Occhipinti’s boyfriend and at her same facility. Needs some air to show off all its feathers, but it’s lighter body keeps it from being too dark.

Timur had this 7 years ago

One of the best Sicilian wines I've had in a long time. Spicy notes with elegance and refinement.