Tag Archives: nero d’avola

Stefano di Blasi Syrah Nero d’Avola 2020, IGT Sicilia, Italy

05 Friday Aug 2022

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Medium ruby colored in the glass- this blend of Syrah and Nero D’Avola has aromas of plum, licorice, game, violets, blackberry leaf, some licorice and a caramel/burnt sugar note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and silky smooth, medium level tannins that melt away gracefully.  Medium bodied, this wine has nice flavors of plum, florals, blackberry and a touch of licorice alongside that caramel note.  The finish is mid length and I get a charred wood note with more anise.  The tannins make a comeback to remind me that they are still grippy.  A nice bottle that ran me $11!  I would drink this with stews, leaner cuts of meat and pasta for sure over the short term- till 2026.  I give it 89 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Milani 1985 Nero d’Avola 2020, Sicilia DOC, Italy

22 Friday Oct 2021

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It’s not often I see a Sicilian Nero D’avola so I picked this up on spec.  It pours  a semi opaque ruby in the glass with very watery legs.  The nose has pretty florals and red currant, red plum, sage and believe it or not- red chili. There is a sweet candy note that strikes fear into me as I hate that smell/taste in a wine- let’s see if it shows up on the palate.  Yum, this is very smooth and gently tannic.  Juicy acidity and a medium body weight give it a balanced mouthfeel.  The finish is a touch short but the acidity goes on for a while making me want to drink another sip.  The flavors are all there plus black cherry.  Listed at $23 it gets 89 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink soon with pasta, sausages with peppers or spaghetti bolognese.  Salut….

Cusumano Nero d’Avola Terre Siciliane IGT 2018, Sicily, Italy

26 Sunday Apr 2020

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Number two in the virtual line-up was this Nero D’Avola from Sicily.  I wanted to add a relatively unknown varietal to try and introduce new wines to my friends.  This one was a steal at $12 and scored highly amongst the attendees.  I gave it 89 points and will go with 4 stars.  It had some very nice black fruits, good tannic structure and a decent finish of licorice and oak adding to plums.  Cellar for up to 6 years.  A good wine to have in case you need a quick go-to bottle.  Salut….  

Tinazzi No 3 Vinum Italicum Opera Rosso NV, Italy

30 Tuesday Apr 2019

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Medium purple, somewhat opaque int the glass.  On the nose I get bramble, black cherry and bacon.  On the palate it has a unique flavor profile.  Very meaty with that black cherry note along with licorice.  Smoke and tar really hit me on the mid palate alongside black berry and mid level tannins.  The finish is black, dark- brooding and tannic.  Black fruits dominate with some Lapsang Souchong tea notes.  Earthy, smoky and strong.  This is a unique wine which is composed of the following grapes: Corvina, Primitivo, Nero d’Avola.  The pros went with red fruits, I am sticking with black.  This is a non-vintage wine, so there is room for wiggle on style and tastes.  It gets 89 points from me- forget the 98 rating it splashes on the bottle, that guy uses a strange rating system.  Pair it with steaks, pasta (of course) or a heavy duty stew.  It’s tasty, unique and worth a try, but at $30, it’s a bit pricey.  2 Stars.  Salut….

Cantina Colomba Bianca ‘Vitese’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT 2016, Sicily, Italy

23 Tuesday Oct 2018

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Inky purple with medium opaque hues.  Nose is crushed blueberries with black berry jam.  The palate is lovely, blueberry with açaí berry and fig.  The tannins are so sleek, they sneak up on me at the end.  The mid palate has a nice body to it and shows off more blue fruits.  The finish is of medium length, slightly dry and more of a black fruit tint.  90 points and 5 stars for this $12 wine.  Paired with Truffled Ravioli, seared Petit Sirloin and tomato jam.  Drink till 2022.  Salut….

Dei Principi di Spadafora Don Pietro Rosso Sicilia IGT 2012, Sicily, Italy

18 Saturday Mar 2017

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Reddish purple and opaque in the glass.  Nose of rhubarb and Swiss chard leaves.  I’m not going to lie- it’s a bit off putting.  The palate is a whole different story, thank god.  Vibrant cherry and red raspberry notes with juicy acidity and balanced tannins.  The mid palate is really delicious, yet supremely dry from the tannins.  More red fruits emerge with some hints of nutmeg.  The finish is medium in length and offers more raspberries.  I found out it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Nero D’Avola, which is a grape I hold near and dear.  Overall a very juicy and decent wine that gets 90 points from me.  I paid $20 and am going with 4 stars.  Salut….

Dei Principi di Spadafora Don Pietro Rosso

Settesoli Nero d’Avola 2012

25 Thursday Sep 2014

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I really dig Nero d’Avola, it’s a Sicilian specialty that offers up great tannins and a nice mouthfeel of plums and dark fruits.  This particular bottling has Syrah added to brighten it up slightly.  I enjoyed the plums and blackcurrants of this bottling along with some oaky, smoky hints and star anise.  Cherry cola comes to mind as a mid-palate descriptor.  Smooth tannins balance the mild acidity and give this wine a nice, if short finish.  An easy drinker that won’t break the bank, it offers a medium body with some level of complexity at only $15 a bottle.  88 points from me make this a solid 3 star wine that introduces this neat grape to the masses.  Look for it and serve it up with some pasta, perhaps even osso bucco.  Salut….

settesoli nero d'avola

Feudo Maccari Saia 2010

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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If you have never had a Nero D’Avola wine before, you must.  From Sicily comes this black wine with ample tannins and great depth.  This particular wine was as expected.  Bold black cherry and dark fruits with a hefty dose of tannin that was somewhat curbed yet providing a strong backbone.  The use of oak was deftly hidden and the acidity was great.  The wine is slightly rustic and needs a big plate of salami, olives and some hard cheeses to really get it going.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend this $25 offering for the uninitiated.  91 points and 5 stars.  Salut…IMG_0537

Firriato Nero d’Avola Harmonium 2010

23 Monday Sep 2013

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For tonight’s dinner, I prepared a Chicken Alfredo with seasonal salad and garlic bread (yummmm)  I first thought a Chianti would be a good match, but alas there is a new wine in my cellar from Sicily that begs to be opened.  Nero D’Avola is native to Sicily and means Black of Avola.  I didn’t get much on the nose, perhaps a hint of blue fruit but some alcohol mixed in there.  This particular wine is not very dark but shows off really sweet tannins with plum compote on the palate.  Spiciness and a certain rock minerality show through and there is definite acidity here.  I think the structure will bode well for short term cellaring and the wine could mellow somewhat and hide that 14.5% alcohol.  My guess is that the volcanic soils of Sicily perhaps influence the secondary flavors??

I am always on the hunt for new and exciting wines.  Another varietal that comes to mind is Aglianico.  Very tannic but delicious, you should be on the lookout for some if you hanker for some mouth puckering juice fit to sort any cut of meat out.

At $35 this wine is not a bargain and only gets 3 stars from me due to the price.  Technically speaking, I would rate it 89 points. I do like the label though!  Salut….

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